BLUE BIRD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2013 ALL AMERICAN REAR ENGINE SCHOOL BUSES AND ONE AFTERMARKET BRAKE TREADLE VALVE. THE AFFECTED BUSES WERE MANUFACTURED FROM DECEMBER 9, 2011, THROUGH MARCH 9, 2012. THE BRAKE VALVE PLUNGER MAY FRACTURE DURING BRAKE APPLICATION, RESULTING IN REDUCED BRAKE PEDAL ANGLE AND TRAVEL. THIS CONDITION MAY LIMIT THE DRIVER’S ABILITY TO DELIVER FULL PRESSURE FROM THE FOOT BRAKE VALVE. THERE IS ALSO A POTENTIAL THAT THE BRAKE PLUNGER COULD BECOME LODGED AND NOT ALLOW RELEASE OF THE SERVICE BRAKES.
EITHER CONDITION COULD REDUCE BRAKING ABILITY AND/OR LEAD TO LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
ALL OF THE AFFECTED BUSES AND THE ONE AFTERMARKET TREADLE VALVE WERE SOLD THROUGH A-Z BUS SALES, A BLUE BIRD BUS DEALER. BLUE BIRD HAS REPORTED THAT ALL THE BUSES HAVE BEEN REPAIRED. THEREFORE, AN OWNER NOTIFICATION NOTICE WILL NOT BE ISSUED FOR THIS CAMPAIGN. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BLUE BIRD AT 1-478-822-2242.
BLUE BIRD'S RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER IS R12VF.OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV>HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV</A> .