Auto Recall Watch
U.S. public vehicle records

Blue Bird L4RE recalls by model year

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

1 owner complaints analyzed

4 distinct recall campaigns

245,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2002 to 2009 model years. Data updated: . 1 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.

Compare model years

Recalls by model year

All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.

Recall campaigns

Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.

2002
1
2003
1
2004
1
2005
1
2006
1
2007
4
2008
3
2009
2
Recall campaigns data
CategoryCount
20021
20031
20041
20051
20061
20074
20083
20092

2002: 1; 2003: 1; 2004: 1; 2005: 1; 2006: 1; 2007: 4; 2008: 3; 2009: 2

Year-by-year records

Blue Bird L4RE model-year comparison
Model yearComplaintsRecallsChange in recalls
200201Not available
2003010
2004110
2005010
2006010
200704+3
200803-1
200902-1

Recall history

4 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.

08V278000 · Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel

Reported: 2008-06-23 (June 23, 2008) · Model years: 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007

NABI IS RECALLING 239 MY 2002-2007 BLUE BIRD C4RE AND L4RE TRANSIT BUSES EQUIPPED WITH A 'PRX1' MODULE. THE PRX1 MODULE IS A DEVICE WHICH TRANSMITS AN ELECTRIC SIGNAL TO THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, WHICH IS CONVERTED INTO AN AIR SYSTEM PRESSURE READING ON THE DASH MOUNTED GUAGE. ON CERTAIN MODULES, TIS READING IS INACCURATE CAUSING THE DISPLAYED PRESSURE TO BE OUTSIDE THE TOLERANCE OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 121, 'AIR BRAKE SYSTEMS.'

Consequence: IF THE AIR BRAKE SYSTEM DEVELOPS A LEAK, THE BVEHICLE OPERATOR MAY NOT BE AWARE DUE TO THE INACCURATE DASH READING. IF A LEAK OCCURS, THE SAFETY/'EMERGENCY BRAKES COULD SET WITHOUT ADEQUATE WARNING, APPLYING THE BRAKES PARTIALLY, WHICH COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, POSSIBLY CAUSING A CRASH.

Remedy: NABI WILL PROVIDE INSTRUCTIONS TO VEHICLE OWNERS/END-USERS TO ADD A SPECIFIC WIRE TO THE MODULE, CORRECTING THE PROBLEM. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 5, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NABI AT

NHTSA campaign record ↗
08V434000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Diesel

Reported: 2008-08-26 (August 26, 2008) · Model years: 2007, 2008

NORTH AMERICAN BUS INDUSTRIES (NABI) IS RECALLING 15 MY 2007-2008 BLUE-BIRD L4RE AND C4RE TRANSIT BUSES EQUIPPED WITH C7 OR C9 CATERPILLAR DIESEL ENGINES. THE FUEL PUMP OUTLET CHECK PLUG MAY BE CRACKED WHICH COULD CAUSE FUEL TO SPRAY AND LEAK.

Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: NABI IS WORKING WITH CATERPILLAR (PLEASE SEE 08E042). CATERPILLAR WILL REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP PLUG FREE OF CHARGE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CATERPILLAR AT 1-800-447-4986, OR NABI AT 1-888-391-1777.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
13V011000 · Structure | Steering

Reported: 2013-01-11 (January 11, 2013) · Model years: 2007, 2008, 2009

North American Bus Industries Inc. (NABI) is recalling certain model year 2007-2009 Blue Bird L4RE transit buses manufactured July 1, 2007, through October 31, 2009. The buses may have a defective steering gear attachment. Cracks may develop in the bracket that secures the power steering gear to the bus frame or the bus frame may crack around the bolts that attach the steering gear bracket to the frame.

Consequence: If left unchecked, the cracks may propagate and cause partial separation of the steering gear from the bus frame. This would cause a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.

Remedy: NABI will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and repair the buses free of charge. The recall began during March 2013. Owners may contact NABI at 1-256-831-4296.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
13V457000 · Electrical System

Reported: 2013-09-19 (September 19, 2013) · Model years: 2007, 2008, 2009

North American Bus Industries (NABI) is recalling certain model year 2000-2011 LFW, CLFW, BRT, 2007-2009 Blue Bird L4RE, and 2000-2009 Optima Opus transit buses equipped with Sure Power battery equalizers containing a particular epoxy sealing, aka 'potting', compound. The specific potting compound used in the subject products for insulation was found to be capable of conducting electricity after being exposed to heat.

Consequence: Once electrically conductive, the material is capable of melting and burning, increasing the risk of a fire.

Remedy: NABI will notify owners, and dealers will replace the equalizers, free of charge. An interim letter was mailed to owners on January 27, 2014. Owners may contact NABI at 1-256-831-4296. NABI's recall number is 20136.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
Explore the data

Vehicle analysis explorer

Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.

Data completeness

1 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.

100.0%Usable mileage1 / 1 records
100.0%Valid incident date1 / 1 records
100.0%Valid filing date1 / 1 records
100.0%Ordered incident and filing dates1 / 1 records

Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.

Problems by model year

Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.

Component complaint heatmap
Component20022003200420052006200720082009
Structure:Frame And Members
0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

1100.0%
ODI 10413933 · 245,000 mi

ON OUR 2004 AND 2005 L4RE BLUEBIRD BUSES WHERE THE STEERING GEAR MOUNTS TO THE FRAME THE FRAME IS CRACKING AROUND THE BOLT HOLES. WE HAVE A FLEET OF 8 AND WE HAVE FOUND 4 WITH CRACKS. *KB

Look up ODI 10413933 at NHTSA ↗

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.

Failure mileage by component

Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.

Component failure mileage distribution
ComponentMileage range (25th–75th percentile)MedianUsable recordsExamples
Structure:Frame And MembersToo few reports for a range245,000 mi1 (sparse)
ODI 10413933 · 245,000 mi

ON OUR 2004 AND 2005 L4RE BLUEBIRD BUSES WHERE THE STEERING GEAR MOUNTS TO THE FRAME THE FRAME IS CRACKING AROUND THE BOLT HOLES. WE HAVE A FLEET OF 8 AND WE HAVE FOUND 4 WITH CRACKS. *KB

Look up ODI 10413933 at NHTSA ↗

Complaint and recall timeline

Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.

1 reports2024-112026-10

Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.

Monthly counts, recall campaigns and complaint examples
Monthly complaint and recall timeline
MonthComplaintsCampaigns announcedExamples
2024-110None

No examples available for this selection.

2024-120None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-010None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-020None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-030None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-040None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-050None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-060None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-070None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-080None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-090None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-100None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-110None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-120None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-010None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-020None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-030None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-040None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-050None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-060None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-070None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-080None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-090None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-10 (partial)0None

No examples available for this selection.

Emerging complaint spikes

Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.

This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.

No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.

Equal-age model-year comparison

Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.

Age 0Age 1Age 21 reports

2008: 0 complaints · 2009: 0 complaints

Equal observation windows
Model yearThrough age 0Through age 1Through age 2
2008000
2009000
Date coverage across each selected cohort
Date basis for all complaints in selected model years
YearIncident dates usedFiling date fallbacksExcluded dates
2008000
2009000

Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.

Components reported together

Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.

Component co-occurrence matrix
ComponentStructure:Frame And Members
Structure:Frame And Members—

Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.

Recurring narrative patterns

Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.

0 patterns with matching reports.

No narratives match the published patterns.