1990 Blue Bird TC2000: complaints, problems and recalls

WHILE DRIVING AT 55MPH THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH WITH NO WARNING. DRIVER USED HIS SERVICE BRAKE TO SLOW DOWN THE VEHICLE, PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO INCREASE IN HIGH RPMS UNTIL THE ENGINE BEGAN TO KNOCK, THEN CUT OFF. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 828111 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 1990-01-23 (January 23, 1990)

THE DIESEL FUEL FILTER SEPARATOR IS LOCATED TOO CLOSE TO THE CHASSIS FRAME CROSS MEMBER WHICH COULD DEFORM AND DISLODGE THE BOWL OF THE SEPARATOR IN AN ACCIDENT.

Consequence: FUEL SPILLAGE DURING AND AFTER A CRASH, IN EXCESS OF LIMIT ALLOWED BY FMVSS 301, COULD CAUSE A FIRE NEAR A SOURCE OF IGNITION.

Remedy: RELOCATE FUEL FILTER - SEPARATOR TO ELIMINATE INTERFERENCE WITH CROSSMEMBER IN ANY CRASH.

Reported: 1990-04-19 (April 19, 1990)

BENDIX HYDRAULIC BRAKE BOOSTER MAY MALFUNCTION UNDER CERTAIN COMBINATIONS OF FLUID TEMPERATURE AND BRAKE PEDAL FORCE.

Consequence: THIS WOULD CAUSE THE BRAKE BOOSTER TO SELF-APPLY AND RESULT IN FULL BRAKE APPLICATION, WITHOUT WARNING, WHICH COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.

Remedy: REPLACE HYDRAULIC BRAKE BOOSTER.

Reported: 1990-05-22 (May 22, 1990)

LOCK PINS IN STEERING WHEEL AND HUB ASSEMBLY MY SHEAR OFF, ALLOWING STEERING WHEEL TO SPIN.

Consequence: THIS COULD CAUSE LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL THAT COULDRESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.

Remedy: REPAIR USING A POSITIVE LOCKING METHOD.

Reported: 1991-01-23 (January 23, 1991)

UNDERSIZED CRIMP ON WIRE FROM HEADLIGHT SWITCH TO DIMMER SWITCH CREATES ELECTRICAL RESISTANCE AND CAN CAUSE A SHORT IN THE HEADLIGHT WIRING SYSTEM.

Consequence: A SHORT COULD RESULT IN HEADLIGHT LOSS WHICH PRESENTS APOTENTIAL FOR AN ACCIDENT.

Remedy: REPLACE DIMMER SWITCH WITH NEW 14 GAUGE WIRE WITH PROPERLY CRIMPED CONNECTIONS.

Reported: 1991-12-16 (December 16, 1991)

THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE HOSE MOUNTED ON THE REAR AXLE MAY RUB AGAINST THE LEFT FRAME RAIL.

Consequence: THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE HOSE RUBBING AGAINST THE LEFT FRAMERAIL COULD CHAFE AND SPLIT, RESULTING IN LOSS OF HYDRAULIC FLUID AND INCREASEDSTOPPING DISTANCES.

Remedy: INSTALL A BRACKET AT REAR AXLE TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE BRAKE HOSE AND THE FRAME RAIL.

Reported: 1992-08-12 (August 12, 1992)

A 150 AMP CIRCUIT BREAKER, OPTION 4362, HAS BEEN WIRED IN PARALLEL WITH A STANDARD EQUIPMENT CIRCUIT, THEREBY NOT PROVIDING THE REQUIRED PROTECTION.

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A MAJOR SHORT-CIRCUIT, INADEQUATE CIRCUITPROTECTION COULD RESULT IN A FIRE IN THE REAR ENGINE COMPARTMENT.

Remedy: THE STANDARD EQUIPMENT CIRCUIT MUST BE REMOVED.

Reported: 1992-12-24 (December 24, 1992)

THE ELECTRIC VANDAL LOCK CENTER PLUNGER CAN TAP THE CONTROL LOCK PIN, OF THE OUTWARD OPENING DOOR, WHICH CAUSES THE DOOR LOCK TO BECOME DISENGAGED.

Consequence: THE DISENGAGED DOOR LOCK ALLOWS THE DOOR TO OPEN WITHOUTPRIOR WARNING AND ENDANGER OCCUPANTS NEAR THE DOOR IF THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION.

Remedy: MODIFY THE VANDAL DOOR LOCKS WITH BLUE BIRD SUPPLIED KITS.

Reported: 1993-03-01 (March 1, 1993)

PASSENGERS CLOTHING CAN UNKNOWINGLY BECOME CAUGHT IN THE HANDRAILS AT BUS DOORS WHEN EXITING THE BUS.

Consequence: WHEN A PASSENGER'S CLOTHING BECOMES CAUGHT IN THEHANDRAIL, AND THE BUS DRIVER CLOSES THE DOOR AND PUTS THE VEHICLE IN MOTION, THEINDIVIDUAL IS SUBJECT TO BEING DRAGGED BY THE BUS. THIS CAN RESULT IN SERIOUSINJURY OR DEATH.

Remedy: REPLACE OR REPOSITION THE HANDRAILS TO STOP CLOTHING FROM BECOMING CAUGHT.

Reported: 1995-05-09 (May 9, 1995)

PASSENGERS CLOTHING CAN UNKNOWINGLY BECOME CAUGHT IN THE HANDRAILS AT BUS DOORS WHEN EXITING THE BUS.

Consequence: WHEN A PASSENGER'S CLOTHING BECOMES CAUGHT IN THE HANDRAIL, AND THE BUS DRIVER CLOSES THE DOOR AND PUTS THE VEHICLE IN MOTION,THE INDIVIDUAL IS SUBJECT TO BEING DRAGGED BY THE BUS. THIS CAN RESULT INSERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A SET SCREW TO THE METAL CLAMP WHICH RETAINS THE INTERMEDIATE HANDRAIL. A HIGH IMPACT MOLDED PLASTIC "CLAM SHELL" WILL BE PLACED OVER EACH END OF THE INTERMEDIATE HANDRAIL COMPLETELY COVERING THE CLAMP AND ELIMINATING ALL CATCH-POINTS. THE FLANGE OF THE EXISTING FLOOR LINE BRACKET WILL BE CRIMPED SECURING THE VERTICAL SECTION OF THE PRIMARY TUBLAR HANDRAIL AT THE FLOOR LINE.

Reported: 1995-07-26 (July 26, 1995)

THESE UNITS ARE EQUIPPED WITH A COUNTER WEIGHT ASSEMBLY MADE UP OF 300 POUNDS OF 1/4" PLATE STEEL WELDED TOGETHER AND BOLTED BETWEEN THE FRAME RAILS IN THE REAR OVERHANG JUST FORWARD OF THE REAR BUMPER. SOME OF THE WELDS HAVE BROKEN DUE TO INSUFFICIENT WELDS, CORROSION, OR ICE EXPANSION.

Consequence: THESE PLATES CAN DROP TO THE ROADWAY BECOMING A HAZARD TO FOLLOWING VEHICLES INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR AN ACCIDENT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A MECHANICAL RETAINING DEVICE WHICH CLAMPS THE PLATES TOGETHER AND FASTENED WITH THREADED FASTENERS. BUS OWNERS WILL HAVE THE OPTION OF REPAIRING THEIR OWN VEHICLES.

Reported: 1996-05-03 (May 3, 1996)

PASSENGER'S CLOTHING CAN UNKNOWINGLY BECOME CAUGHT IN THE FORWARD HANDRAILS AT BUS DOORS WHEN EXITING THE BUS.

Consequence: WHEN A PASSENGER'S CLOTHING BECOMES CAUGHT IN THE HANDRAIL, AND THE BUS DRIVER CLOSES THE DOOR AND PUTS THE VEHICLE IN MOTION, THE INDIVIDUAL IS SUBJECT TO BEING DRAGGED BY THE BUS. THIS CAN RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.

Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE DIRECTED TO REMOVE ALL FORWARD HANDRAILS. PROVISIONS WILL BE MADE FOR THOSE OWNERS OPERATING IN STATES WHICH MANDATE A FORWARD HANDRAIL THAT A REPLACEMENT HANDRAIL WILL BE PROVIDED.

Reported: 1997-11-07 (November 7, 1997)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: FRONT AND REAR ENGINE SCHOOL BUSES EQUIPPED WITH 60 GALLON SIDE MOUNTED FUEL TANK BARRIERS. THESE BUSES DO NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 301, "FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITY."

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE FUEL TANK COULD BE DAMAGED, LEAKING FUEL, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE FIRE.

Remedy: BLUE BIRD WILL SHIP INSTRUCTIONS AND MODIFICATION KITS TO THE OWNERS OF THESE BUSES.

Reported: 1999-06-15 (June 15, 1999)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SCHOOL BUSES. THE WALL SIDE ATTACHING BOLTS FOR SOME OF THE PASSENGER SEATS MAY HAVE BEEN INSTALLED TOO CLOSE TO THE EDGE OF THE SEAT LEDGE AND IN THE WRONG ATTACHING HOLE RESULTING IN WEAKENING OF THE SEAT LEDGE AT THE ATTACHMENT POINTS.

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A FRONTAL CRASH, THE REAR ATTACHING BOLT OF THESE SEATS COULD PULL OUT OF THE SEAT LEDGE INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY TO THE SEAT OCCUPANT.

Remedy: BLUE BIRD WILL FURNISH TO DISTRIBUTORS AND OWNERS, PARTS AND INSTRUCTIONS NECESSARY TO STRENGTHEN THE PASSENGER SEAT ATTACHMENT AT THE WALL SIDE.