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The Blue Bird Body Company has initiated a recall for certain 2022-2024 Vision electric school buses due to a software issue that may fail to alert drivers to a loss of secondary brake assist. This defect, affecting 163 buses, increases the risk of crashes due to excessive stopping distances. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has assigned this recall campaign number 25V249000. Blue Bird is addressing the issue by offering free software updates and wiring harness repairs to enhance diagnostic capabilities and ensure driver safety.
Key Highlights
- Affected Vehicles: 163 Blue Bird Vision electric school buses (2022-2024) with hydraulic brakes.
- Defect: Software may not detect or warn drivers of secondary brake assist failure.
- Safety Risk: Increased stopping distance and potential loss of vehicle control.
- Remedy: Free software updates and wiring harness repairs by dealers.
- Notification: Owner letters to be mailed on June 12, 2025.
- Contact: Blue Bird customer service at 1-478-822-2242 or NHTSA at 1-888-327-4236.
The issue came to light in October 2024 following two collisions involving Blue Bird Vision electric buses. Investigations revealed that a high-voltage system shutdown disabled the primary brake assist, and the secondary brake assist system was inoperative due to a blown fuse in one vehicle and a disconnected wiring harness in another. The lack of diagnostic warnings for these failure modes left drivers unaware of the compromised braking system, contributing to the crashes.
Blue Bird’s remedy includes updating the vehicle software and modifying the wiring harness to improve detection of secondary brake assist failures. This will ensure drivers receive timely warnings of potential issues. Dealers will perform these repairs at no cost, and parts are already available. Owners can contact their local Blue Bird dealer or order parts via [email protected]. The company has also implemented these enhancements in production to prevent future issues.
For further assistance, owners can visit www.safercar.gov or contact NHTSA’s Vehicle Safety Hotline. Blue Bird is committed to resolving this safety concern promptly to protect drivers and passengers.
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