1998 Blue Bird Commercial Series Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Commercial Series years
- Not enough data 1st of 10 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 7 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
NHTSA has received no owner complaints about the 1998 Blue Bird Commercial Series so far. There are 7 safety recalls covering this model year.
- 0owner complaints
- 7safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 0complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
1998 Blue Bird Commercial Series recalls (7)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Fuel system, diesel
Problem: Certain 1998 through 2002 blue bird all american, tc2000 school and transit buses, and commercial series buses equipped with cummins isb diesel engines. The fuel pump could fail to transfer fuel appropriately creating an engine stall condition.
Risk: Should the engine stall while the vehicle is in use, a possible vehicle crash could occur.
Fix: Customers will be notified by cummins to bring their vehicles to an authorized dealer to have the fuel lift pump replaced free of charge. For more information, customers may contact cummins at 1-800-diesels.
Electrical system:alternator/generator/regulator
Problem: On certain school and transit buses equipped with cummins isb 6 cylinder engines, the lower alternator support brace or mounting hardware can loosen or break which will allow the alternator to drop onto the engine.
Risk: In this event, the electrical wiring harness may be damaged and the possibility of fire may exist.
Fix: Cummins will notify customers and replace the upper and lower alternator support brackets free of charge. Owners who take their vehicle to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact cummins at 1-800-343-7357 or blue bird at 478-822-2242.
Electrical system:alternator/generator/regulator
Problem: On certain front engine school and transit buses equipped with blue bird option 40177 cummins isb engine, the alternator power cables may not be routed properly from the alternator output to the starter motor.
Risk: If the cables are not routed properly, the cable insulation could be abraded by contact with other chassis components resulting in a short to ground.
Fix: Dealers will add a loom and reroute the electrical power cable from alternator output to starting motor. The alternator power cable will be replaced if abrasions are found. Owner notification is expected to begin on or about september 30, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact blue bird at 1-478-822-2242.
Electrical system:wiring
Problem: Vehicle description: school and transit buses equipped with rear mounted engines. The 12-volt power supply cable(s) may be chaffed by hoses, harnesses, frame components, or clamps.
Risk: This condition can result in power failure and/or risk of fire in the engine compartment.
Fix: Dealers will remove and inspect the 12-volt power cable(s) from the battery to the starter and, if necessary, will replace the cables. Owner notification began july 30, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact blue bird at 1-912-822-2242.
Service brakes, air:controls:foot control/valve
Problem: Vehicle description: school and transit buses equipped with bendix air brakes. Bendix changed the internal design of the qr1c relay valve by adding a hole in the internal diaphragm. When the hole in the diaphragm aligns with the hole in the valve body, the brake application time increases.
Risk: Under certain conditions, such as parked on an incline, driver activates the parking brake but removes foot from the threadle valve, the bus could roll before the parking brake is fully engaged.
Fix: Dealers will replace the diaphragms with holes with solid diaphragms for the qr1c valves.
Visibility:windshield
Problem: Vehicle description: school buses equipped with transit sliding pushout windows. Potential sticking and/or binding of the pushout window inner frame within the outer frame results in opening forces exceeding the requirements of fmvss no. 217, "bus window retention and release."
Risk: Personal injury could occur in the event of a crash.
Fix: Owners will be provided with step-by-step procedures for modifying the transit sliding pushout windows to conform the fmvss 217 requirements.
Service brakes, air:supply:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Problem: Vehicle description: school and transit buses equipped with bendix abs anti-lock braking system. The primary and secondary brake treadle valve air lines were installed incorrectly at the bendix r12dc relay valve.
Risk: With the brake system installed incorrectly, future maintenance might be affected by this inconsistency, causing the brakes to be installed incorrect, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will correct the air line plumbing at the bendix r12dc relay valve.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Other Blue Bird Commercial Series years
← 1997 Commercial Series · 1999 Commercial Series →
See all Blue Bird Commercial Series problems by year, every Blue Bird model, or the VIN decoder.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1998 Blue Bird Commercial Series?
NHTSA has no owner complaints on file yet.
Was there a recall on the 1998 Blue Bird Commercial Series?
Yes, 7 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 1998 Blue Bird Commercial Series a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Commercial Series model years, the 1998 has too little data to compare. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.