1998 Blue Bird TC2000 Problems, Complaints & Recalls

Problem: Matthews is recalling 8 my 1998 bluebird, my 2004 ford e450, my 2005-2006 thomas built buses, my 2006 international bus, my 2007 chevrolet 5500, freightliner and dodge sprinter trucks, transit buses, and specialty vehicles equipped with ricon platform style wheelchair lifts. These buses fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 404, "platform lift installation in motor vehicles." the threshold warning system may not detect the presence of a wheelchair or mobility aid user in a certain spot within the defined threshold area.

Risk: The user of the lift could be injured should the lift move unintentionally.

Fix: Matthews is working with ricon to correct the wheelchair lifts free of charge (please see 07e095). Owners may contact ricon at 1-818-267-3000 or matthews specialty at 336-297-9600.

Problem: Matthews is recalling 8 my 1998 bluebird, my 2004 ford e450, my 2005-2006 thomas built bus, my 2006 international bus, my 2007 chevrolet 5500, freightliner and dodge sprinter trucks, transit buses, and specialty vehicles equipped with ricon platform style wheelchair lifts. These lifts fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 403, "platform lift system accessible for motor vehicles." the anti-stow interlock may not detect the presence of a wheelchair or mobility aid user. The pressure sensing switch that detects the presence of weight on the platform was not adjusted to the necessary sensitivity level. The lift could stow even though someone or something is still on the lift.

Risk: A lift occupant can be injured should the lift begin to stow unintentionally.

Fix: Matthews is working with ricon to correct the wheelchair lifts free of charge (please see 07e097). Owners may contact ricon at 1-818-267-3000 or mattews specialty at 336-297-9600.

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.

Problem: Certain school buses fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 221, "school bus body joint strength." one or more of the bolts attaching the driver's platform to the floor structure was omitted.

Risk: The rear of the driver's platform may not be properly retained in the event of a crash which could increase the risk of injury or death to passengers.

Fix: Blue bird will notify its customers and inspect and repair the affected units. Owner notification began on november 20, 2003. 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 478-822-2242.

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.

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.

Problem: Certain transit buses fail to comply with requirements of federal motor vehicle standard no. 101, "controls and displays." this standard requires specific labeling for "engine start" and "engine stop." the wording of the labels on these vehicles do not meet the requirements of the standard.

Risk: The operator could place the engine switch in a position other than that intended, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Owners will be provided with new decals and installation instructions. Owner notification began august 29, 2002. Owners who do not receive the free label and installation instructions within a reasonable time should contact blue bird at 1-478-822-2242.

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.

Problem: Vehicle description: school and transit buses built with bendix air abs with an ec-17 1030r electronic control unit (ecu), there have been reports of unwanted abs activation at low speeds caused by 1) chafed abs wheel speed sensor wires on rotating parts or 2) a damaged component at the wheel end that generates a certain type of erratic sensor signal.

Risk: This condition could cause the abs ecu to exhaust the air at the air brake modulators for one or more of the wheels. This could result in extended braking distances and a possible crash.

Fix: Dealers will replace the abs ecu.

Problem: Vehicle description: school buses. These buses fail to meet the 60 percent joint strength requirements of fmvss no. 221, "school bus body joint strength."

Risk: In the event of a vehicle crash, the roof may not be supported sufficiently, causing personal injury to bus occupants.

Fix: Owners will be contacted and advised to inspect each roof joint. Owners will install repair rivets in each joint found to have insufficient quantity of rivets in each examined 8 inch section.

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.

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.

Problem: Vehicle description: school buses. There is a shimmy in the front end of the bus.

Risk: This condition could cause the driver to lose control of the vehicle.

Fix: Owners will be provided with an axle damper kit and installation instructions.

Problem: Vehicle description: school buses equipped with cummins isb engines. Electrical power cables may not have been routed properly from the alternator output to the starting motor.

Risk: If the cables are not routed properly, the cable insulation could be abraded by contact with other chassis components, causing an electrical short.

Fix: Dealers will add loom and reroute the electrical power cable from the alternator output to staring motor. Any cables found with abrasions will be replaced.

Problem: 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.

Risk: 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.

Fix: Blue bird will furnish to distributors and owners, parts and instructions necessary to strengthen the passenger seat attachment at the wall side.

Problem: Vehicle description: school and transit forward and rear engine buses equipped with cummins isb and isc engines. The wiring harness to the combustion air intake grid heater can chafe against the engine and wear through causing an electrical short in the grid heater power supply. The short causes the fusible link to fail.

Risk: When the fusible link fails, insulation on the fusible link can ignite, creating a fire risk in the engine compartment.

Fix: Owners will be advised to replace the original grid heater power supply harness with fusible links with a new grid heater power supply harness equipped with fuses. In addition, a clamp will be added to support the harness away from the engine components.

Problem: Vehicle description: rear engine school buses equipped with option 04888 dedicated compressed natural gas (cng) fuel package. The 24" long stainless steel braided fuel hoses can leak at the hose end fittings.

Risk: These hoses can fracture allowing cng fuel leakage increasing the risk of a fire.

Fix: Dealers will replace these hoses with conductive thermoplastic hoses.

Problem: Vehicle description: school and transit buses. The parking brake indicator light can illuminate without the parking brake being set.

Risk: A driver may see the parking brake indicator light on and leave the bus. The bus may then roll increasing the risk of personal injury and/or property damage.

Fix: Dealers will add a diode to the stop light circuit to prevent illumination of the parking brake indicator unless the parking brake has been set.

Problem: 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."

Risk: In the event of a vehicle crash, the fuel tank could be damaged, leaking fuel, possibly resulting in a vehicle fire.

Fix: Blue bird will ship instructions and modification kits to the owners of these buses.