Blue Bird Recalls Commercial Buses Due to Fire Risk in Battery Equalizers
Blue Bird is recalling specific commercial buses because a battery equalizer component may conduct electricity after heat exposure, increasing the risk of a fire.
What this means for you
Our assessment, not the agency’s: severity 4/5 (Severe).
The hazard poses a serious risk of illness, injury, or structural failure. Stop using the product immediately and contact the manufacturer for a refund or repair.
Our severity reasoning: The recall involves a fire hazard in commercial vehicles, which aligns with the rubric criterion for 'significant injury/property-damage reports' or structural/electrical defects posing a high risk of harm.
Plain-English summary
Blue Bird Body Company is recalling certain model year 2004 Ultra LMB, 2003-2006 Ultra LF, and 2004-2007 Express commercial buses. The recall involves vehicles equipped with Sure Power-brand battery equalizers that contain a specific epoxy sealing, or 'potting,' compound.
The defect involves the potting compound used for insulation, which was found to be capable of conducting electricity after being exposed to heat. Once electrically conductive, the material is capable of melting and burning, which increases the risk of a fire.
Blue Bird will notify owners, and dealers will replace the equalizers free of charge. The recall began on December 17, 2013. Owners may contact Blue Bird at 1-478-825-2021 or the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236.
The recalled product
- Product
- BLUE BIRD EXPRESS 4500, EXPRESS 4000, ULTRA LF, ULTRA LMB
- Brand
- BLUE BIRD
- Manufacturer
- Blue Bird Body Company
- Category
- Vehicle — Commercial Bus
- Hazard
- Affected units
- 393
Is your product affected?
Check your packaging against the codes below. If any of them match, the product is part of this recall.
Model numbers (4)
- EXPRESS 4500
- EXPRESS 4000
- ULTRA LF
- ULTRA LMB
Distribution
Distributed nationwide across the United States.
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