The Recall Desk
HighNHTSA·15V730000·Announced 2015-11-04

Blue Bird School Bus Wheelchair Lift Recall for Bearing Defects

Blue Bird is recalling certain school buses with Ricon wheelchair lifts where pivot holes may allow bearings to move, risking platform failure.

What this means for you

Real risk of harm even if no illness or injury has been reported yet. Stop using the product and follow the agency's guidance.

Our severity reasoning: The recall involves a structural defect in a vehicle component that could cause the wheelchair lift platform to fall, posing a risk of injury to the operator, but no injuries or fatalities are reported in the source text.

Plain-English summary

Blue Bird Body Company is recalling certain model year 2007-2015 All American, Vision, 2007-2011 Micro Bird, and 2007-2008 Conventional school buses. These vehicles are equipped with specific Ricon Corporation wheelchair lifts (models S2005, S2010, S5005, S5010, S5505, and S5510) manufactured between January 1, 2006, and August 25, 2014.

The recall addresses folding link arms on the wheelchair lifts that may have pivot holes that are too large. This defect allows the bearings to move out of position. If the bearings shift, the stowed platform may move excessively, potentially causing the platform mounting to fail. This failure could result in the wheelchair lift platform falling out of the vehicle when the doors are opened, increasing the risk of injury to the lift operator.

Ricon dealers will inspect the link arms for damage or displaced bearings and inspect the platform for cracks. Any damaged parts will be replaced free of charge. The recall began on December 1, 2015. Owners may contact Blue Bird customer service at 1-478-822-2242 or Ricon Customer Service at 1-800-322-2884.

The recalled product

Product
BLUE BIRD VISION, ALL AMERICAN, MICRO BIRD, CONVENTIONAL
Brand
BLUE BIRD
Manufacturer
Blue Bird Body Company
Category
Vehicle — School Bus
Hazard
Affected units
5,114

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)

  • VISION
  • ALL AMERICAN
  • MICRO BIRD
  • CONVENTIONAL

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

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