NHTSA vehicle safety data
2003 Blue Bird Commercial Series Recalls & Complaints
The 2003 Blue Bird Commercial Series has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns on file as of October 21, 2026. try.vin has no NHTSA owner complaints on file for the 2003 Blue Bird Commercial Series. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Blue Bird dealer.
NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2003 Blue Bird Commercial Series. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
ENGINE SURGING/JOHN DEERE
NHTSA #05V152000 · Vehicle Speed Control · NHTSA notice
Reported April 7, 2005 · BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY
Potentially affected: 486 vehicles
Blue Bird campaign R05JP
Defect description
CERTAIN 2001 THROUGH 2005 ALL AMERICAN, COMMERCIAL SERIES, AND Q-BUS SCHOOL AND TRANSIT BUSES EQUIPPED WITH JOHN DEERE 8.1 CNG ENGINES. THE SUBJECT BUSES EQUIPPED WITH THE JOHN DEERE ENGINES MAY SURGE INAPPROPRIATELY DUE TO ERRACTIC OPERATION OF THE AIR THROTTLE IF THE ENGINE IS TAKEN FROM FULL TO ZERO LOAD.
Safety consequence
UNEXPECTED ENGINE SURGE COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN PERSONAL INJURY.
Manufacturer remedy
JOHN DEERE WILL NOTIFY BLUE BIRD'S CUSTOMERS AND REPAIR THE ENGINES FREE OF CHARGE. CUSTOMERS ARE BEING INSTRUCTED TO CONTACT JOHN DEERE AT 1-800-JD-ENGINE.
Notes
CUSTOMERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.
BLUE BIRD/SURE-LOC/WHEELCHAIR SECUREMENT SYSTEM
NHTSA #04V426000 · Equipment Adaptive/Mobility · NHTSA notice
Reported August 30, 2004 · BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY
Potentially affected: 372 vehicles
Blue Bird campaign R04JB · Owners notified September 21, 2004 · Vehicles built February 17, 1999 – June 29, 2004 (per NHTSA)
Defect description
CERTAIN BLUE BIRD 1999-2005 ALL AMERICAN, TC/2000, MICRO BIRD, VISION, CONVENTIONAL, AND COMMERCIAL SERIES SCHOOL BUSES EQUIPPED WITH SURE-LOC WHEELCHAIR SECUREMENT SYSTEMS AND MANUFACTURED BETWEEN FEBRUARY 17, 1999, AND AUGUST 13, 2004. CERTAIN SURE-LOK WHEELCHAIR TIE-DOWN SECUREMENT ASSEMBLIES P/N 8625-13. THE SPROCKET TEETH OF THE RETRACTOR ASSEMBLY MAY BE OUT OF ALIGNMENT CAUSING THE LOAD PAWL NOT TO FULLY SEAT IN THE SPROCKET TEETH.
Safety consequence
IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE WHEELCHAIR MAY NOT BE ADEQUATELY SECURED POSSIBLY RESULTING IN INJURIES.
Manufacturer remedy
BLUE BIRD WILL NOTIFY ITS CUSTOMERS AND REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE PART FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN SEPTEMBER 21, 2004. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR BUSES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT AT BLUE BIRD AT 478-822-2242.
Notes
ALSO, CUSTOMERS CAN CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).
BLUE BIRD/WIRING HARNESS
NHTSA #02V217000 · Electrical System — Wiring · NHTSA notice
Reported August 12, 2002 · BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY
Potentially affected: 255 vehicles
Blue Bird campaign R02GE · Owners notified September 29, 2002 · Vehicles built June 5, 2001 – July 11, 2002 (per NHTSA)
Defect description
ON CERTAIN REAR ENGINE SCHOOL AND TRANSIT BUSES EQUIPPED WITH CUMMINS ISB ENGINES, THE WIRING HARNESS TO THE COMBUSTION AIR INTAKE GRID HEATER COULD CHAFE AGAINST ENGINE COMPONENTS.
Safety consequence
THE HARNESS CAN WEAR THROUGH CAUSING AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE GRID HEATER POWER SUPPLY, INCREASING THE RISK OF A FIRE.
Manufacturer remedy
OWNERS WILL BE CONTACTED AND ADVISED TO ADD A BRACKET TO SUPPORT THE HARNESS AWAY FROM THE ENGINE COMPONENTS. BLUE BIRD WILL PROVIDE A REPLACEMENT HARNESS FOR ANY HARNESSES FOUND ABRADED AND WILL REIMBURSE THE CUSTOMER FOR THE LABOR REQUIRED TO REPLACE THE HARNESS. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR ABOUT SEPTEMBER 29, 2002. 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 1-478-822-2242.
Notes
ALSO, CUSTOMERS CAN CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).
Other Blue Bird Commercial Series model years
Check your 2003 Blue Bird Commercial Series VIN
Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Blue Bird Commercial Series at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.
Check a Blue Bird VIN