NHTSA campaign 13V579000 · Blue Bird campaign R13WS
Blue Bird Recall 13V-579: Seat Belt may be Difficult to Unlatch/FMVSS 209
NHTSA recall 13V579000 (Blue Bird campaign R13WS) was reported by Blue Bird Body Company on November 20, 2013, with 802 vehicles potentially affected (per NHTSA). NHTSA's record lists the Blue Bird All American and Blue Bird Vision for model years 2014–2015. Owners were notified on December 17, 2013, per NHTSA.
Updated daily from NHTSA's recall files
Is my vehicle included?
This page lists, by model year, the vehicles NHTSA's recall record names for campaign 13V579000 in the model years try.vin imports (1995 and later); NHTSA's own record can list more. A model year on the list doesn't mean every vehicle of that year is included, and some may already have been repaired.
To see whether a specific vehicle is included and still needs the repair, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Free VIN check: decode a VIN to see its year, make and model.
Key facts
- NHTSA campaign
- 13V579000 (also written 13V-579 or 13V579)
- Filed by
- Blue Bird Body Company
- Blue Bird campaign number
- R13WS
- Report received
- Potentially affected
- 802 vehicles (per NHTSA)
- Component
- Seat Belts — Front — Buckle Assembly
- Owners notified
- Safety standard
- FMVSS 209
Repair completion: 71.82% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated October 21, 2026)
NHTSA cautions against comparing completion rates across recalls or manufacturers. How try.vin reads them.
Vehicles listed for this recall
NHTSA's recall record lists these vehicles for recall 13V579000. try.vin imports model years 1995 and later, so NHTSA's own list can be longer. Model years with a try.vin recall page link to it. Build dates are NHTSA's range for a model year (per NHTSA); a vehicle built in that range is not necessarily included.
Blue Bird
Blue Bird All American
Blue Bird Vision
NHTSA's recall notice
As NHTSA's recall record states it for campaign 13V579000.
Defect description
Blue Bird Body Company (Blue Bird) is recalling certain model year 2014 and 2015 Vision and All American model school buses manufactured August 23, 2013, through November 6, 2013 and equipped with IMMI-brand L9 driver's seat belts. When the button is pressed to release the seat belt, the latch plate can become partially engaged with the buckle, making the seat belt difficult to unlatch. Thus, this equipment fails to conform to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 209, "Seat Belt Assemblies."
Safety consequence
If the latch plate remains partially engaged after the button is pressed, egress from the vehicle could be hindered which would increase the risk of injury in the event of an emergency.
Manufacturer remedy
Blue Bird will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the seat belt buckle, and if necessary, replace the seat belt buckle, free of charge. The recall began on December 17, 2013. Owners may contact Blue Bird at 1-478-822-2242. Blue Bird's recall number R13WS.
Notes
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
Sources
Official NHTSA notice for recall 13V579000
Campaign details come from NHTSA's recall files, which try.vin imports once a day. The plain-language subject and the completion rate come from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Recalls Data dataset. How try.vin reads recall data.