NHTSA campaign 21V253000 · Blue Bird campaign R21BD-SB
Blue Bird Recall 21V-253: Electric Drivetrain Malfunction
NHTSA recall 21V253000 (Blue Bird campaign R21BD-SB) was reported by Blue Bird Body Company on April 12, 2021, with 292 vehicles potentially affected (per NHTSA). NHTSA's record lists the Blue Bird All American, Blue Bird All American School Bus, Blue Bird Vision and more for model years 2018–2021. Owners were notified on May 22, 2021, 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 21V253000 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
- 21V253000 (also written 21V-253 or 21V253)
- Filed by
- Blue Bird Body Company
- Blue Bird campaign number
- R21BD-SB
- Report received
- Potentially affected
- 292 vehicles (per NHTSA)
- Component
- Electrical System — Software
- Owners notified
Repair completion: 75.6% (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 21V253000. 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.
NHTSA's recall notice
As NHTSA's recall record states it for campaign 21V253000.
Defect description
Blue Bird Body Company (Blue Bird) is recalling certain 2018-2021 Vision and All American school buses. The electric drive train cannot detect isolation faults when the high voltage contactors are closed.
Safety consequence
An undetected high voltage isolation can expose service personnel to high voltage, increasing the risk of injury.
Manufacturer remedy
Blue Bird will notify owners, and dealers will update the Vehicle Control Unit software or install a different combination of High Voltage Power Distribution Unit hardware, free of charge. The recall began on May 22, 2021. Owners may contact Blue Bird customer service at 1-478-822-2242. Blue Bird's number for this recall is R21BD-SB.
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 21V253000
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.