2012 Blue Bird All American, 2012 Blue Bird Vision Recall: Structure

The defect

BLUE BIRD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 ALL AMERICAN AND VISION SCHOOL BUSES MANUFACTURED FROM AUGUST 2, 2011, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 14, 2011, EQUIPPED WITH SPECTAL INDUSTRIES VERTICAL EMERGENCY EXIT WINDOWS. INCORRECT RIVETS MAY HAVE BEEN USED TO ATTACH THE HANDLES THAT AN OCCUPANT WOULD USE TO OPEN THE WINDOW IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY. THE PART NUMBERS FOR THE BLUE BIRD BUSES ARE AS FOLLOWS: 129185, 129195, 129197, 129199, 129201, 129202, 129203, 129205, 129207, 129209, 129210, 129228, 129230, 129232, 129234, 129236, 129238, 129240, 129242, AND 129243.

The risk

IF THE HANDLE IS ACTUATED DURING A NON-EMERGENCY SITUATION AND DETACHES, THE EMERGENCY WINDOW CANNOT BE RE-SECURED, POSING A RISK THAT CHILDREN MAY FALL OR CLIMB OUT. HOWEVER, IF THE HANDLE WERE TO DETACH DURING AN EMERGENCY, THE EXIT WINDOW WILL OPEN AND EGRESS THROUGH THE WINDOW WILL NOT BE HINDERED.

The fix — what to do

BLUE BIRD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND PROVIDE REPAIR KITS, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR ABOUT NOVEMBER 14, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BLUE BIRD AT 1-478-822-2242.

BLUE BIRD'S RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER IS R11TN.OWNERS 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 <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV>HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV</A> .