2003 Blue Bird Conventional recalls and problems
The 2003 Blue Bird Conventional has 6 safety recalls and 1 owner complaint filed with NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at any Blue Bird dealer.
Recalls may cover only some 2003 Blue Bird Conventional vehicles. Check your VIN at NHTSA ↗ to see open recalls for your exact car.
2003 Blue Bird Conventional recalls
Recall 05V-239: Other
Problem: Certain school buses originally sold in or currently registered in the following states: alaska, colorado, connecticut, delaware, idaho, illinois, indiana, iowa, kansas, kentucky, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, missouri, montana, nebraska, nevada, new hampshire, new jersey, new mexico, new york, north dakota, ohio, oregon, pennsylvania, rhode island, south dakota, tennessee, utah, vermont, virginia, washington, west virginia, wisconsin, wyoming, and the district of columbia. In extremely cold weather, the microswitches used internally to position the stop arm sign in the open and closed positions may malfunction, causing the sign to open or close in an improper position, or to not open at all.
Risk: Should the stop arm not perform properly, a child or pedestrian may be endangered by passing vehicles should the motorist not stop at the correct location.
Fix: Blue bird will notify its customers and replace the original switch with a switch pack that is not sensitive to extreme cold weather and will inspect to ensure the microswitch heater wiring is properly connected free of charge. The recall began on august 12, 2005. Owners may contact blue bird at 478-822-2242.
Recall 05V-251: Other
Problem: Certain blue bird 2002 through 2006 my all american, conventional, minibird, microbird, vision, and tc2000 school buses originally sold in or currently registered in states other than the following states: alaska, colorado, connecticut, delaware, idaho, illinois, indiana, iowa, kansas, kentucky, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, missouri, montana, nebraska, nevada, new hampshire, new jersey, new mexico, new york, north dakota, ohio, oregon, pennsylvania, rhode island, south dakota, tennessee, utah, vermont, virginia, washington, west virginia, wisconsin, wyoming, and the district of columbia. In extremely cold weather, the microswitches used internally to position the sign in the open and closed positions may malfunction, causing the sign to open or close in an improper position, or to not open at all.
Risk: Should the stop arm not perform properly, a child or pedestrian may be endangered by passing motorists should the motorist not stop at the correct location.
Fix: Blue bird will notify all its customers of this campaign. For those buses operated in or near any of the states listed above, blue bird is encouraging the bus owners to obtain the replacement switch. For those buses operated in the warmer states, blue bird will replace the switch upon owner request. For those customers who request the remedy, blue bird will replace the original switch with a switch pack that is not sensitive to extreme cold weather and will inspect to ensure the microswitch heater wiring is properly connected. The safety improvement campaign began on august 12, 2005. Owners may contact blue bird at 478-822-2242.
Recall 05V-074: Engine and Engine Cooling
Problem: Certain 2002-2006 my blue bird all american school and transit buses, conventional school buses, and commercial series transit buses manufactured between december 21, 2002, and february 24, 2005. These buses are equipped with webasto coolant heaters, model dbw 2010, assembled with webasto burner tubes, p/n 303046/26533a manufactured between november 2002 and february 2005. The stainless steel burner tube is made out of a material that is not to specification and could fail prematurely.
Risk: Should the burner tube fail, the coolant heater could overheat, possibly resulting in a fire.
Fix: Blue bird will notify its customers and replace the burner tubes free of charge. The recall began on march 31, 2005. Owners may contact blue bird at 478-822-2242.
Recall 05V-036: Tires
Problem: Certain my 2003 thru 2005 blue bird micro bird and conventional school buses. These buses do not have the tire load range on both the tire information label and certification decal as required by federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 120, tire selection and rims for motor vehicles other than passenger cars.
Risk: Omission of the tire load range may lead to the installation of tires with load ranges not appropriate for vehicle use. A failure occurring in tires due to inappropriate load range may result in loss of control of the vehicle and a crash can occur.
Fix: Blue bird will mail to final stage manufacturers, certification decals with the tire load rating indicated to its customers. The recall began on may 6, 2005. Owners may contact blue bird at 478-822-2242.
Recall 04V-426: Equipment Adaptive/Mobility
Problem: 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.
Risk: In the event of a vehicle crash, the wheelchair may not be adequately secured possibly resulting in injuries.
Fix: 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.
Recall 03V-364: Seats
Problem: On certain school buses equipped with optional seat belts or seat belt "ready" seats, some belts were installed with only two bolts rather than the required three (3) bolts.
Risk: These seats could detach from the wall side attachment points in the event of a vehicle crash, increasing the risk of injury to the seat occupant.
Fix: Blue bird will furnish to distributors and owners, parts and instructions necessary to install the missing bolt free of charge. Owner notification is expected to on november 3, 2003. 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.
2003 Blue Bird Conventional problems reported by owners
| Problem area | Reports | |
|---|---|---|
| Structure | 3 |
Most reported parts
- Structure › Frame and Members — 1
- Structure › Body — 1
Typical mileage at the time of the problem: 73,650 miles (median of owner reports).
Problems that are not covered by a recall are paid repairs; labor rates follow local mechanic pay — see what auto mechanics earn in each state.
Recent 2003 Blue Bird Conventional complaints
Owner reports filed with NHTSA, as written (personal details removed). Complaints are not verified by NHTSA.
Other Blue Bird Conventional years
Compare all Blue Bird Conventional years · All Blue Bird models
Frequently asked questions
Does the 2003 Blue Bird Conventional have any recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 6 recalls for the 2003 Blue Bird Conventional: 05V-239 (other), 05V-251 (other), 05V-074 (engine and engine cooling), 05V-036 (tires), 04V-426 (equipment adaptive/mobility) and more. Not every vehicle is affected, so check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What is the most common problem with the 2003 Blue Bird Conventional?
Owners report structure problems most often (3 reports). The typical mileage when problems were reported is about 73,650 miles.
Are Blue Bird recall repairs free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are free at authorized Blue Bird dealers, whether you are the first owner or bought the car used.