Service brakes, air (Blue Bird)
Vehicle recall 12V-218. NHTSA received BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY’s report on May 15, 2012.
Watch and the shortlist are kept with a free account, on every device. Your watch list. NHTSA’s own record is on nhtsa.gov.
The short answer
NHTSA received BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY’s report on May 15, 2012. Copied from NHTSA on Oct 20, 2026.
Every line below is in NHTSA’s own words, with its source beside it.
What’s wrong with it?
IN THE EVENT OF A BRAKE SYSTEM PROBLEM, INCORRECT INSTALLATION OF THE AIR BRAKE LINES COULD RESULT IN A REDUCTION OR COMPLETE LOSS OF BRAKE ACTION, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
BLUE BIRD CORPORATION (BLUE BIRD) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010 THROUGH 2013 ALL AMERICAN AND VISION NON SCHOOL BUSES MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 30, 2009, THROUGH APRIL 4, 2012 AND EQUIPPED WITH AIR BRAKES.
THE PRIMARY AND SECONDARY AIR BRAKE LINES MAY HAVE BEEN CROSSED AT THE BRAKE TREADLE VALVE.
INCORRECT INSTALLATION OF THE AIR BRAKE LINES AT THE AIR BRAKE TREADLE VALVE FAILS TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 121, “AIR BRAKE SYSTEMS.”
NHTSA, Recalls flat file. Released Oct 20, 2026. Updated daily.
- NHTSA’s part: Service brakes, air.
What should you do?
BLUE BIRD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE BUSES FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 23, , 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BLUE BIRD AT 1-478-822-2242.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file. Released Oct 20, 2026. Updated daily.
- How to reach the firm: BLUE BIRD’S RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER IS R12VA.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 HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV .
- Check a vehicle by its VIN at NHTSA: the recalls still open on it are listed there.
Which ones are recalled?
NHTSA counts 31 vehicles potentially involved, across everything this recall names.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file. Released Oct 20, 2026. Updated daily.
- Blue Bird Visionand 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013, before the model years listed here
- Blue Bird All Americanand 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013, before the model years listed here
Who is recalling it?
- Made by BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file. Released Oct 20, 2026. Updated daily.
What the record doesn’t say
- NHTSA’s recall file doesn’t say whether anyone was hurt.
- Whether one vehicle or seat has been fixed: only its maker, or NHTSA’s lookup with a VIN, can say.
- This recall names only model years before 2015, which have no pages here. Your VIN, at NHTSA, says which recalls are open on a vehicle.
- How many have been returned or fixed isn’t in the notice.
Hearth Record wrote these lines.
Sources
-
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Recalls flat file (FLAT_RCL_POST_2010).
Released Oct 20, 2026 and checked Oct 20, 2026. Updated daily. Public domain (U.S. Government work).
Vehicle, car seat, tire and vehicle equipment recalls, owner complaints and crash ratings are from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Copied on Oct 20, 2026.