1988 Blue Bird TC2000: recalls and complaints

NHTSA lists 11 recall campaigns for the 1988 Blue Bird TC2000. The newest campaign is 99V018000. NHTSA received the report on 15 Jun 1999. The NHTSA record gives the component Seats. NHTSA has no complaint on file for this model year. 3 NHTSA investigations name this model year.

The NHTSA recall file shows no do-not-drive advisory and no park-outside advisory on these campaigns.

This page cannot show if a recall applies to one vehicle. The NHTSA VIN lookup shows the unrepaired recalls of one vehicle.

Remedy of the newest campaign, 99V018000, in the NHTSA record

Blue bird will furnish to distributors and owners, parts and instructions necessary to strengthen the passenger seat attachment at the wall side.

NHTSA VIN lookup

Complaint information entered into NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation vehicle owner's complaint database is used with other data sources to identify safety issues that warrant investigation and to determine if a safety-related defect trend exists.
NHTSA publishes these words. Source: NHTSA Datasets and APIs, section Complaints, read on 1 Oct 2026. Complaint file through 30 Sep 2026. Recall file through 30 Sep 2026.

Since the last update

No tracked figure of this page changed in a data update. What the log tracks

All updates to the register

Recall campaigns

11 campaigns, newest first. 138,792 units in total.

99V01800015 Jun 1999Seats
97V1970007 Nov 1997Fuel System, Gasoline / Storage / Tank Assembly
96V0730003 May 1996Structure / Body
95V13600026 Jul 1995Structure / Frame and Members
95V0900009 May 1995Structure / Body
93V0320001 Mar 1993Structure / Body
92V11500012 Aug 1992Electrical System / Wiring / Fuses and Circuit Breakers
91V01400023 Jan 1991Exterior Lighting / Headlights / Switch
90V09900022 May 1990Steering / Steering Wheel/Handle Bar
90V01100023 Jan 1990Fuel System, Diesel / Storage / Tank Assembly
89V20200016 Nov 1989Service Brakes, Hydraulic / Foundation Components / Drum / Drum

99V018000Received 15 Jun 1999. 41,260 units.
Seats
Defect, in the NHTSA record
Vehicle description: school buses. The wall side attaching bolts for some of the passenger seats may have been installed too close to the edge of the seat ledge and in the wrong attaching hole resulting in weakening of the seat ledge at the attachment points.
Consequence, in the NHTSA record
In the event of a frontal crash, the rear attaching bolt of these seats could pull out of the seat ledge increasing the risk of injury to the seat occupant.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
Blue bird will furnish to distributors and owners, parts and instructions necessary to strengthen the passenger seat attachment at the wall side.
Report filed by BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY. Manufacturer campaign number R99CN. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 29 Jul 1999.
97V197000Received 7 Nov 1997. 16,338 units.
Fuel System, Gasoline / Storage / Tank Assembly
Defect, in the NHTSA record
Vehicle description: front and rear engine school buses equipped with 60 gallon side mounted fuel tank barriers. These buses do not comply with the requirements of FMVSS no. 301, "fuel system integrity."
Consequence, in the NHTSA record
In the event of a vehicle crash, the fuel tank could be damaged, leaking fuel, possibly resulting in a vehicle fire.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
Blue bird will ship instructions and modification kits to the owners of these buses.
Report filed by BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 10 Mar 1998.
96V073000Received 3 May 1996. 18,000 units.
Structure / Body
Defect, in the NHTSA record
Passenger's clothing can unknowingly become caught in the forward handrails at bus doors when exiting the bus.
Consequence, in the NHTSA record
When a passenger's clothing becomes caught in the handrail, and the bus driver closes the door and puts the vehicle in motion, the individual is subject to being dragged by the bus. This can result in serious injury or death.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
Owners will be directed to remove all forward handrails. Provisions will be made for those owners operating in states which mandate a forward handrail that a replacement handrail will be provided.
Report filed by BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 21 Aug 1996.
95V136000Received 26 Jul 1995. 416 units.
Structure / Frame and Members
Defect, in the NHTSA record
These units are equipped with a counter weight assembly made up of 300 pounds of 1/4" plate steel welded together and bolted between the frame rails in the rear overhang just forward of the rear bumper. Some of the welds have broken due to insufficient welds, corrosion, or ice expansion.
Consequence, in the NHTSA record
These plates can drop to the roadway becoming a hazard to following vehicles increasing the potential for an accident.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
Dealers will install a mechanical retaining device which clamps the plates together and fastened with threaded fasteners. Bus owners will have the option of repairing their own vehicles.
Report filed by BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY.
95V090000Received 9 May 1995. 27,189 units.
Structure / Body
Defect, in the NHTSA record
Passengers clothing can unknowingly become caught in the handrails at bus doors when exiting the bus.
Consequence, in the NHTSA record
When a passenger's clothing becomes caught in the handrail, and the bus driver closes the door and puts the vehicle in motion,the individual is subject to being dragged by the bus. This can result inserious injury or death.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
Dealers will install a set screw to the metal clamp which retains the intermediate handrail. A high impact molded plastic "clam shell" will be placed over each end of the intermediate handrail completely covering the clamp and eliminating all catch-points. The flange of the existing floor line bracket will be crimped securing the vertical section of the primary tublar handrail at the floor line.
Report filed by BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 30 Jun 1995.
93V032000Received 1 Mar 1993. 21,000 units.
Structure / Body
Defect, in the NHTSA record
Passengers clothing can unknowingly become caught in the handrails at bus doors when exiting the bus.
Consequence, in the NHTSA record
When a passenger's clothing becomes caught in thehandrail, and the bus driver closes the door and puts the vehicle in motion, theindividual is subject to being dragged by the bus. This can result in seriousinjury or death.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
Replace or reposition the handrails to stop clothing from becoming caught.
Report filed by BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 17 Mar 1993.
92V115000Received 12 Aug 1992. 275 units.
Electrical System / Wiring / Fuses and Circuit Breakers
Defect, in the NHTSA record
A 150 amp circuit breaker, option 4362, has been wired in parallel with a standard equipment circuit, thereby not providing the required protection.
Consequence, in the NHTSA record
In the event of a major short-circuit, inadequate circuitprotection could result in a fire in the rear engine compartment.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
The standard equipment circuit must be removed.
Report filed by BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY.
91V014000Received 23 Jan 1991. 7,000 units.
Exterior Lighting / Headlights / Switch
Defect, in the NHTSA record
Undersized crimp on wire from headlight switch to dimmer switch creates electrical resistance and can cause a short in the headlight wiring system.
Consequence, in the NHTSA record
A short could result in headlight loss which presents apotential for an accident.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
Replace dimmer switch with new 14 gauge wire with properly crimped connections.
Report filed by BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY.
90V099000Received 22 May 1990. 5,600 units.
Steering / Steering Wheel/Handle Bar
Defect, in the NHTSA record
Lock pins in steering wheel and hub assembly my shear off, allowing steering wheel to spin.
Consequence, in the NHTSA record
This could cause loss of steering control that couldresult in an accident.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
Repair using a positive locking method.
Report filed by BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 1 Jun 1990.
90V011000Received 23 Jan 1990. 345 units.
Fuel System, Diesel / Storage / Tank Assembly
Defect, in the NHTSA record
The diesel fuel filter separator is located too close to the chassis frame cross member which could deform and dislodge the bowl of the separator in an accident.
Consequence, in the NHTSA record
Fuel spillage during and after a crash, in excess of limit allowed by FMVSS 301, could cause a fire near a source of ignition.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
Relocate fuel filter - separator to eliminate interference with crossmember in any crash.
Report filed by BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 28 Mar 1990.
89V202000Received 16 Nov 1989. 1,369 units.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic / Foundation Components / Drum / Drum
Defect, in the NHTSA record
Front axle assemblies may contain cracked brake drums due to improper fit between the wheel hubs and the brake drums.
Consequence, in the NHTSA record
This could cause loss of bus braking control and resultin an accident.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
Replace defective brake drums.
Report filed by BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 15 May 1990.

The campaign number opens the NHTSA record. Each quotation is the text of the NHTSA recall file.

Recall campaign: One recall in the NHTSA recall file, with one campaign number. A campaign can name many makes, models and model years.

Units: The number of vehicles or products that a recall can include. The manufacturer or the firm reports the number to the agency.

Complaints by component

The NHTSA complaint file has no complaint for this model year.

Investigations

NHTSA investigations that name the 1988 Blue Bird TC2000
Number	Type	Subject	Component	Opened	Closed	Campaign
PE93048	Preliminary evaluation	DOOR LATCH SYSTEMS	Structure	12 May 1993	31 Aug 1993	93V136000
PE89137	Preliminary evaluation	CRACKED BRAKE DRUMS	Service Brakes, Hydraulic	6 Jul 1989	16 Nov 1989	89V202000
PE89042	Preliminary evaluation	HEADLIGHT RETAINING RING	Exterior Lighting	13 Feb 1989	9 May 1989

Investigation: A study of a possible safety defect by the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. An investigation with no closing date in the NHTSA file is open.

Other model years

The number under each year is the number of recall campaigns.

A year without a link has fewer than 2 campaigns and fewer than 25 complaints. It has no page.

Follow by RSS:Blue Bird recallsVehicle recalls

Official channels

NHTSA VIN lookupNHTSA shows the unrepaired recalls of one vehicle from its VIN or its license plate.
NHTSA: report a safety problemThe NHTSA form for a complaint about a vehicle, a tire, a child seat or equipment.
NHTSA page of the 1988 Blue Bird TC2000The recalls, the complaints and the investigations that NHTSA shows for this model year.

Cite this page

Recall Register. 1988 Blue Bird TC2000: recalls and complaints. https://recallregister.com/vehicle/blue-bird/tc2000/1988/. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, recall, complaint and investigation files. Data through 30 Sep 2026.

Sources

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation
Licence: US government work, public domain
Recall file through: 30 Sep 2026
Complaint file through: 30 Sep 2026
First complaint in the file: 1 Jan 1995
Manufacturer in the recall file: BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY

The NHTSA record is the authority. A complaint count is the number of different complaint numbers for the make, the model and the model year. How the register is made. Report an error.

Questions

How many units are in the recall campaigns for the 1988 Blue Bird TC2000?: 138,792 units in 11 campaigns. A campaign can name other models and model years, and its units include them.
How many recall campaigns does the Blue Bird TC2000 have for all model years?: NHTSA lists 64 recall campaigns for the Blue Bird TC2000, model years 1987 to 2005. 11 of them name the 1988 model year.
Is an NHTSA investigation of the 1988 Blue Bird TC2000 open?: No. Each of the 3 investigations that name this model year has a closing date in the NHTSA file.