Recall 10V136 covers 569 2010 Blue Bird All American, Conventional, and Micro Bird school buses with wheelchair lift software defects. Free repair once available.
Blue Bird is recalling 569 2010 All American, Conventional, and Micro Bird school buses because software in certain Ricon wheelchair lifts can let the platform keep rising after the operator releases the up switch. If the platform overruns floor level and stops at an angle, a wheelchair user can tip over or a person standing on the lift can fall; the dealer repair will be free once available.
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What's wrong?
The wheelchair lift on the 2010 Blue Bird All American, Conventional, and Micro Bird school buses is the powered platform used to raise a wheelchair passenger from ground level to the bus floor. The "UP" switch tells the lift to rise, and the floor level limit switch is supposed to stop the platform when it reaches the correct height at the bus doorway.
On affected buses, the software that controls the lift's upward movement does not stop the platform at the right moment when the "UP" switch is released early. If the switch is released before the floor level limit switch activates, the lift continues upward for about 1 second. That extra movement can carry the platform past the floor-level cut off point instead of stopping flush with the bus floor.
There is no warning sign before failure. The operator's first sign is the lift continuing upward after the switch is released or stopping above the intended floor level.
Who's affected?
Covers three Blue Bird bus lines from the same model year, all tied to adaptive or mobility equipment.
| 2010 Blue Bird All American | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
|---|---|
| 2010 Blue Bird Conventional | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2010 Blue Bird Micro Bird | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| Units affected | 569 |
The model name narrows the scope, but the VIN decides. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific bus is included.
What's the safety risk?
If the wheelchair lift platform overruns the vehicle floor level and stops at an angle, a wheelchair user can tip over and a standing rider can fall, resulting in injuries. Use the lift only as instructed and stop lift operation if it does not meet the floor evenly. Repair will be free at any franchised Blue Bird dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2010 Blue Bird All American, Conventional, or Micro Bird is included in this recall.
- Wait for Blue Bird or Ricon repair instructions before scheduling the wheelchair-lift software update.
- Follow the interim wheelchair-lift operation bulletin and training DVD before using the lift.
- Call Ricon at 1-818-267-3000 or a franchised Blue Bird dealer with questions, and reference recall number 10V136.
- Keep riders clear of the lift unless the operator is trained on the interim instructions for the lift's upward-travel software defect.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Blue Bird technician works through the authorized Ricon repair process for the wheelchair lift control software. Blue Bird's filing says Ricon was still developing the software solution, so the final dealer repair is free once that solution is available. Until then, Ricon provides owners with an operation bulletin and a DVD training aid at no cost, focused on proper lift operation while the software remedy is pending. Parts, software work, and related labor are covered under the recall.
Timeline
| April 5, 2010 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| May 4, 2010 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 10V136?
Recall 10V136 covers 569 2010 Blue Bird All American, Conventional, and Micro Bird school buses equipped with certain Ricon S Series and K Series L-Model wheelchair lifts. The lift software can let the platform travel past floor level, creating a fall or tip-over risk.
What should I do if my 2010 Blue Bird All American, Conventional, or Micro Bird is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific bus is included in recall 10V136. If it is, contact a franchised Blue Bird dealer or authorized Ricon dealer and reference recall 10V136. Ricon also supplied operating guidance and a DVD training aid while the software repair was being developed.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the recall repair to be performed at no cost. Blue Bird said authorized Ricon dealers would perform the repair free of charge, and Ricon supplied the operating bulletin and DVD-based training aid at no cost.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is a wheelchair lift platform that travels past the vehicle floor level and stops at a 15-20 degree angle. A person in a wheelchair can tip over, and a person standing on the platform can fall. Use the Ricon operating guidance until the free repair is complete.
When did Blue Bird start notifying owners?
Blue Bird said the safety recall began on May 4, 2010. The notice directed owners to authorized Ricon dealers for the free repair and supplied Ricon contact information for lift-specific questions.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/10V136000 |
|---|---|
| Blue Bird customer service | 1-818-267-3000 |
| NHTSA recall # | 10V136 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 10V136000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Defect / Noncompliance Notice (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on June 3, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →