Recall 10V289 covers 3,686 2008-2010 Blue Bird Vision and All American school buses for cracked C7 fuel lines. Repair is free through authorized Caterpillar dealers.
Blue Bird is recalling 3,686 2008-2010 Vision and All American school buses equipped with Caterpillar C7 engines because the number 5 and number 6 fuel lines can crack at the common fuel rail and leak fuel. A fuel leak near an ignition source can lead to a vehicle fire, and the Blue Bird dealer repair will be free once available.
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What's wrong?
The #5 and #6 fuel lines on 2008-2010 Blue Bird Vision and All American school buses carry diesel fuel from the Caterpillar C7 engine's fuel system to the common fuel rail. The common fuel rail is the pressurized tube that feeds fuel to the engine injectors. Those lines have to stay sealed while the engine runs under pressure and vibration.
On affected buses, the #5 and #6 lines crack where they fasten to the common fuel rail. That fastening point is the known failure location, so the problem is not the whole engine cooling system or every fuel line on the bus. Once the line cracks, fuel leaks from the engine area instead of staying inside the rail and injector system.
There is no warning sign before failure. Because the source does not identify an early symptom, treat fuel odor, visible fuel, or wetness near the engine as a reason to stop using the bus and arrange service.
Who's affected?
Spans the Vision and All American bus lines across the 2008-2010 model years, with the same engine and engine cooling component listed for each scope.
| 2008 Blue Bird Vision | Engine and engine cooling |
|---|---|
| 2009 Blue Bird Vision | Engine and engine cooling |
| 2010 Blue Bird Vision | Engine and engine cooling |
| 2008 Blue Bird All American | Engine and engine cooling |
| 2009 Blue Bird All American | Engine and engine cooling |
| 2010 Blue Bird All American | Engine and engine cooling |
| Units affected | 3,686 |
The year and model narrow the scope, but the VIN decides. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific bus is included.
What's the safety risk?
A fuel leak near an ignition source can start a vehicle fire. Schedule the recall repair soon, and treat any fuel smell or visible leak as a reason to park safely and call the dealer before the next trip. Repair will be free at any franchised Blue Bird dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2008-2010 Blue Bird Vision or All American bus is included in this recall.
- Contact Blue Bird or Caterpillar if you did not receive the owner notice mailed on September 9, 2010.
- Schedule the free Caterpillar fuel-line repair that fixes the cracking #5 and #6 fuel lines at the common fuel rail.
- Reference recall number 10V289 when you call the dealer or customer service.
- Avoid operating the bus if you smell fuel or see a fuel leak, and ask Blue Bird or Caterpillar about safe transport for service.
What happens at the repair
Blue Bird is working with Caterpillar to notify owners. The known repair is handled by authorized Caterpillar dealers, who address the fuel lines at the common fuel rail where the #5 and #6 lines can crack at the fastening point and leak fuel. The final dealer repair will be free once available, with parts and labor covered under the recall. Blue Bird also lists Caterpillar as the repair contact for this campaign.
Timeline
| June 28, 2010 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| September 9, 2010 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 10V289?
Recall 10V289 covers 3,686 2008-2010 Blue Bird Vision and All American school buses equipped with Caterpillar C7 engines. The number 5 and number 6 fuel lines can crack where they fasten to the common fuel rail, causing a fuel leak. Authorized Caterpillar dealers perform the repair for free.
What should I do if my 2008-2010 Blue Bird Vision or All American is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific bus is included in recall 10V289. If it is, contact an authorized Caterpillar dealer for the fuel-line repair, or call Caterpillar at 1-800-447-4986. Reference recall 10V289 when you schedule service. The repair is free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost, and the recall remedy says authorized Caterpillar dealers will perform the repair free of charge. Blue Bird and Caterpillar are responsible for owner notification and repair coordination.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is fire. If the affected fuel lines crack at the common fuel rail, leaking fuel can ignite in the presence of an ignition source. The recall remedy addresses the fuel-line defect through a free repair by authorized Caterpillar dealers.
What if I bought the Blue Bird bus used?
The free recall repair still applies. Recalls follow the VIN, not the first owner or the original buyer. Check your VIN to confirm whether the bus is included, then give recall 10V289 to the authorized Caterpillar dealer when arranging service.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/10V289000 |
|---|---|
| Blue Bird customer service | 1-800-447-4986 |
| NHTSA recall # | 10V289 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 10V289000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Owner Notice (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 →