Recall 10V297 affects 11 2010 Blue Bird All American buses for a steering-column weld defect. Repair is free at any franchised Blue Bird dealer.
Blue Bird is recalling 11 2010 All American non school buses with TRW IGEN3 intermediate steering columns because a mislocated weld can weaken the steering shaft tube. If the column separates, the driver can lose steering control and crash without warning; the Blue Bird dealer repair will be free once available.
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What's wrong?
The intermediate steering column in a 2010 Blue Bird All American bus is the link between the steering wheel and the steering gear farther down the chassis. When the driver turns the wheel, this column carries that motion through a steering shaft so the front wheels respond. The TRW IGEN3 column uses joined shaft tubes, with a weld holding the spline tube to the intermediate tube.
On affected buses, that weld was placed in the wrong location around the steering shaft tube. It does not fully cover the joint created when the tubes are pressed together. That leaves the spline tube and intermediate tube with a weaker connection than intended, so steering input does not have the secure mechanical path the column was designed to provide.
There is no warning sign before failure. A driver should not expect a noise, looseness, or dashboard message to appear before the steering column connection fails.
Who's affected?
| 2010 Blue Bird All American | steering column |
|---|---|
| Units affected | 11 |
A matching year and model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific bus is included.
What's the safety risk?
Mislocated welds can leave the steering column below required torsional and axial strength. The column can separate without warning, causing loss of steering control and increasing crash risk. Schedule the recall repair soon. 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 is included in this recall.
- Contact Blue Bird customer service at 1-478-822-2242 for current repair instructions and reference recall number 10V297.
- Ask a franchised Blue Bird dealer about the free steering-column inspection and repair that addresses the misplaced IGEN3 steering shaft weld.
- Bring the recall notice if you have it, or give the dealer recall number 10V297 when you schedule service.
- Avoid driving the bus until Blue Bird or the dealer confirms the steering-column repair path.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Blue Bird technician handles the recall repair for the TRW IGEN3 intermediate steering column identified in campaign 10V297. The filing does not list a specific part replacement or inspection procedure, so the service desk should confirm the current repair instructions before work begins. Blue Bird stated that affected buses would be repaired free of charge. Parts and labor are covered under the recall once the repair is available.
Timeline
| June 29, 2010 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| October 5, 2010 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 10V297?
Recall 10V297 covers 11 2010 Blue Bird All American non-school buses with TRW IGEN3 intermediate steering columns. The steering shaft tube weld can be misplaced, reducing column strength and risking steering column separation. Blue Bird will repair the buses for free.
What should I do if my 2010 Blue Bird All American is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific bus is included in recall 10V297. If it is, contact a franchised Blue Bird dealer or Blue Bird at 1-478-822-2242 to arrange the steering column repair. Reference recall number 10V297 when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost, and Blue Bird says the affected buses will be repaired free of charge. Parts and labor are covered through the recall repair process.
What is the safety risk?
The risk is loss of steering control without warning. A misplaced weld can leave the steering column below required strength, which can let the column separate and increase crash risk. Confirm the VIN, then arrange the free Blue Bird repair.
What warning signs should I watch for?
There is no warning sign before the steering column failure described in recall 10V297. The official consequence says separation can happen without warning. Treat VIN confirmation as the deciding step, then contact Blue Bird or a franchised dealer for the free repair.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/10V297000 |
|---|---|
| Blue Bird customer service | 1-478-822-2242 |
| NHTSA recall # | 10V297 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 10V297000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF)
- 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 →