Recall 11V086 covers 363 2011-2012 Blue Bird Vision and All American school buses for emergency-exit window interference. Free repair at franchised Blue Bird dealers.
Blue Bird is recalling 363 2011-2012 Vision and All American school buses because sheet-metal rain visors over the left-side pushout window can keep the emergency exit from opening far enough. If passengers need that exit during an emergency, delayed escape raises injury risk; the Blue Bird dealer repair will be free once available.
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What's wrong?
The pushout side window on the left side of 2011-2012 Blue Bird Vision and All American school buses is an emergency exit. It is built to swing open far enough for passengers to get out when a door is blocked. The sheet metal rain visor above that window is meant to shed water away from the opening.
On the affected buses, that visor sits where it can interfere with the pushout window's travel. When the window is released, the visor can stop it from opening far enough for emergency egress. The window itself is not described as broken; the problem is the body sheet metal around it blocking the exit path.
There is no warning sign before failure. A driver or operator would only confirm the problem by testing the emergency exit window and seeing that it does not open far enough.
Who's affected?
Spans the Vision and All American bus lines across 2011-2012, with body structure listed for each.
| 2011 Blue Bird Vision | body structure |
|---|---|
| 2012 Blue Bird All American | body structure |
| 2011 Blue Bird All American | body structure |
| 2012 Blue Bird Vision | body structure |
| Units affected | 363 |
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?
In an emergency, passengers face injury if they cannot get out of the bus quickly. Keep aisles and exits clear, and call a Blue Bird dealer about the recall repair soon if the VIN is included. Repair will be free at any franchised Blue Bird dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2011-2012 Blue Bird Vision or All American school bus is included in this recall.
- Contact Blue Bird customer service at 1-478-822-2242 to confirm the current repair instructions for recall number 11V086.
- Ask a franchised Blue Bird dealer about the free rain-visor repair that allows the left-side emergency exit window to open correctly.
- Bring the recall notice if Blue Bird has mailed one, and give the dealer recall number 11V086 when scheduling.
- Keep the bus out of passenger service until Blue Bird or the dealer confirms the emergency exit window repair is complete.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Blue Bird technician repairs the sheet metal rain visor area over the left-side pushout emergency window so the window can open far enough for emergency exit use. The dealer repair will be free once available. The recall notice says Blue Bird will notify owners, and the service desk can confirm the repair path for an included Vision or All American bus.
Timeline
| February 10, 2011 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| March 15, 2011 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 11V086?
Recall 11V086 covers 363 2011-2012 Blue Bird Vision and All American school buses with sheet-metal rain visors that interfere with the left-side pushout emergency exit window. Blue Bird dealers repair the buses free of charge.
What should I do if my 2011-2012 Blue Bird Vision or All American is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific bus is included in recall 11V086. If it is, contact a franchised Blue Bird dealer to schedule the rain-visor repair. Reference recall number 11V086 when you call. The dealer repair is free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost, and Blue Bird's remedy says dealers will repair the buses free of charge. Parts and labor are covered at a franchised Blue Bird dealer.
What is the safety risk?
The risk is delayed emergency exit from the bus. If the left-side pushout window does not open far enough during an emergency, passengers face injury risk because they cannot exit quickly. The fix is a free dealer repair to correct the rain-visor interference.
When did the Blue Bird recall repair start?
Blue Bird's safety recall began on March 15, 2011. If your bus still has an open recall, check your VIN and contact a franchised Blue Bird dealer. You can also call Blue Bird at 1-478-822-2242 with recall number 11V086.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/11V086000 |
|---|---|
| Blue Bird customer service | 1-478-822-2242 |
| NHTSA recall # | 11V086 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 11V086000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Investigation 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 →