Recall 11V504 covers 59 2012 Blue Bird All American and Vision buses with incorrect emergency-window handle rivets. Repair kits are free from Blue Bird.
Blue Bird is recalling 59 2012 All American and Vision school buses because the vertical emergency exit window handles have incorrect rivets. If a handle detaches outside an emergency, the window cannot be re-secured, creating a risk that children can fall or climb out; the Blue Bird dealer repair will be free once available.
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What's wrong?
The vertical emergency exit window on a 2012 Blue Bird All American or Vision bus is built to give passengers and drivers another way out when the regular door path is blocked. The handle on that window is the part a person grabs to release and open the exit. Rivets hold that handle to the window assembly, so the handle has to stay firmly attached when it is pulled.
On affected buses, the wrong rivets were used to attach the emergency window handles. Rivets are small metal fasteners that clamp parts together; if the wrong rivet is installed, the handle does not have the attachment Blue Bird intended. In an emergency, a loose or poorly secured handle can keep the window from opening the way passengers and drivers expect.
There is no warning sign before failure. The problem is in the fasteners behind the handle, so an owner or driver is unlikely to notice it during normal bus use.
Who's affected?
Covers both All American and Vision school buses in the 2012 model year, with the same door hinge body-structure component.
| 2012 Blue Bird All American | body structure |
|---|---|
| 2012 Blue Bird Vision | body structure |
| Units affected | 59 |
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?
If the emergency-window handle is used outside an emergency and detaches, the exit window cannot be secured again. That leaves an opening children can fall through or climb out of. Emergency escape through the window is still possible if the handle detaches during an emergency. Repair will be free at any franchised Blue Bird dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2012 Blue Bird All American or Vision bus is included in this recall.
- Call Blue Bird at 1-478-822-2242 to confirm repair-kit availability before arranging service.
- Reference recall number 11V504 when you call, and ask for the free kit that secures the emergency-exit window handle rivets.
- Keep the affected emergency-exit window secured until the rivet repair is complete.
- Bring any owner notice or fleet maintenance record that matches this recall to the service visit.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer or authorized Blue Bird service location, a Blue Bird technician uses the recall repair kit to address the emergency exit window handle attachment issue. The kit is provided free of charge. Because the final remedy is not shown as available here, do not assume the repair can be scheduled until Blue Bird or the dealer confirms parts and instructions are open for this campaign. Once available, the dealer repair is free under the recall.
Timeline
| October 18, 2011 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| December 6, 2011 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 11V504?
Recall 11V504 covers 59 2012 Blue Bird All American and Vision school buses equipped with Spectal Industries vertical emergency exit windows. Incorrect rivets can let the window handle detach after it is actuated. Blue Bird provides repair kits free of charge.
What should I do if my 2012 Blue Bird All American or Vision is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific school bus is included in recall 11V504. If it is, contact Blue Bird or a franchised Blue Bird service location and ask for the emergency exit window handle repair kit. Reference recall 11V504 when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires manufacturers to fix safety defects at no cost, and Blue Bird provides the repair kits free of charge for buses included in recall 11V504.
What is the safety risk in recall 11V504?
The risk is an emergency exit window that cannot be re-secured after the handle detaches in a non-emergency situation. That creates a risk that children can fall or climb out. If the handle detaches during an emergency, the window still opens for exit.
When did Blue Bird begin notifying owners?
Blue Bird expected the safety recall to begin on or about November 14, 2011. Because that date has passed, owners of a 2012 All American or Vision should check the VIN and contact Blue Bird at 1-478-822-2242 for repair-kit guidance.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/11V504000 |
|---|---|
| Blue Bird customer service | 1-478-822-2242 |
| NHTSA recall # | 11V504 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 11V504000 |
Source documents
-
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 2, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →