Recall 12V153 covers 125 2009-2011 Blue Bird Vision, All American, and Micro Bird school buses with wheelchair-lift roll-stop latches. Authorized Braun dealers repair it free.
Blue Bird is recalling 125 2009-2011 Vision, All American, and Micro Bird school buses equipped with Braun Vista-2 wheelchair lifts because the outer barrier roll stop latches can bend or fall out of alignment. If the roll stop does not latch while the platform is elevated, a wheelchair occupant can ride over it, fall, and be injured; the Blue Bird dealer repair will be free once available.
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What's wrong?
The Braun Vista-2 wheelchair lift on affected 2009-2011 Blue Bird Vision, All American, and Micro Bird school buses uses an outer barrier at the edge of the lift platform. The roll stop latches hold that barrier in position, so a wheelchair stays contained while the lift moves between the ground and the bus floor.
With frequent use, the latch hardware can bend or shift out of alignment. Once the latches no longer line up correctly, the outer barrier does not lock the way it was designed to lock. That means the barrier loses the firm stop it needs during lift operation.
There is no warning sign before failure. A driver or attendant should not rely on a visible symptom before the latch problem appears during use.
Who's affected?
Covers three Blue Bird bus lines across the 2009, 2010, and 2011 model years, all tied to the same adaptive or mobility equipment component.
| 2010 Blue Bird Vision | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
|---|---|
| 2009 Blue Bird Vision | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2010 Blue Bird All American | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2011 Blue Bird Vision | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2011 Blue Bird All American | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2009 Blue Bird All American | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2009 Blue Bird Micro Bird | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2010 Blue Bird Micro Bird | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2011 Blue Bird Micro Bird | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| Units affected | 125 |
A matching year and model does not confirm inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether this recall applies to your specific bus.
What's the safety risk?
An insufficiently latched roll stop can let a wheelchair occupant defeat or ride over the stop. If that happens while the lift platform is elevated, the occupant can fall and be injured. Until the repair is completed, use extra care when loading or unloading wheelchair passengers and have the lift inspected. Repair will be free at any franchised Blue Bird dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2009-2011 Blue Bird Vision, All American, or Micro Bird school bus is included in this recall.
- Contact Blue Bird customer service at 1-478-822-2242 for the current repair path and the authorized dealer handling this lift recall.
- Reference recall number 12V153 when you call about the Braun Vista-2 wheelchair lift roll-stop latch repair.
- Bring the recall notice if Blue Bird mailed one, or give the dealer the VIN and recall number before the appointment.
- Keep the wheelchair lift out of passenger service until the roll-stop latch repair is complete.
What happens at the repair
The source remedy does not list a separate parts procedure. At the authorized repair visit, a Blue Bird technician addresses the Braun Vista-2 wheelchair lift roll stop latches on the outer barrier so the barrier can latch as intended. The recall repair is free, and the remedy record says Blue Bird notified owners after the recall began on April 26, 2012. Call the dealer with the campaign number, 12V153, and ask whether the bus needs to be inspected before the lift is used again.
Timeline
| April 5, 2012 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| April 26, 2012 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 12V153?
Recall 12V153 covers 125 2009-2011 Blue Bird Vision, All American, and Micro Bird school buses equipped with Braun Vista-2 wheelchair lifts. The outer barrier roll stop latches can bend or move out of alignment, allowing a wheelchair occupant to ride over the roll stop.
What should I do if my 2009-2011 Blue Bird Vision, All American, or Micro Bird is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific bus is included in recall 12V153. If it is, contact Blue Bird at 1-478-822-2242 or an authorized Braun dealer to arrange the wheelchair lift repair. Reference recall number 12V153 when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the safety defect at no cost, and Blue Bird's remedy states that authorized Braun dealers will perform the repair free of charge.
What is the safety risk with this Blue Bird wheelchair lift recall?
The risk is injury to a wheelchair occupant using the lift. If the outer barrier roll stop does not latch securely while the platform is elevated, the wheelchair occupant can ride over it, fall from the platform, and be injured.
When did the recall repair start?
The safety recall began on April 26, 2012. Because that date has passed, owners of affected 2009-2011 Blue Bird buses should confirm the VIN and arrange the free wheelchair lift repair through Blue Bird or an authorized Braun dealer.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/12V153000 |
|---|---|
| Blue Bird customer service | 1-478-822-2242 |
| NHTSA recall # | 12V153 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 12V153000 |
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 →