Recall 12V359 affects 726 2013 Blue Bird All American and Vision school buses with mismatched driver's seat belt buckles. Blue Bird dealers repair them free.
Blue Bird is recalling 726 2013 All American and Vision school buses because the driver's seat belt buckle and latch plate can mismatch and appear connected without properly engaging. That defect can leave the driver improperly restrained in an accident or sudden stop, and the dealer repair will be free once Blue Bird makes it available.
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What's wrong?
The driver's seat belt buckle assembly on 2013 Blue Bird All American and Vision school buses is the hardware that locks the belt around the driver. The latch plate, also called the tongue, is the metal piece on the belt, and the buckle receiver is the socket it clicks into. When they match, the belt stays locked until the release button is pressed.
On affected buses, mismatched buckle styles were installed at the driver's seat. The latch plate from one style can fit into a different style receiver closely enough to appear connected, but it does not fully engage inside the buckle. That means the belt is not secured the way the seat belt assembly is designed to secure the driver.
There is no warning sign before failure. The belt can look latched even when the latch plate is not properly locked, so the problem is the buckle match itself, not a noise, light, or change in belt feel.
Who's affected?
Covers the All American and Vision bus lines for the same front seat belt buckle assembly.
| 2013 Blue Bird All American | seat belt |
|---|---|
| 2013 Blue Bird Vision | seat belt |
| Units affected | 726 |
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 this seat-restraint condition occurs, the occupant is not properly restrained and faces injury in an accident or sudden stop. Schedule the recall repair promptly and keep affected seating out of use if a restraint concern is found. Repair will be free at any franchised Blue Bird dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2013 Blue Bird All American or Vision bus is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Blue Bird dealer to ask about the free driver's seat-belt buckle repair.
- Reference recall number 12V359 when you call, and explain that the repair corrects mismatched driver's seat-belt latch plates and receivers.
- Bring the recall notice if Blue Bird mailed one, plus any service records tied to the driver's seat-belt buckle.
- Avoid using the bus for passenger service until the dealer confirms the driver's seat-belt buckle is repaired.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Blue Bird technician repairs the driver's seat belt buckle issue on the affected school bus. The work addresses mismatched buckle parts so the latch plate and buckle receiver engage as intended. Blue Bird began the safety recall on August 23, 2012, and the dealer repair is free of charge. The source record does not list an expected shop time, so ask the service desk how long the bus needs to stay at the dealership.
Timeline
| July 25, 2012 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| August 23, 2012 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 12V359?
Recall 12V359 covers 726 2013 Blue Bird All American and Vision school buses with mismatched driver seat belt buckles. The latch plate can appear to connect without being properly engaged, leaving the driver not properly restrained in a crash or sudden stop. Blue Bird dealers repair the buses for free.
What should I do if my 2013 Blue Bird All American or Vision is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific bus is included in recall 12V359. If it is, contact a franchised Blue Bird dealer and ask for the driver seat belt buckle repair. Reference recall number 12V359 when you call. Blue Bird lists 1-478-822-2242 for owner support.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires manufacturers to repair safety defects at no cost, and Blue Bird dealers will repair the affected buses free of charge. The repair campaign began on August 23, 2012.
What is the safety risk?
The risk is that the driver's seat belt latch plate can connect to the wrong buckle receiver without being properly engaged. In a crash or sudden stop, the driver is not properly restrained and faces injury risk. A Blue Bird dealer can repair the buckle issue for free.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/12V359000 |
|---|---|
| Blue Bird customer service | 1-478-822-2242 |
| NHTSA recall # | 12V359 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 12V359000 |
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 →