Recall 13V125 affects 276 2008-2011 Blue Bird All American school buses for grid heater cable routing. Repair is free at franchised Blue Bird dealers.
Blue Bird is recalling 276 2008-2011 All American school buses under recall 13V125 because the grid heater power cable can contact the chassis frame rail. If the cable chafes on the frame, it can short and start a fire; the dealer repair will be free once available.
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What's wrong?
The grid heater power cable on 2008-2011 Blue Bird All American school buses feeds electrical power to the engine intake heater. That heater helps warm incoming air for the Cummins ISB07 diesel engine, especially during cold starts. The cable is supposed to stay routed away from metal structure so its insulation protects the electrical circuit.
On affected buses, the power cable was routed too close to the chassis frame rail. The frame rail is part of the bus structure, and contact with it can rub or pinch the cable insulation. Once the insulation is damaged, the cable can contact metal and create an electrical short in the wiring system.
There is no warning sign before failure. A driver or maintenance shop will not have a reliable dashboard alert or symptom before the cable contact creates an electrical problem.
Who's affected?
Spans four All American model years, with both wiring and electrical system components listed for each year.
| 2009 Blue Bird All American | wiring |
|---|---|
| 2009 Blue Bird All American | electrical system |
| 2008 Blue Bird All American | wiring |
| 2008 Blue Bird All American | electrical system |
| 2011 Blue Bird All American | wiring |
| 2011 Blue Bird All American | electrical system |
| 2010 Blue Bird All American | wiring |
| 2010 Blue Bird All American | electrical system |
| Units affected | 276 |
The year and model narrow the scope, but the VIN decides. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific bus is included.
What's the safety risk?
If the grid heater power cable contacts the chassis frame rail, it can chafe through and create a direct short. That electrical short increases the risk of a fire. Because no warning sign is listed, schedule the inspection and cable repair soon. Repair will be free at any franchised Blue Bird dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2008-2011 Blue Bird All American bus is included in this recall.
- Contact Blue Bird customer service at 1-478-822-2242 before scheduling service, since the remedy status is not listed here.
- Ask a franchised Blue Bird dealer to inspect the grid heater power cable and reposition or replace it so it no longer contacts the chassis frame rail.
- Reference recall number 13V125 and Blue Bird recall R13WD when you call.
- Keep the bus out of service if wiring damage, burning smell, or electrical shorting is present until Blue Bird or the dealer gives repair guidance.
What happens at the repair
Once the dealer repair is available, a Blue Bird technician inspects the bus to confirm the grid heater power cable is positioned away from the chassis frame rail. If the cable is touching the frame rail, the technician repositions it to prevent further contact. If the cable is damaged, the technician replaces it. The recall repair will be free once available, including the inspection, cable repositioning, and any required cable replacement.
Timeline
| April 9, 2013 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| May 3, 2013 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 13V125?
Recall 13V125 covers 276 2008-2011 Blue Bird All American rear engine school buses with Cummins ISB07 engines. The grid heater power cable can be routed against the chassis frame rail, where chafing can create a short and start a fire. Blue Bird dealers inspect, reposition, or replace the cable for free.
What should I do if my 2008-2011 Blue Bird All American is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific bus is included in recall 13V125. If it is, contact a Blue Bird dealer to schedule the grid heater power cable inspection. Reference recall number 13V125 and Blue Bird campaign R13WD when you call. The 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 states that the inspection, cable repositioning, and cable replacement are free. Use a Blue Bird dealer for the recall work.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is fire. If the grid heater power cable contacts the chassis frame rail, the cable insulation can chafe, create a direct short, and start a fire. Recall 13V125 fixes the routing problem by inspecting the cable position and correcting or replacing affected cables.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/13V125000 |
|---|---|
| Blue Bird customer service | 1-478-822-2242 |
| NHTSA recall # | 13V125 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 13V125000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Quarterly Report (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 →