Recall 13V545 covers 87 2014 Blue Bird Conventional and All American buses with front suspension bolts that can break. Free repair at any franchised Blue Bird dealer.
Blue Bird is recalling 87 2014 Conventional and All American non-school buses because front suspension bolts marked "ZY" can break from a manufacturing defect. A broken bolt requires greater steering input to control the bus and raises crash risk; the Blue Bird dealer repair will be free once available.
Does this recall apply to your specific vehicle?
The official, free per-VIN recall check is run by NHTSA. Enter your VIN and we'll forward you directly — and add you to a free watchlist so you hear about new recalls for your vehicle.
Check my VIN at NHTSARecallNotify doesn't check your VIN — NHTSA's official tool does. We use your email only to alert you to new recalls.
Watch this vehicle for recalls
Add it to your free watchlist and we will alert you as new federal recalls are posted for your year, make and model. New-recall alerts are rolling out now.
You are on the watchlist.
We will email you as new federal recalls are posted for your vehicle.
What's wrong?
The front suspension on 2014 Blue Bird Conventional and All American non-school buses supports the front of the bus and keeps the steering wheels aligned with the frame. The bolts in this recall clamp key front suspension parts in place. Those bolts are supposed to hold that load while the suspension moves over bumps, turns, and braking forces.
On affected buses, the problem is tied to the bolt manufacturing process. The recalled bolts are identified by a "ZY" code on the bolt head. Because the bolts that hold the front suspension are defective, a bolt can break instead of keeping the suspension joint clamped, leaving the front suspension less secure.
There is no warning sign before failure. An owner or driver should not expect a dashboard light, noise, or handling change before one of these bolts breaks.
Who's affected?
Covers the Conventional and All American bus lines, with the front suspension named for each model.
| 2014 Blue Bird Conventional | front suspension |
|---|---|
| 2014 Blue Bird All American | front suspension |
| Units affected | 87 |
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?
A broken front suspension bolt requires greater steering input to control the bus and increases crash risk. If your VIN is included, schedule the dealer inspection before regular service use. Repair will be free at any franchised Blue Bird dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2014 Blue Bird Conventional or All American is included in this recall.
- Contact your nearest franchised Blue Bird dealer to ask about the free front-suspension-bolt inspection for your VIN.
- Schedule the inspection and ZY-code bolt replacement that fixes the front suspension bolts that can break and make the bus harder to steer.
- Bring the owner notice if Blue Bird mailed one, or reference recall number 13V545 when you call.
- Call Blue Bird customer service at 1-478-822-2242 with recall questions before the bus returns to regular service.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Blue Bird technician inspects the front suspension bolts and checks the code stamped on each bolt head. Bolts marked "ZY" are replaced free of charge. Owner notification began on December 10, 2013, but the current remedy status is not listed, so ask the dealer to confirm scheduling before the bus goes in. The dealer repair will be free once available. Ask the service desk to reference Blue Bird recall R13WR when checking parts and appointment timing.
Timeline
| October 31, 2013 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| December 10, 2013 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 13V545?
Recall 13V545 covers 87 2014 Blue Bird Conventional and All American non-school buses with front suspension bolts marked "ZY" on the bolt head. The bolts that hold the front suspension can break. Blue Bird dealers will inspect the bolts and replace affected bolts for free.
What should I do if my 2014 Blue Bird Conventional or All American is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific bus is included in recall 13V545. If it is, contact a Blue Bird dealer to schedule the front suspension bolt inspection. Reference recall 13V545 and Blue Bird recall number R13WR when you call. The repair is free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires manufacturers to repair safety defects at no cost. Blue Bird dealers will inspect the front suspension bolts and replace any bolts marked with a "ZY" code free of charge.
What is the safety risk in recall 13V545?
A broken front suspension bolt can make the bus harder to steer. Blue Bird says the failure would require greater steering input to control the bus, increasing crash risk. If your VIN is included, schedule the free dealer inspection and bolt replacement.
What if I bought this Blue Bird bus used?
The free recall repair still applies. Recall coverage follows the vehicle, not the first owner. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific 2014 Blue Bird bus is included, then call a Blue Bird dealer or Blue Bird at 1-478-822-2242 with recall number R13WR.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/13V545000 |
|---|---|
| Blue Bird customer service | 1-478-822-2242 |
| NHTSA recall # | 13V545 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 13V545000 |
Source documents
-
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 →