Recall 13V579 covers 802 2014-2015 Blue Bird Vision and All American school buses for driver seat-belt buckles. Free repair at franchised Blue Bird dealers.
Blue Bird is recalling 802 2014-2015 Vision and All American school buses because the IMMI-brand L9 driver's seat belt latch plate can stay partly engaged after the release button is pressed. This can make the belt hard to unlatch and hinder exit during an emergency, and the Blue Bird dealer repair will be free once available.
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What's wrong?
The driver's seat belt buckle on affected 2014-2015 Blue Bird Vision and All American school buses is the front buckle assembly used with the IMMI-brand L9 belt. In normal use, the latch plate clicks into the buckle to hold the driver in position, then releases cleanly when the driver presses the button.
The defect is in the release action. When the button is pressed, the latch plate can stay partly caught inside the buckle instead of fully separating. That partial engagement makes the belt difficult to unlatch, so the driver has to work the buckle after expecting the belt to release. The recall also says this condition does not meet the federal seat belt assembly standard.
There is no warning sign before failure. The issue shows up at the moment the driver tries to get out of the belt and the buckle does not release cleanly.
Who's affected?
Covers two Blue Bird bus models across the 2014 and 2015 model years, all tied to the same front seat belt buckle assembly.
| 2014 Blue Bird Vision | seat belt |
|---|---|
| 2015 Blue Bird All American | seat belt |
| 2015 Blue Bird Vision | seat belt |
| 2014 Blue Bird All American | seat belt |
| Units affected | 802 |
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 seat belt latch plate that stays partly engaged after the release button is pressed can slow exit from the bus and increase injury risk during an emergency. If the buckle does not release cleanly, stop using that seating position and arrange dealer inspection. Repair will be free at any franchised Blue Bird dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2014-2015 Blue Bird Vision or All American bus is included in this recall.
- Contact Blue Bird customer service at 1-478-822-2242 to confirm dealer inspection instructions.
- Schedule the free seat-belt-buckle inspection and replacement that fixes the buckle latch problem.
- Bring the recall notice if Blue Bird mailed one. If not, reference recall number 13V579 and Blue Bird recall R13WS when you call.
- Keep the bus out of passenger service if the driver's seat belt is hard to unlatch until the buckle is inspected or replaced.
What happens at the repair
The source repair path is a dealer inspection of the driver's seat belt buckle. Once the repair is available through the dealer, a Blue Bird technician inspects the buckle and replaces it if the latch plate does not release correctly. Parts and labor are covered under the recall. The work focuses on the IMMI-brand L9 driver's seat belt buckle, not the whole seating system, so ask the service desk to confirm that part is covered when the bus is checked.
Timeline
| November 20, 2013 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| December 17, 2013 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 13V579?
Recall 13V579 covers 802 2014-2015 Blue Bird Vision and All American school buses with IMMI-brand L9 driver's seat belts. The buckle latch plate can stay partly engaged after the release button is pressed, making the belt hard to unlatch. Blue Bird dealers inspect the buckle and replace it for free when needed.
What should I do if my 2014-2015 Blue Bird Vision or All American is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific bus is included in recall 13V579. If it is, contact a franchised Blue Bird dealer for the driver's seat-belt buckle inspection. Reference recall 13V579 or Blue Bird recall number R13WS 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. Blue Bird dealers inspect the driver's seat-belt buckle and replace it free of charge when the buckle does not pass inspection.
What is the safety risk with recall 13V579?
The safety risk is delayed exit from the bus in an emergency. If the latch plate stays partly engaged after the release button is pressed, the driver can have trouble unlatching the belt, increasing the risk of injury during emergency egress.
When did Blue Bird start this recall repair?
Blue Bird began the recall on December 17, 2013. Owners with an included 2014-2015 Vision or All American bus can contact a franchised Blue Bird dealer for the seat-belt buckle inspection and free replacement when needed.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/13V579000 |
|---|---|
| Blue Bird customer service | 1-478-822-2242 |
| NHTSA recall # | 13V579 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 13V579000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Investigation 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 →