Recall 13V643 affects 217 2014-2015 Blue Bird All American and Vision school buses for park-brake pedal-arm fractures. Repair is free at franchised Blue Bird dealers.
Blue Bird is recalling 217 2014-2015 All American and Vision school buses under recall 13V643 because a hydraulic park brake pedal arm component has a heat-treatment defect that can fracture the arm. If the arm fractures, the parking brake can release without warning and the bus can roll unexpectedly, increasing the risk of injury or a crash; Blue Bird dealers will complete the repair free of charge.
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What's wrong?
The parking brake on 2014-2015 Blue Bird All American and Vision school buses is the brake that holds the bus in place when it is parked. In this recall, the problem is inside the hydraulic park brake pedal arm. That pedal arm is the driver-operated part that applies and holds parking brake force through the hydraulic parking brake system.
On affected buses, a component inside the pedal arm was not properly heat treated. Heat treatment is a manufacturing step that gives metal the hardness and strength it needs for repeated use. If that part is too weak, it can fracture while the parking brake is set. Once it breaks, the parking brake can release on its own.
There is no warning sign before failure. The filing describes the parking brake release as happening without warning, so do not rely on noise, pedal feel, or a visible change to tell you the part is about to break.
Who's affected?
All American and Vision buses share the same parking-brake component across the 2014 and 2015 model years.
| 2015 Blue Bird All American | Parking brake |
|---|---|
| 2014 Blue Bird Vision | Parking brake |
| 2015 Blue Bird Vision | Parking brake |
| 2014 Blue Bird All American | Parking brake |
| Units affected | 217 |
A matching year and model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether this recall applies to your specific bus.
What's the safety risk?
A fractured park brake pedal arm can let the bus roll unexpectedly, increasing the risk of personal injury or a crash. There is no warning sign before failure, so use caution when parking and schedule the repair soon. Repair is free at any franchised Blue Bird dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2014-2015 Blue Bird All American or Vision school bus is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Blue Bird dealer to schedule the free parking-brake assembly replacement that fixes the brake pedal arm fracture risk.
- Bring the recall notice if Blue Bird mailed one. If not, reference recall number 13V643 and Blue Bird recall R13WT when you call.
- Avoid relying on the parking brake until the dealer completes the repair; the brake can release without warning if the pedal arm fractures.
- Call Blue Bird at 1-478-822-2242 with recall questions before using the bus for passenger service.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Blue Bird technician replaces the parking brake assembly tied to the hydraulic park brake pedal arm. The recall repair is free, with parts and labor covered. Because this remedy is available, owners can schedule service through a Blue Bird dealer. The technician installs the new assembly and verifies the parking brake holds properly before the bus returns to service.
Timeline
| December 24, 2013 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| December 31, 2013 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 13V643?
Recall 13V643 covers 217 2014-2015 Blue Bird All American and Vision school buses with a park brake pedal arm component that was not properly heat treated. The arm can fracture, release the parking brake without warning, and let the bus roll. Blue Bird dealers install a new parking brake assembly for free.
What should I do if my 2014-2015 Blue Bird All American or Vision is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific bus is included in recall 13V643. If it is, contact a franchised Blue Bird dealer to schedule the parking brake assembly replacement. Reference recall 13V643 or Blue Bird recall number R13WT 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 says dealers will install a new parking brake assembly free of charge. The recall repair began on December 31, 2013.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is an unexpected rollaway. If the park brake pedal arm fractures, the parking brake can release without warning, and the bus can roll, increasing the risk of personal injury or a crash. Confirm the VIN and arrange the free dealer repair.
What warning signs should I watch for?
There is no warning before the parking brake releases if the pedal arm fractures. Treat the VIN check as the deciding step, especially for buses built during the covered 2014-2015 model years. If your bus is included, schedule the free parking brake assembly replacement with a Blue Bird dealer.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/13V643000 |
|---|---|
| Blue Bird customer service | 1-478-822-2242 |
| NHTSA recall # | 13V643 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 13V643000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (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 →