Recall 15V730 covers 2007-2015 Blue Bird Vision, All American, Micro Bird and Conventional buses for wheelchair-lift bearing defects. Repair is free at Blue Bird dealers.
Blue Bird is recalling 5,114 2007-2015 Vision, All American, Micro Bird, and Conventional school buses because certain Ricon wheelchair lifts have folding link-arm pivot holes that are too large and let bearings move out of position. If the bearings shift, the stowed platform can move excessively and fail at its mounting, which raises injury risk for the lift operator; Blue Bird dealers will repair the lifts free of charge.
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What's wrong?
The wheelchair lift on the 2007-2015 Blue Bird Vision, All American, Micro Bird, and Conventional buses uses folding link arms to move and hold the lift platform. Those arms pivot on bearings, which let the platform fold, unfold, and stay controlled while the lift is stowed or in use. The pivot holes have to hold the bearings in the right position.
On these buses, certain Ricon S-Series lifts were built with oversized pivot holes in the folding link arms. When the hole is too large, the bearing can move out of position. That extra movement creates free play in the stowed platform, putting added load on the platform mounting and leading to mounting failure. The free dealer repair addresses the lift hardware.
An owner or fleet technician can see the warning sign during inspection. If the bearing has moved out of position, it is visible at the folding link arm.
Who's affected?
Spans 4 Blue Bird bus models across 9 model years, all tied to the same adaptive/mobility equipment component.
| 2015 Blue Bird Vision | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
|---|---|
| 2013 Blue Bird Vision | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2012 Blue Bird Vision | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2010 Blue Bird Vision | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2009 Blue Bird Vision | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2007 Blue Bird Vision | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2014 Blue Bird All American | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2014 Blue Bird Vision | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2009 Blue Bird All American | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2010 Blue Bird All American | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2008 Blue Bird Vision | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2011 Blue Bird All American | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2008 Blue Bird All American | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2011 Blue Bird Vision | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2012 Blue Bird All American | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2013 Blue Bird All American | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2015 Blue Bird All American | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2007 Blue Bird All American | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2008 Blue Bird Micro Bird | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2007 Blue Bird Micro Bird | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2007 Blue Bird Conventional | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2009 Blue Bird Micro Bird | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2008 Blue Bird Conventional | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2010 Blue Bird Micro Bird | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2011 Blue Bird Micro Bird | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| Units affected | 5,114 |
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?
A displaced bearing can let the stowed lift platform move too much. That movement can damage the platform mounting, and when the doors open, the platform can fall out of the vehicle, increasing injury risk for the lift operator. The shifted bearing is visible during inspection. Repair is free at any franchised Blue Bird dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2007-2015 Blue Bird Vision, All American, Micro Bird, or Conventional bus is included in this recall.
- Contact a Blue Bird service dealer to schedule the free Ricon wheelchair-lift inspection and repair.
- Ask the dealer to inspect the folding link arms, bearings, and platform cracks tied to the stowed-platform movement risk.
- Bring the recall notice if Blue Bird mailed one. If not, reference recall number 15V730 when you call.
- Avoid using the wheelchair lift until the inspection and any needed repair are complete.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Blue Bird technician inspects the Ricon wheelchair lift's folding link arms for damage, displaced bearings, and oversized pivot hole problems. The platform is also checked for cracks. Any damaged parts are replaced free under the recall. Parts and labor are covered. Blue Bird has a general reimbursement plan on file for prior paid repairs tied to this condition. If you already paid for a related lift repair, contact Blue Bird customer service with repair documentation before your appointment.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| November 4, 2015 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| November 30, 2015 | Dealer notification began |
| November 30, 2015 | Dealer notification ended |
| November 30, 2015 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
| December 1, 2015 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 15V730?
Recall 15V730 covers 5,114 2007-2015 Blue Bird Vision, All American, Micro Bird, and Conventional school buses with certain Ricon wheelchair lifts. The lift link-arm pivot holes are too large, which lets bearings move out of position and can damage the platform mounting.
What should I do if my 2007-2015 Blue Bird Vision, All American, Micro Bird, or Conventional is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific bus is included in recall 15V730. If it is, contact a franchised Blue Bird dealer or Ricon service provider to arrange the wheelchair lift inspection. Reference recall number 15V730 when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost. Blue Bird says Ricon dealers will inspect the link arms and platform, then replace damaged parts free of charge.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is lift-platform failure when the bus doors are opened. If the bearings move out of position, the stowed platform has excessive movement, the platform mounting can fail, and the wheelchair lift platform can fall out of the vehicle, increasing injury risk for the lift operator.
What if I bought the Blue Bird bus used?
The free recall repair still applies. Recall eligibility follows the VIN, not the first owner. Check your VIN to confirm whether the bus is included, then contact a Blue Bird dealer or Ricon service provider for the free wheelchair lift inspection and any needed parts replacement.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/15V730000 |
|---|---|
| Blue Bird customer service | 1-478-822-2242 |
| NHTSA recall # | 15V730 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 15V730000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 31, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →