Recall 16V172 affects 67 2011-2017 Blue Bird All American buses for rear seat leg detachment. Repair is free at any franchised Blue Bird dealer.
Blue Bird is recalling 67 2011-2017 All American school buses because rear side emergency door seating over the wheelhouse can detach at the rear legs during a crash. When that happens, belted occupants can move forward instead of staying properly restrained. That increases injury risk, and Blue Bird dealers will complete the free repair.
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What's wrong?
The rear seat leg on affected 2011-2017 Blue Bird All American school buses is part of the seat structure over the wheelhouse area. On buses with a rear side emergency door, that leg helps hold certain belted seats to the floor. The seat belt depends on that seat structure staying attached when the bus is loaded by crash forces.
On these buses, the original bolted rear leg installed on certain seats with seat belts does not meet the required anchorage strength. In a crash, the rear leg can detach from the floor. If that happens, a belted occupant can move forward with the seat instead of being held in the intended position.
There is no warning sign before failure. This is not a wear item the driver or maintenance staff can hear, feel, or see during normal operation; the problem shows up when the seat is stressed in a crash.
Who's affected?
All listed model years point to the same seat assembly issue.
| 2011 Blue Bird All American | seat assembly |
|---|---|
| 2015 Blue Bird All American | seat assembly |
| 2012 Blue Bird All American | seat assembly |
| 2013 Blue Bird All American | seat assembly |
| 2016 Blue Bird All American | seat assembly |
| 2017 Blue Bird All American | seat assembly |
| 2014 Blue Bird All American | seat assembly |
| Units affected | 67 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
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 faulty rear leg assembly can keep the seat from properly restraining an occupant in a crash, increasing injury risk. There is no warning sign before the restraint problem matters, so confirm whether the VIN is included and schedule the dealer repair soon. Repair is free at any franchised Blue Bird dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2011-2017 Blue Bird All American school bus is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Blue Bird dealer to schedule the free rear leg assembly replacement that keeps the wheelhouse seat anchored in a crash.
- Bring the recall notice if Blue Bird mailed one. If not, reference recall number 16V172 when you call.
- Keep passengers out of the affected wheelhouse seats until the rear leg assembly replacement is complete.
- Call Blue Bird customer service at 1-478-822-2242 with questions and reference Blue Bird recall R16YM-SB.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Blue Bird technician replaces the rear leg assembly for the seat over the wheelhouse area on buses with rear side emergency doors. The replacement parts and labor are free under the recall. If you already paid for a related seat leg or floor attachment repair before the recall notice, Blue Bird's general reimbursement plan is on file for documented expenses. Bring the repair paperwork to the service desk or contact Blue Bird customer service for claim instructions.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| March 25, 2016 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| April 19, 2016 | Owner notification mailed |
| April 22, 2016 | Dealer notification began |
| April 22, 2016 | Dealer notification ended |
| April 22, 2016 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 16V172?
Recall 16V172 covers 67 2011-2017 Blue Bird All American school buses with rear side emergency doors. Seats over the wheelhouse area have rear legs that can detach from the floor in a crash. In that failure, belted occupants travel forward. Blue Bird dealers will replace the rear leg assembly for free.
What should I do if my 2011-2017 Blue Bird All American is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific bus is included in recall 16V172. If it is, contact a franchised Blue Bird dealer to schedule the rear leg assembly replacement. Reference recall 16V172 and Blue Bird recall R16YM-SB when you call. The repair is free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires manufacturers to repair the defect at no cost, and Blue Bird's remedy says dealers will replace the rear leg assembly free of charge. The repair applies to included buses regardless of where the bus is currently owned or operated.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is occupant restraint failure in a crash. If the rear seat legs detach from the floor, the seat does not properly restrain a belted occupant. That raises the risk of injury during the crash. Check your VIN, then arrange the free dealer repair if your bus is included.
When did the Blue Bird All American recall repair begin?
Blue Bird began the recall repair on April 19, 2016. The remedy is available, and Blue Bird dealers replace the rear leg assembly free of charge. Owners can contact Blue Bird customer service at 1-478-822-2242 and reference recall R16YM-SB when scheduling service.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/16V172000 |
|---|---|
| Blue Bird customer service | 1-478-822-2242 |
| NHTSA recall # | 16V172 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 16V172000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (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 →