Recall 17V101 affects 263 2015-2018 Blue Bird Vision buses for battery-box brackets that can crack. Repair is free at any franchised Blue Bird dealer.
Blue Bird is recalling 263 2015-2018 Vision transit buses with frame-mounted battery boxes because the support brackets can crack and let the battery box separate from the chassis. If the box detaches, it can become a road hazard and increase crash risk; the Blue Bird dealer repair will be free once available.
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What's wrong?
On 2015-2018 Blue Bird Vision buses, the frame mounted battery box holds the bus batteries on the chassis instead of inside the body. The support brackets are the metal mounts that carry that weight and keep the battery box fixed in place while the bus moves, turns, and rides over bumps.
On affected buses, the bracket design is not strong enough for certain installations. Stress cracks can form in the supports, and the cracks can grow until a bracket breaks. When that happens, the battery box is no longer fully supported. In the worst case described by the recall, the box can separate from the chassis.
The warning sign is visual. If one support bracket completely fails, that side of the battery box can hang below the body skirt line where it is visible during inspection. A driver or technician who sees the battery box sitting lower than normal should treat that as a sign the support has failed.
Who's affected?
Spans the 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018 Vision model years, all tied to the same body or structural component.
| 2018 Blue Bird Vision | body or structural component |
|---|---|
| 2016 Blue Bird Vision | body or structural component |
| 2015 Blue Bird Vision | body or structural component |
| 2017 Blue Bird Vision | body or structural component |
| Units affected | 263 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
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 detached battery box can fall into the roadway and become a road hazard, increasing crash risk. If a support bracket fails, one side of the box hangs below the body skirt line and is visible. Schedule inspection soon and limit use if the box looks low or loose. Repair will be free at any franchised Blue Bird dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2015-2018 Blue Bird Vision bus is included in this recall.
- Wait for Blue Bird's repair notification before scheduling the final dealer repair.
- Contact a franchised Blue Bird dealer for the free inspection and battery-box bracket repair once Blue Bird confirms the remedy is available.
- Bring the recall notice if Blue Bird has mailed one. If not, reference recall number 17V101 when you call.
- Inspect the battery box area before trips and keep the bus out of service if the box looks loose, cracked, or separated from the chassis.
What happens at the repair
Blue Bird is still developing the final dealer process for this campaign. Once the repair opens, a Blue Bird technician will inspect the frame mounted battery box supports and repair the buses as needed. The final dealer repair will be free, with parts and labor covered under the recall. Blue Bird has a general reimbursement plan on file for owners who already paid for a related repair. Contact Blue Bird customer service at 1-478-822-2242 and ask what documentation the plan requires for review.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| February 15, 2017 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| March 14, 2017 | Dealer notification began |
| March 14, 2017 | Dealer notification ended |
| March 14, 2017 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
| March 20, 2017 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 17V101?
Recall 17V101 covers 263 2015-2018 Blue Bird Vision transit buses with frame-mounted battery boxes. The battery-box support brackets can crack, letting the box separate from the chassis and become a road hazard. Blue Bird dealers inspect and repair the buses for free.
What should I do if my 2015-2018 Blue Bird Vision is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific bus is included in recall 17V101. If it is, contact a franchised Blue Bird dealer to schedule the battery-box bracket inspection and repair. Reference recall number 17V101 when you call. The repair is free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to fix the defect at no cost, and Blue Bird dealers will inspect and repair the affected battery-box support brackets free of charge. Blue Bird's customer service number for this recall is 1-478-822-2242.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is a battery box detaching from the bus. If the box separates from the chassis, it can become a road hazard for the bus and nearby traffic, increasing crash risk. The repair path is dealer inspection and repair of the battery-box support brackets.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/17V101000 |
|---|---|
| Blue Bird customer service | 1-478-822-2242 |
| NHTSA recall # | 17V101 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 17V101000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Recall Investigation 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 25, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →