Recall 18V846 covers 12 2019-2020 Blue Bird buses with under-bolted HSM seats. Repair is free at any franchised Blue Bird dealer.
Blue Bird is recalling 12 2019-2020 All American School Bus, Vision, and Vision School Bus vehicles because some HSM NextGen 45-inch 3PT seats were installed with too few floor bolts. In a crash, a seat that detaches from the bus floor can increase injury risk, and Blue Bird dealers will complete the repair free of charge.
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What's wrong?
The affected 2019-2020 Blue Bird buses use HSM NextGen 45-inch 3PT school bus seats. That seat is supposed to stay locked to the bus floor while its belt anchorages hold the rider in place during hard braking or a crash. The floor attachment is part of the restraint system, not just a mounting point.
On these buses, the seat does not have enough bolts fastening it to the floor. That means the attachment does not meet the required strength level for the seat belt anchorage system. In hard braking or a crash, the load on the seat can pull against those fasteners, and the seat can detach from the floor.
There is no warning sign before failure. The issue is in the seat attachment hardware, so a driver, mechanic, or passenger would not hear or see a symptom before a hard braking or crash event exposes the problem.
Who's affected?
Spans three Blue Bird bus models across the 2019 and 2020 model years, all tied to the seat assembly.
| 2020 Blue Bird All American School Bus | seat assembly |
|---|---|
| 2019 Blue Bird Vision | seat assembly |
| 2020 Blue Bird Vision School Bus | seat assembly |
| Units affected | 12 |
| 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 bus seat that detaches from the floor during a crash can increase injury risk for the seated passenger. There is no audible or visual warning before this happens, so confirm the VIN and schedule the brace installation soon. Repair is free at any franchised Blue Bird dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2019-2020 Blue Bird All American School Bus, Vision, or Vision School Bus is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Blue Bird dealer to schedule the free secondary floor mounting brace installation that helps keep the affected seat attached to the bus floor in a crash.
- Bring the recall notice if Blue Bird mailed one. If not, reference recall number 18V846 when you call.
- Ask Blue Bird customer service at 1-478-822-2242 about service timing if the bus is still carrying passengers before the repair.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Blue Bird technician installs a secondary floor mounting brace at the affected school bus seat mounting points so the seat is secured to the bus floor as required. The recall repair is free, with parts and labor covered. Blue Bird's general reimbursement plan covers eligible documented repairs already paid before the recall notice. If you paid for a related seat mounting repair, bring the repair paperwork to the dealer or contact Blue Bird customer service for the reimbursement path.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| November 28, 2018 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| December 12, 2018 | Owner notification mailed |
| December 27, 2018 | Dealer notification began |
| December 27, 2018 | Dealer notification ended |
| December 27, 2018 | VIN-searchable in NHTSA's database — Check your VIN to see whether this recall applies to your specific vehicle. |
| December 27, 2018 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 18V846?
Recall 18V846 covers 12 2019-2020 Blue Bird All American School Bus, Vision, and Vision School Bus vehicles with certain HSM NextGen 45-inch 3PT school bus seats. The seat floor attachment has too few bolts, so Blue Bird dealers will install a secondary floor mounting brace for free.
What should I do if my 2019-2020 Blue Bird All American School Bus, Vision, or Vision School Bus is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific bus is included in recall 18V846. If it is, contact a franchised Blue Bird dealer to schedule installation of the secondary floor mounting brace. Reference Blue Bird recall number R18ZT-SB 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 dealers will install the secondary floor mounting brace free of charge. Blue Bird customer service is available at 1-478-822-2242 for recall scheduling questions.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is injury during a crash. If the affected seat detaches from the bus floor in a crash, the seat belt anchorage system no longer holds the occupant as designed. Blue Bird's remedy adds a secondary floor mounting brace to secure the seat.
When did Blue Bird recall 18V846 start?
Blue Bird recall 18V846 began December 12, 2018. Because this recall is already open, included buses are eligible for the free dealer repair now. Use the VIN to confirm inclusion before scheduling service, especially for buses bought used or moved between fleets.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/18V846000 |
|---|---|
| Blue Bird customer service | 1-478-822-2242 |
| NHTSA recall # | 18V846 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 18V846000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Investigation 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 25, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →