Recall 18V881 covers 6 2019 Blue Bird Vision and All American buses for parking-brake cable disengagement. Free repair at a franchised Blue Bird dealer.
Blue Bird is recalling 6 2019 Vision and All American transit buses because the parking brake cable can disengage from the foot pedal assembly and let the bus move unintentionally. Unintended movement increases the risk of a crash, and Blue Bird dealers will complete the repair free of charge.
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What's wrong?
The parking brake on 2019 Blue Bird Vision and All American buses is supposed to hold the bus still after the driver sets it with the foot pedal. The pedal pulls a cable that applies the hydraulic parking brake, and that cable has to stay seated in the retention clevis, the slotted fitting that holds the cable end at the pedal.
On these buses, the cable can disengage from that clevis. Blue Bird traced the problem to the shape of the slot in the new pedal assembly and slack in the cable, which comes from friction where the cable bends through its outer sheathing. If the cable slips out, the parking brake does not stay set as intended, and the bus can move when it should be parked.
There is no warning sign before failure. Blue Bird reported no audible or visual warning before the cable disengages, so an owner or driver will not get a dashboard light or sound before the parking brake connection lets go.
Who's affected?
Covers both Blue Bird bus models, with the parking brake component common to each.
| 2019 Blue Bird Vision | Parking brake |
|---|---|
| 2019 Blue Bird All American | Parking brake |
| Units affected | 6 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged 1 field incident 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?
Unintended movement increases the risk of a crash. There is no audible or visual warning before the vehicle moves unintentionally, so treat any shifting or parking-control concern as a reason to park safely and call a franchised Blue Bird dealer. Repair is free at any franchised Blue Bird dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2019 Blue Bird Vision or All American bus is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Blue Bird dealer to schedule the free parking-brake cable retention clip and return spring repair that keeps the cable connected to the foot pedal assembly.
- Bring the owner letter if Blue Bird sent one. If not, reference recall number 18V881 when you call.
- Keep the bus secured when parked until the repair is complete, since the parking brake cable can disengage and allow unintended movement.
- Call Blue Bird customer service at 1-478-822-2242 with questions and reference Blue Bird recall R19ZU-NSB.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Blue Bird technician installs a clevis cable retention clip and a cable-end return spring on the parking brake cable assembly. The work is free under the recall, with parts and labor covered. Blue Bird has a general reimbursement plan on file for eligible out-of-pocket repairs paid before the recall notice. Keep any repair paperwork and ask Blue Bird customer service or the dealer how to submit documentation under that plan.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| December 11, 2018 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| February 6, 2019 | Owner notification mailed |
| February 11, 2019 | Dealer notification began |
| February 11, 2019 | Dealer notification ended |
| February 11, 2019 | VIN-searchable in NHTSA's database — Check your VIN to see whether this recall applies to your specific vehicle. |
| February 11, 2019 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 18V881?
Recall 18V881 covers 6 2019 Blue Bird Vision and All American transit buses with a parking brake cable that can disengage from the foot pedal assembly. If that happens, the bus can move unintentionally and increase crash risk. Blue Bird dealers install the cable retention clip and return spring for free.
What should I do if my 2019 Blue Bird Vision or All American is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific bus is included in recall 18V881. If it is, contact a franchised Blue Bird dealer and ask for the parking brake cable retention clip and cable-end return spring installation. Reference recall number 18V881 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. For recall 18V881, Blue Bird dealers install a clevis cable retention clip and cable-end return spring free of charge.
What is the safety risk?
The risk is unintended bus movement. The parking brake cable can disengage from the foot pedal assembly, which can allow the bus to move when it is expected to stay parked. That unintended movement can increase the risk of a crash. The dealer repair is free.
When did the Blue Bird recall repair begin?
The recall repair began February 6, 2019. Blue Bird dealers install the parking brake cable retention clip and cable-end return spring for free. If your bus has not had the repair, check your VIN and call a franchised Blue Bird dealer with recall number 18V881.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/18V881000 |
|---|---|
| Blue Bird customer service | 1-478-822-2242 |
| NHTSA recall # | 18V881 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 18V881000 |
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 25, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →