Recall 19V391 affects 4,218 2015-2020 Blue Bird Vision and All American school buses for dragging rear brakes. Repair is free at a franchised Blue Bird dealer.
Blue Bird is recalling 4,218 2015-2020 Vision and All American school buses under recall 19V391 because the driver side rear brakes can drag on units equipped with Bendix ADB22X air brakes. Dragging brakes can damage brake components and raise wheel-end temperatures enough to increase fire risk, and Blue Bird dealers will inspect and repair the brakes free of charge.
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What's wrong?
The air disc brakes on these Blue Bird school buses use a caliper that squeezes a brake pad against a rotor at each wheel. Inside the caliper is an adjuster mechanism that keeps a small, consistent gap between the pad and the rotor as the pad wears down. That gap is what lets the wheel turn freely when your foot is off the brake.
On the left rear wheel of affected buses, the prior-generation adjuster reacts to the direction of wheel rotation and the heavy use of the parking brake on school routes. Each park brake application can nudge the adjuster the wrong way, slowly closing the gap until the pad rides against the rotor. That constant contact is a dragging brake, and it builds heat at the left rear wheel end.
The first warning sign is often the ABS dash warning light, set when the left rear wheel speed sensor wire melts from the heat. Drivers have also reported a hot brake odor or smoke coming from the left rear wheel.
Who's affected?
Covers five Blue Bird bus models (All American, Vision, All American School Bus, Vision Transit Bus, Vision School Bus) across the 2015-2020 model years, all built with the same air disc brake system.
| 2016 Blue Bird All American | brake system |
|---|---|
| 2017 Blue Bird All American | brake system |
| 2018 Blue Bird All American | brake system |
| 2019 Blue Bird All American | brake system |
| 2015 Blue Bird Vision | brake system |
| 2020 Blue Bird All American School Bus | brake system |
| 2016 Blue Bird Vision | brake system |
| 2017 Blue Bird Vision | brake system |
| 2019 Blue Bird Vision | brake system |
| 2018 Blue Bird Vision | brake system |
| 2015 Blue Bird All American | brake system |
| 2020 Blue Bird Vision Transit Bus | brake system |
| 2020 Blue Bird Vision School Bus | brake system |
| Units affected | 4,218 |
A matching year and model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific bus is included in this recall.
What's the safety risk?
A dragging brake can damage brake components, trigger the ABS warning light, and raise wheel-end temperatures enough to start a fire. Watch for an ABS light, the smell of overheated brake pads, or smoke from the left rear wheel. If any of those show up, stop driving, move occupants to a safe spot, and call the dealer. Repair is free at any franchised Blue Bird dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2015-2020 Blue Bird Vision or All American school bus is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Blue Bird dealer to schedule the brake-caliper replacement that fixes the dragging driver-side rear brakes.
- Reference recall number 19V391 (Blue Bird recall R19AA-SB) when you call so the service desk pulls the correct parts.
- Call Blue Bird customer service at 1-478-822-2242 with questions about scheduling or parts availability.
- Watch for a dragging rear brake, an ABS warning light, or unusual heat or smell from the driver-side rear wheel before the repair, and have the bus inspected promptly if any of those appear.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Blue Bird technician installs a new brake caliper with an updated clearance adjustment mechanism on the driver side rear axle. Parts and labor are free under the recall. If you previously paid out of pocket to address the dragging rear brake on the affected bus, Blue Bird's standard reimbursement plan covers documented expenses. Bring your receipts and any related repair paperwork to the service desk when you arrive, and reference recall R19AA-SB so the team can process the claim against the campaign.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| May 24, 2019 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| July 18, 2019 | Dealer notification began |
| July 18, 2019 | Dealer notification ended |
| July 18, 2019 | VIN-searchable in NHTSA's database — Check your VIN to see whether this recall applies to your specific vehicle. |
| July 18, 2019 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
| August 28, 2019 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 19V391?
Recall 19V391 covers 4,218 2015-2020 Blue Bird Vision and All American school buses equipped with Bendix ADB22X air brakes. The driver-side rear brakes can drag, which can damage brake components, trigger the ABS warning light, and raise wheel-end temperatures enough to increase fire risk.
What should I do if my 2015-2020 Blue Bird Vision or All American is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific bus is included in recall 19V391. If it is, contact a Blue Bird dealer to schedule installation of a new caliper with the updated clearance adjustment mechanism. Reference recall number 19V391 when you call. The repair is free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires manufacturers to perform the recall repair at no cost. Blue Bird dealers will install the new caliper with the updated clearance adjustment mechanism free of charge, regardless of where the bus was originally purchased or how many owners it has had.
What warning signs should I watch for?
The most direct indicator is the ABS warning light, which can illuminate after a dragging brake damages components. Drivers should also watch for unusual heat, smell, or smoke at the driver-side rear wheel end. If any of these appear, stop the bus safely, move occupants off, and call the dealer.
What if I bought my Blue Bird bus used?
The free repair still applies. Federal recall law requires manufacturers to honor the recall regardless of ownership history. If Blue Bird never mailed your fleet a notice, check your VIN to confirm whether the bus is included, and reference recall number 19V391 when you call the dealer or Blue Bird customer service at 1-478-822-2242.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/19V391000 |
|---|---|
| Blue Bird customer service | 1-478-822-2242 |
| NHTSA recall # | 19V391 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 19V391000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF) - 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 →