Recall 20V125 affects 2,790 2008-2021 Blue Bird buses for an incorrectly installed seat barrier. Repair is free at any franchised Blue Bird dealer.
Blue Bird is recalling 2,790 2008-2021 All American and Vision school buses over a driver-seat barrier installation defect involving a missing reinforcing bracket. In a crash, that barrier can fail to adequately protect the occupant seated behind it, increasing injury risk; Blue Bird dealers will inspect and repair the buses free of charge.
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What's wrong?
The seat barrier behind the driver seat on affected 2008-2021 Blue Bird All American and Vision buses is the protective panel at the front of the passenger seating area. On these buses, that barrier also works with an integrated 3-point seat belt, so its frame and mounting points have to hold position during a crash.
Blue Bird found that the barrier was installed incorrectly on certain buses. The barrier needs a reinforced frame to meet the school bus passenger seating and crash protection standard. On certain Vision buses, a reinforcing bracket under the floor is also part of the correct setup. Without the correct barrier assembly or bracket, the barrier does not meet the required forward-load performance.
There is no warning sign before failure. A driver or maintenance worker is not expected to hear or see a change that points to the incorrect barrier before an inspection finds it.
Who's affected?
The scope spans All American and Vision bus variants tied to the same seat assembly component.
| 2015 Blue Bird All American | seat assembly |
|---|---|
| 2013 Blue Bird All American | seat assembly |
| 2012 Blue Bird All American | seat assembly |
| 2011 Blue Bird All American | seat assembly |
| 2010 Blue Bird All American | seat assembly |
| 2009 Blue Bird All American | seat assembly |
| 2008 Blue Bird All American | seat assembly |
| 2020 Blue Bird Vision School Bus | seat assembly |
| 2020 Blue Bird Vision Transit Bus | seat assembly |
| 2019 Blue Bird Vision | seat assembly |
| 2018 Blue Bird Vision | seat assembly |
| 2017 Blue Bird Vision | seat assembly |
| 2021 Blue Bird Vision School Bus | seat assembly |
| 2011 Blue Bird Vision | seat assembly |
| 2010 Blue Bird Vision | seat assembly |
| 2008 Blue Bird Vision | seat assembly |
| 2021 Blue Bird All American Transit Bus | seat assembly |
| 2019 Blue Bird All American | seat assembly |
| 2018 Blue Bird All American | seat assembly |
| 2014 Blue Bird All American | seat assembly |
| 2016 Blue Bird All American | seat assembly |
| 2020 Blue Bird All American Transit Bus | seat assembly |
| 2020 Blue Bird All American School Bus | seat assembly |
| 2021 Blue Bird All American School Bus | seat assembly |
| 2009 Blue Bird Vision | seat assembly |
| 2012 Blue Bird Vision | seat assembly |
| 2013 Blue Bird Vision | seat assembly |
| 2014 Blue Bird Vision | seat assembly |
| 2015 Blue Bird Vision | seat assembly |
| 2016 Blue Bird Vision | seat assembly |
| 2021 Blue Bird Vision Transit Bus | seat assembly |
| 2017 Blue Bird All American | seat assembly |
| Units affected | 2,790 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged 21 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?
The concern is crash protection, not a warning-light problem. If the seat barrier is not properly installed or lacks the reinforcing bracket, the occupant seated behind it has less protection in a crash, increasing injury risk. There is no audible or visual warning before the event. Repair is free at any franchised Blue Bird dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2008-2021 Blue Bird All American, Vision School Bus, Vision Transit Bus, Vision, All American Transit Bus, or All American School Bus is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Blue Bird dealer to schedule the free seat-barrier inspection and reinforcing-bracket repair that corrects the driver-seat barrier installation.
- Reference recall number 20V125 and Blue Bird recall R20AM-SB when you call.
- Bring the recall notice if Blue Bird mailed one, or bring your VIN and registration if the notice is missing.
- Keep the bus out of passenger service until the dealer confirms the seat barrier behind the driver seat is inspected and repaired.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Blue Bird technician inspects the seat barrier behind the driver seat, including the integrated 3-point seat belt. If the barrier was installed incorrectly, the technician properly installs it and adds the reinforcing bracket where required. The inspection, parts, and labor are free under the recall. Blue Bird has a general reimbursement plan on file for owners who already paid for this repair before the recall work was completed. Bring repair paperwork and proof of payment to the service desk so Blue Bird can review the claim under that plan.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| March 3, 2020 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| April 22, 2020 | Owner notification mailed |
| April 23, 2020 | Dealer notification began |
| April 23, 2020 | Dealer notification ended |
| April 23, 2020 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 20V125?
Recall 20V125 covers 2,790 2008-2021 Blue Bird All American and Vision buses with a seat barrier behind the driver seat that was installed incorrectly or lacks a reinforcing bracket. The dealer will inspect the barrier and install it correctly, including the bracket if needed, for free.
What should I do if my 2008-2021 Blue Bird All American or Vision is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific bus is included in recall 20V125. If it is, contact a franchised Blue Bird dealer to schedule the seat-barrier inspection and repair. Reference recall number 20V125 and Blue Bird recall number R20AM-SB when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost. Blue Bird dealers will inspect the seat barrier and properly install it, including adding the reinforcing bracket if needed, free of charge.
What is the safety risk in recall 20V125?
The risk is reduced crash protection for the occupant seated behind the barrier near the driver seat. Referenced from NHTSA campaign 20V125, the incorrectly installed or unreinforced barrier can fail to protect that occupant in a crash, increasing injury risk.
Who can I call about Blue Bird recall 20V125?
Call Blue Bird customer service at 1-478-822-2242 with recall number R20AM-SB. Have the VIN ready, then ask the dealer service desk to confirm whether your bus is included and schedule the free seat-barrier inspection and repair.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/20V125000 |
|---|---|
| Blue Bird customer service | 1-478-822-2242 |
| NHTSA recall # | 20V125 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 20V125000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Quarterly Report (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 Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 23, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →