Recall 20V235 affects 3 2009-2019 Blue Bird Vision buses for a weak parking brake. Free adjustment at any franchised Blue Bird dealer.
Blue Bird is recalling 3 2009-2019 Vision transit buses because the floor-mounted parking brake can fail to hold a fully loaded bus on an incline. That insufficient brake force can let the bus move unintentionally, increasing injury risk to bystanders; Blue Bird dealers will complete the recall repair free of charge.
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What's wrong?
The floor-mounted parking brake on 2009-2019 Blue Bird Vision buses is the hand lever beside the driver seat that applies the parking brake on hydraulic-brake buses. When it is set correctly, the lever applies enough force to keep a loaded bus stationary after the driver parks, including on an incline.
On affected buses, the lever's application force was set lower than required. Blue Bird traced the problem to manufacturing variation and to missed service checks of that lever force. With too little force at the parking brake, a bus loaded to its maximum weight can roll on a grade even after the brake is engaged.
There is no warning sign before failure. The driver will not get an audible or visual alert before a rollback event, so the defect is about whether the parking brake holds when the bus is parked under load.
Who's affected?
Across the 2009-2019 Vision scope, each listed bus is tied to the same parking brake component.
| 2010 Blue Bird Vision | Parking brake |
|---|---|
| 2018 Blue Bird Vision | Parking brake |
| 2011 Blue Bird Vision | Parking brake |
| 2009 Blue Bird Vision | Parking brake |
| 2019 Blue Bird Vision | Parking brake |
| 2017 Blue Bird Vision | Parking brake |
| 2016 Blue Bird Vision | Parking brake |
| 2015 Blue Bird Vision | Parking brake |
| 2014 Blue Bird Vision | Parking brake |
| 2013 Blue Bird Vision | Parking brake |
| 2012 Blue Bird Vision | Parking brake |
| Units affected | 3 |
| 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 this recall applies to your specific bus.
What's the safety risk?
An insufficient parking brake application force can allow unintended vehicle movement after the brake is set. That increases the risk of injury to bystanders. There is no audible or visual warning before this happens, so schedule the inspection and adjustment promptly. Repair is free at any franchised Blue Bird dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2009-2019 Blue Bird Vision is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Blue Bird dealer to schedule the free parking brake inspection and application-force adjustment that helps the bus hold stationary on an incline.
- Bring the recall notice if Blue Bird mailed one. If not, reference recall number 20V235 when you call.
- Keep bystanders clear when the parking brake is set on an incline until the inspection and adjustment are complete.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Blue Bird technician inspects the floor mounted park brake application force hand lever assembly and adjusts the application force if it is out of specification. The inspection and adjustment 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 notice. Bring proof of payment and repair documents to the service desk, or contact Blue Bird customer service for the claim path.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| April 27, 2020 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| June 9, 2020 | Owner notification mailed |
| June 24, 2020 | Dealer notification began |
| June 24, 2020 | Dealer notification ended |
| June 24, 2020 | VIN-searchable in NHTSA's database — Check your VIN to see whether this recall applies to your specific vehicle. |
| June 24, 2020 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 20V235?
Recall 20V235 covers 3 2009-2019 Blue Bird Vision transit buses with a floor-mounted parking brake that lacks enough application force to hold the bus stationary on an incline at maximum weight. Blue Bird dealers will inspect and adjust the hand lever assembly for free.
What should I do if my 2009-2019 Blue Bird Vision is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific bus is included in recall 20V235. If it is, contact a Blue Bird dealer to schedule inspection of the floor-mounted parking brake hand lever assembly. Reference recall number 20V235 and Blue Bird recall R20AO-SB when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost, and Blue Bird says dealers will inspect the floor-mounted parking brake application force hand lever assembly and adjust the application force, as necessary, free of charge.
Is it safe to drive my Blue Bird Vision before the repair?
The safety risk is unintended vehicle movement when the parking brake is set with insufficient force, especially on an incline at maximum weight. Until a dealer inspects and adjusts the assembly, use caution when parking and schedule the free recall service with a Blue Bird dealer.
When were owners notified about recall 20V235?
Blue Bird began the recall process on June 24, 2020. If you bought the bus used or never received a letter, check your VIN to confirm whether your specific 2009-2019 Blue Bird Vision is included, then contact Blue Bird customer service at 478-822-2242.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/20V235000 |
|---|---|
| Blue Bird customer service | 478-822-2242 |
| NHTSA recall # | 20V235 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 20V235000 |
Source documents
-
Download Quarterly Report (PDF) - 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 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 →