Recall 20V249 affects 352 2018-2021 Blue Bird Vision, Vision Transit Bus, and Vision School Bus vehicles for chafed fuel lines. Free dealer repair.
Blue Bird is recalling 352 2018-2021 Vision, Vision Transit Bus, and Vision School Bus buses because improperly routed parking brake cables can rub against the gasoline fuel line. The chafing can cause a fuel leak and increase the risk of a fire; Blue Bird dealers will complete the recall repair free of charge.
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What's wrong?
On 2018-2021 Blue Bird Vision, Vision Transit Bus, and Vision School Bus buses with the Ford 6.8L gasoline engine and the right-hand parking brake lever, the parking brake cable connects the lever to the brake mechanism that holds the bus when parked. The gasoline fuel supply line carries fuel from the tank area to the engine, and it has to stay separated from moving or tensioned cables.
On affected buses, manufacturing variation routed the parking brake cable too close to the gasoline fuel line. As the cable moves and stays under tension, it can rub against the fuel line and wear through it. That chafing can open a fuel leak near the engine, which raises the chance of a thermal event if fuel reaches a hot surface or ignition source.
Blue Bird reported no warning before this happens. There is no warning sign before failure, so an owner or fleet operator should treat the recall as a routing and clearance problem that needs inspection and correction.
Who's affected?
Covers 3 Vision configurations, with fuel system and parking brake components listed for each.
| 2018 Blue Bird Vision | fuel system |
|---|---|
| 2018 Blue Bird Vision | Linkage and cable |
| 2021 Blue Bird Vision Transit Bus | fuel system |
| 2021 Blue Bird Vision Transit Bus | Linkage and cable |
| 2019 Blue Bird Vision | fuel system |
| 2019 Blue Bird Vision | Linkage and cable |
| 2021 Blue Bird Vision School Bus | fuel system |
| 2021 Blue Bird Vision School Bus | Linkage and cable |
| 2020 Blue Bird Vision School Bus | fuel system |
| 2020 Blue Bird Vision School Bus | Linkage and cable |
| 2020 Blue Bird Vision Transit Bus | fuel system |
| 2020 Blue Bird Vision Transit Bus | Linkage and cable |
| Units affected | 352 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged 1 field incident 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 fuel leak increases the risk of a fire. There is no warning sign before the leak, so confirm the VIN and schedule the recall repair with a Blue Bird dealer soon. Until the repair is complete, treat any suspected fuel leak as a reason to stop using the bus and call the dealer. Repair is free at any franchised Blue Bird dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2018-2021 Blue Bird Vision, Vision Transit Bus, or Vision School Bus is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Blue Bird dealer to schedule the free parking-brake-cable inspection and securing that keeps the cable from chafing the fuel line.
- Bring the recall notice if Blue Bird mailed one, and reference recall number 20V249 when you call.
- Use extra caution until the repair is complete, and stop operating the bus if there is any sign of a fuel leak.
- Call Blue Bird customer service at 1-478-822-2242 with questions about scheduling or recall number 20V249.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Blue Bird technician inspects the parking brake cable routing and secures the cable so it does not contact or chafe the gasoline fuel line. The recall repair is free, including covered parts and labor. Blue Bird's reimbursement plan covers the labor cost for repairs related to this recall at no cost to the dealer or vehicle owner. If you already paid for a related parking brake cable repair, ask Blue Bird customer service or the service desk what documentation they need for reimbursement.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| May 5, 2020 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| May 28, 2020 | Owner notification mailed |
| June 29, 2020 | Dealer notification began |
| June 29, 2020 | Dealer notification ended |
| June 29, 2020 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 20V249?
Recall 20V249 covers 352 2018-2021 Blue Bird Vision, Vision Transit Bus, and Vision School Bus vehicles with Ford 6.8L gasoline engines and an optional right-hand parking brake lever. The parking brake cable can chafe the fuel line and create a fuel leak, increasing fire risk.
What should I do if my 2018-2021 Blue Bird Vision, Vision Transit Bus, or Vision School Bus is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific bus is included in recall 20V249. If it is, contact a franchised Blue Bird dealer to schedule the inspection and parking-brake-cable securing repair. Reference recall 20V249 or Blue Bird recall R20AQ-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 dealers will inspect and secure the parking brake cable as needed free of charge.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is fire. Improper parking brake cable routing can let the cable contact and chafe the gasoline fuel line. If that line leaks fuel, the official consequence for recall 20V249 is an increased risk of fire.
When did the recall repair begin?
The recall repair began May 28, 2020. Blue Bird dealers can inspect the parking brake cable routing and secure the cable as needed. Blue Bird customer service is available at 1-478-822-2242 for recall R20AQ-SB.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/20V249000 |
|---|---|
| Blue Bird customer service | 1-478-822-2242 |
| NHTSA recall # | 20V249 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 20V249000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Recall Report (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 Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 24, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →