Recall 20V258 covers 1,585 2020-2021 Blue Bird All American School Bus and Vision School Bus vehicles for parking brake defects. Dealers inspect and adjust free.
Blue Bird is recalling 1,585 2020-2021 All American School Bus and Vision School Bus vehicles because the foot pedal parking brake assembly was improperly assembled. The parking brake can fail to hold a fully loaded bus stationary on an incline and increase the risk of a crash; Blue Bird dealers will repair it free of charge.
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What's wrong?
The parking brake pedal assembly on 2020-2021 Blue Bird All American School Bus and Vision School Bus models is the foot-operated parking brake used with the hydraulic brake system. When the driver presses the pedal, the assembly applies force at the parking brake drum so the bus stays stationary after it is parked, especially on an incline or during loading.
In NHTSA campaign 20V258, the issue is an assembly and adjustment problem, not normal brake wear. The original installation procedure did not produce enough application force for every bus configuration at maximum gross vehicle weight. Under the required 20% grade test, the parking brake does not hold the loaded bus stationary for 5 minutes, which creates a risk to occupants and bystanders.
There is no audible or visual warning sign before the parking brake fails to hold. Until the brake pedal setting has been inspected, park the bus on a level surface and chock the wheels.
Who's affected?
Covers 2 Blue Bird school bus models from the 2020 and 2021 model years, both tied to the parking brake assembly.
| 2021 Blue Bird All American School Bus | Parking brake |
|---|---|
| 2020 Blue Bird All American School Bus | Parking brake |
| 2021 Blue Bird Vision School Bus | Parking brake |
| 2020 Blue Bird Vision School Bus | Parking brake |
| Units affected | 1,585 |
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?
Unintended vehicle movement can increase the risk of a crash, especially if the parking brake does not hold the bus as expected. There is no audible or visual warning before an event. Park the bus on a level surface, chock the wheels until the brake pedal setting is inspected, and schedule the repair soon. Repair is free at any franchised Blue Bird dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2020-2021 Blue Bird All American School Bus or Vision School Bus is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Blue Bird dealer to schedule the free parking-brake inspection and adjustment that fixes the assembly force problem.
- Bring the recall notice if Blue Bird mailed one. If not, reference recall number 20V258 when you call.
- Avoid relying on the parking brake to hold a loaded bus on an incline until the inspection and adjustment are complete.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Blue Bird technician inspects the foot pedal parking brake assembly application force and adjusts the assembly as needed. The recall repair is free, with parts and labor covered by Blue Bird. Blue Bird has a general reimbursement plan on file, so if you already paid out of pocket for a related parking brake repair, contact Blue Bird customer service or bring repair documentation to the dealer service desk and ask how to submit it under the reimbursement plan.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| May 8, 2020 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| June 22, 2020 | Owner notification mailed |
| July 3, 2020 | Dealer notification began |
| July 3, 2020 | Dealer notification ended |
| July 3, 2020 | VIN-searchable in NHTSA's database — Check your VIN to see whether this recall applies to your specific vehicle. |
| July 3, 2020 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 20V258?
Recall 20V258 covers 1,585 2020-2021 Blue Bird All American School Bus and Vision School Bus vehicles with a foot pedal parking brake assembly that was assembled incorrectly. The parking brake can fail to hold a loaded bus stationary on an incline. Blue Bird dealers will inspect and adjust the assembly for free.
What should I do if my 2020-2021 Blue Bird All American School Bus or Vision School Bus is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific bus is included in recall 20V258. If it is, contact a franchised Blue Bird dealer to schedule the parking brake inspection and adjustment. Reference recall number 20V258 and Blue Bird recall number R20AP-SB when you call.
Is the Blue Bird recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to provide the recall repair at no cost. Blue Bird dealers will inspect the foot pedal parking brake assembly application force and adjust it as needed free of charge.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is unintended vehicle movement. If the parking brake fails to hold the bus stationary on an incline while loaded to its maximum weight, the bus can move and increase the risk of a crash. Ask the dealer about safe handling before service.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/20V258000 |
|---|---|
| Blue Bird customer service | 1-478-822-2242 |
| NHTSA recall # | 20V258 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 20V258000 |
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 24, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →