Recall 20V259 covers 24 2020-2021 Blue Bird Vision Transit Bus and All American Transit Bus models for parking-brake defects. Free repair at Blue Bird dealers.
Blue Bird is recalling 24 2020-2021 Vision Transit Bus and All American Transit Bus vehicles for a foot pedal parking brake assembly that can fail to hold a fully loaded bus stationary on an incline. Unintended movement can increase crash risk, and Blue Bird dealers will inspect and repair the parking brake assembly free of charge.
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What's wrong?
The foot pedal parking brake on the 2020-2021 Blue Bird Vision Transit Bus and All American Transit Bus is the driver-operated parking brake for hydraulic brake buses. It uses a pedal assembly and interlock feature to apply force at the parking brake drum, so the bus stays still after the driver parks it.
On affected buses, the parking brake pedal assembly was improperly assembled or adjusted. That can leave too little application force at the parking brake drum. When the bus is loaded to its maximum gross vehicle weight on a 20% grade, the parking brake system does not meet the holding requirement for 5 minutes, and the bus can roll.
There is no warning sign before failure. Blue Bird says these buses should be parked on a level surface and the wheels should be chocked until the brake pedal setting has been inspected.
Who's affected?
The Vision Transit Bus is listed for 2020 and 2021, while the All American Transit Bus is listed for 2021 only. All listed buses share the same parking brake component for this recall.
| 2020 Blue Bird Vision Transit Bus | Parking brake |
|---|---|
| 2021 Blue Bird All American Transit Bus | Parking brake |
| 2021 Blue Bird Vision Transit Bus | Parking brake |
| Units affected | 24 |
A matching year and Blue Bird bus line does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific bus is included.
What's the safety risk?
Unintended vehicle movement increases the risk of a crash. There is no audible or visual warning before the bus moves, so park on a level surface and chock the wheels until the brake pedal setting is inspected. Repair is free at any franchised Blue Bird dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2020-2021 Blue Bird Vision Transit Bus or All American Transit Bus is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Blue Bird dealer to schedule the free parking-brake inspection and adjustment that fixes the brake assembly's failure to hold a loaded bus on an incline.
- Bring the recall notice if Blue Bird mailed one. If not, reference recall number 20V259 when you call.
- Avoid parking the bus on an incline or relying on the parking brake to hold a loaded bus 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 and checks whether the application force is set correctly. If it is not, the technician adjusts the assembly so the parking brake can hold the bus as designed. Parts and labor are covered under the recall. Blue Bird has a general reimbursement plan on file for related out-of-pocket repairs paid before the recall notice. Bring repair invoices or other documentation to the service desk if you already paid for this parking brake repair.
| 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 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 20V259?
Recall 20V259 covers 24 2020-2021 Blue Bird Vision Transit Bus and All American Transit Bus vehicles with a parking-brake assembly defect. The foot pedal parking brake assembly was assembled incorrectly, which can let a loaded bus move on an incline. Blue Bird dealers inspect and adjust the assembly for free.
What should I do if my 2020-2021 Blue Bird Vision Transit Bus or All American Transit Bus is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific bus is included in recall 20V259. If it is, contact a franchised Blue Bird dealer to schedule the parking-brake inspection and adjustment. Reference recall number 20V259 and Blue Bird recall number R20AP-NSB when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires manufacturers to repair safety defects at no cost, and Blue Bird dealers will inspect the foot pedal parking brake assembly application force and adjust it as necessary free of charge.
What is the safety risk in recall 20V259?
The safety risk is unintended vehicle movement. If the parking brake fails to hold a loaded bus stationary on an incline, the bus can move unexpectedly and increase crash risk. The dealer fix is to inspect the parking brake assembly force and adjust it as needed.
Who do I call about Blue Bird recall 20V259?
Call a franchised Blue Bird dealer to schedule the recall repair. You can also contact Blue Bird customer service at 1-478-822-2242 and reference Blue Bird recall number R20AP-NSB for help connecting the recall number to your bus.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/20V259000 |
|---|---|
| Blue Bird customer service | 1-478-822-2242 |
| NHTSA recall # | 20V259 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 20V259000 |
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 →