Recall 21V253 affects 292 2018-2021 Blue Bird Vision and All American school buses for high-voltage isolation detection. Free repair at a franchised Blue Bird dealer.
Blue Bird is recalling 292 2018-2021 Vision and All American School Bus vehicles because the electric drive train does not detect isolation faults when high voltage contactors are closed. An undetected high voltage isolation fault can expose service personnel to high voltage and increase injury risk, and Blue Bird dealers will complete the recall repair free of charge.
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What's wrong?
The electric drivetrain in 2018-2021 Blue Bird All American School Bus, Vision, All American, and Vision School Bus models uses high voltage batteries, a high voltage power distribution unit, and control software to feed power to the drive motor. The high voltage contactors are the heavy electrical switches that close when the system is energized, allowing power to move through the drivetrain and related equipment such as the air conditioner.
On the recalled buses, the PD7000 system does not keep measuring electrical isolation after those contactors close. Isolation measurement is the check that confirms high voltage is staying in the intended circuit and not finding an unintended path through another component. The problem comes from the system design, and Cummins addressed it with improved hardware and software that allow the isolation check to work correctly.
There is no warning sign before failure. A driver or technician should not expect a dashboard message, sound, or drivability change to appear before the fault detection gap exists.
Who's affected?
Covers four Blue Bird bus model names across the 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021 model years, with electric propulsion and electrical software components listed.
| 2020 Blue Bird All American School Bus | electric propulsion system |
|---|---|
| 2020 Blue Bird All American School Bus | electrical system software |
| 2019 Blue Bird Vision | electric propulsion system |
| 2019 Blue Bird Vision | electric propulsion system |
| 2019 Blue Bird Vision | electrical system software |
| 2019 Blue Bird All American | electric propulsion system |
| 2019 Blue Bird All American | electric propulsion system |
| 2019 Blue Bird All American | electrical system software |
| 2018 Blue Bird Vision | electric propulsion system |
| 2018 Blue Bird Vision | electric propulsion system |
| 2018 Blue Bird Vision | electrical system software |
| 2018 Blue Bird All American | electric propulsion system |
| 2018 Blue Bird All American | electric propulsion system |
| 2018 Blue Bird All American | electrical system software |
| 2020 Blue Bird Vision School Bus | electric propulsion system |
| 2020 Blue Bird Vision School Bus | electrical system software |
| 2020 Blue Bird All American School Bus | electric propulsion system |
| 2021 Blue Bird All American School Bus | electrical system software |
| 2021 Blue Bird Vision School Bus | electric propulsion system |
| 2021 Blue Bird Vision School Bus | electric propulsion system |
| 2021 Blue Bird Vision School Bus | electrical system software |
| 2020 Blue Bird Vision School Bus | electric propulsion system |
| 2021 Blue Bird All American School Bus | electric propulsion system |
| 2021 Blue Bird All American School Bus | electric propulsion system |
| Units affected | 292 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
A matching year and Blue Bird model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific bus is included.
What's the safety risk?
A high voltage isolation fault that goes undetected exposes service personnel to high voltage and increases the risk of injury. There is no warning sign for the owner to rely on. If your VIN is included, schedule the software update or hardware change before electrical service work. Repair is free at any franchised Blue Bird dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2018-2021 Blue Bird All American School Bus, Vision, All American, or Vision School Bus is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Blue Bird dealer to schedule the free software update or high-voltage power-distribution hardware repair that restores isolation-fault detection.
- Reference recall number 21V253 and Blue Bird recall R21BD-SB when you call.
- Bring the recall notice to the dealer if you received one.
- Avoid service work on high-voltage propulsion components until the repair is complete.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Blue Bird technician updates the Vehicle Control Unit software or installs a different combination of High Voltage Power Distribution Unit hardware, depending on what the bus needs. The recall repair is free, including parts and labor. Out-of-pocket repairs already paid are handled through the manufacturer's limited warranty, not through a separate reimbursement program, because Blue Bird says any related product failure before the owner notice would have been covered under that warranty. Ask the service desk how warranty coverage applies if you have prior repair paperwork.
| Reimbursement | Warranty coverage applies |
|---|
Timeline
| April 12, 2021 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| May 22, 2021 | Owner notification mailed |
| October 26, 2021 | Dealer notification began |
| October 26, 2021 | VIN-searchable in NHTSA's database — Check your VIN to see whether this recall applies to your specific vehicle. |
| October 26, 2021 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
| January 15, 2022 | Dealer notification ended |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 21V253?
Recall 21V253 covers 292 2018-2021 Blue Bird Vision and All American school buses with an electric drive train issue. The system does not detect isolation faults when the high-voltage contactors are closed, which exposes service personnel to high voltage and increases injury risk.
What should I do if my 2018-2021 Blue Bird All American School Bus, Vision, All American, or Vision School Bus is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific bus is included in recall 21V253. If it is, contact a franchised Blue Bird dealer for the Vehicle Control Unit software update or the high-voltage power distribution hardware change. Reference recall number 21V253 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 update the Vehicle Control Unit software or install the needed high-voltage power distribution hardware free of charge.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is high-voltage exposure during service work. Blue Bird says the electric drive train does not detect isolation faults when the high-voltage contactors are closed, which exposes service personnel to high voltage and increases the risk of injury.
When did Blue Bird start this recall?
Blue Bird began the recall on May 22, 2021. Owners can contact Blue Bird customer service at 1-478-822-2242 and reference Blue Bird recall number R21BD-SB when discussing the software update or hardware change with the dealer.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/21V253000 |
|---|---|
| Blue Bird customer service | 1-478-822-2242 |
| NHTSA recall # | 21V253 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 21V253000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
- Download Recall 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 →