Recall 21V300 affects 302 2018-2021 Blue Bird Vision and All American school buses for power steering loss. Free repair once Blue Bird opens it.
Blue Bird is recalling 302 2018-2021 Vision and All American school buses under recall 21V300 because electromagnetic noise on the Control Area Network bus can cut electrical power to the power steering pump. A loss of assisted power steering raises the risk of a crash, and the final dealer repair will be free once Blue Bird opens it.
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What's wrong?
The electric drivetrain on these Blue Bird school buses uses high-voltage batteries and control electronics to power the drive motor and an electrically assisted power steering pump. The drivetrain components talk to each other over a Control Area Network bus, a shared wiring system that carries low-voltage signals between modules. The power steering pump relies on those signals and on steady electrical supply to keep the steering assist working.
On affected buses, electromagnetic noise on the CAN bus can interrupt the signals reaching the power steering pump. When that interruption happens, the pump loses electrical power and the steering assist drops out. The driver still has mechanical control of the wheel, but the effort needed to turn it rises sharply without warning, which is a serious problem in a loaded school bus. Cummins traced the issue to the wiring harness and corrected it in production on February 23, 2021.
There is no warning sign before the steering assist cuts out. The loss of assist happens without a dashboard alert or change in pedal feel beforehand.
Who's affected?
Covers four Blue Bird school bus models (All American, All American School Bus, Vision, Vision School Bus) across the 2018-2021 model years, all built with the same Cummins thermal management system wiring harness.
| 2020 Blue Bird All American School Bus | powertrain |
|---|---|
| 2020 Blue Bird All American School Bus | steering system |
| 2021 Blue Bird All American School Bus | powertrain |
| 2021 Blue Bird All American School Bus | steering system |
| 2018 Blue Bird All American | powertrain |
| 2018 Blue Bird All American | steering system |
| 2018 Blue Bird Vision | powertrain |
| 2018 Blue Bird Vision | steering system |
| 2019 Blue Bird Vision | powertrain |
| 2019 Blue Bird Vision | steering system |
| 2020 Blue Bird Vision School Bus | powertrain |
| 2020 Blue Bird Vision School Bus | steering system |
| 2021 Blue Bird Vision School Bus | powertrain |
| 2021 Blue Bird Vision School Bus | steering system |
| 2019 Blue Bird All American | powertrain |
| 2019 Blue Bird All American | steering system |
| Units affected | 302 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
A matching year and model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific bus is included in this recall.
What's the safety risk?
Losing assisted power steering makes the bus much harder to turn, especially at low speeds and during sharp maneuvers, and raises the risk of a crash. There is no warning sign before the failure, so drivers should treat any sudden increase in steering effort as a reason to stop and arrange service. Repair will be free at any franchised Blue Bird dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2018-2021 Blue Bird Vision or All American school bus is included in this recall.
- Wait for the final remedy. The repair is still under development, so the dealer cannot schedule the harness replacement yet.
- Watch for the owner notification letter from Blue Bird that confirms parts are ready and explains how to schedule the free repair.
- Drive cautiously until the repair is complete. Anticipate heavier steering effort, leave extra space, and avoid tight low-speed maneuvers where assisted steering matters most.
- Call Blue Bird customer service at 1-478-822-2242 with questions and reference recall number 21V300 when you call.
What happens at the repair
The final dealer repair is still under development. Once Blue Bird opens it, a Blue Bird technician will replace the High Voltage Low Power Inverter Harness and install an overlay harness on the affected school bus. Parts and labor are free under the recall. Out-of-pocket repairs already paid are handled through the existing limited warranty, not through a separate reimbursement program, since any prior failure would have been covered under warranty. Ask the service desk how warranty coverage applies if you have prior repair paperwork.
| Reimbursement | Warranty coverage applies |
|---|
Timeline
| April 28, 2021 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| June 25, 2021 | Dealer notification began |
| June 25, 2021 | Dealer notification ended |
| June 25, 2021 | VIN-searchable in NHTSA's database — Check your VIN to see whether this recall applies to your specific vehicle. |
| June 25, 2021 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
| October 25, 2021 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 21V300?
Recall 21V300 covers 302 2018-2021 Blue Bird Vision and All American school buses. Electromagnetic noise on the Control Area Network bus can cut electrical power to the power steering pump, leaving the driver without steering assist. Cummins will replace the High Voltage Low Power Inverter Harness and install an overlay harness at no cost.
What should I do if my 2018-2021 Blue Bird Vision or All American school bus is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific bus is included in recall 21V300. If it is, contact Blue Bird customer service at 1-478-822-2242 to confirm parts availability and arrange the harness replacement. Reference recall 21V300 when you call. The repair is free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to fix the defect at no cost. Cummins will replace the High Voltage Low Power Inverter Harness and install an overlay harness free of charge. Parts and labor are covered through the Blue Bird service network.
Is it safe to drive a Blue Bird bus included in recall 21V300?
Blue Bird has not issued a do-not-drive order for this recall. The risk is a loss of assisted power steering, which increases crash risk because the bus becomes much harder to steer, especially at low speeds. Until the harness work is complete, drivers should be aware that steering assist can drop without warning.
When will the recall repair be available?
Interim owner notification letters were mailed on May 22, 2021, and full owner notification letters were mailed on October 25, 2021. Contact Blue Bird customer service at 1-478-822-2242 to confirm parts availability for your bus and to schedule the harness replacement through the Blue Bird service network.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/21V300000 |
|---|---|
| Blue Bird customer service | 1-478-822-2242 |
| NHTSA recall # | 21V300 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 21V300000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Document (PDF) (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 24, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →