R17ZB
IMPORTANT SAFETY RECALL NOTICE
NHTSA Recall Number: 17V-510 School Bus

DATE:

September 18, 2017

TO:

U.S. Dealers

SUBJECT:

Recall R17ZB, C E White QS11 Series Convertible School Bus Seat With D-Ring
Mounting Stud

This notice is sent to you in accordance with the requirements of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle
Safety Act.
Blue Bird Body Company has decided that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in certain
model year 2015-2019 Vision School Buses manufactured from July 18, 2014, through July 19, 2017, and
certain model year 2018-2019 All American School Buses manufactured from November 28, 2016,
through July 25, 2017. On the subject buses, C. E. White Company, a Subsidiary of Hickory Springs
Manufacturing Company (HSM), has determined that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety
potentially exists in QS11 Convertible School Bus Seats.
Blue Bird has determined that all QS11 Convertible School Bus Seats supplied by C E White/HSM
Solutions contain a defect, which in the event of a rear collision, may result in occupant injury. These
seats were manufactured with integral D-Ring mounting studs in the upper area of the seat back frame.
The upper seat area where the mounting studs are located may not provide an adequate padding for
the seat occupant. Blue Bird has determined that in a rear end collision by a larger vehicle, there is a
potential for increased risk of injury or death, to the passenger seat occupant(s). In a rear crash event,
the occupant’s head may contact the D-Ring mounting stud, if the occupant is sitting in a position on the
seat, which places the back of the head in-line with the D-Ring mounting stud.
To correct this condition, HSM will ship a repair kit along with repair instructions on how the repair must
be conducted to affected owners. The expected out of service time necessary to affect repairs is 5
minutes, per seat. HSM will reimburse the cost of repairs relating to this recall, including both parts and
labor, at no cost to the vehicle owner. Parts for this recall are currently available and the recall remedy
should be performed immediately.
If our records indicate bus(es) subject to this recall were delivered in your service area, a list of affected
bus(es) will be enclosed. The bus(es) will be identified by Blue Bird Body Number and Vehicle
Identification Number (VIN) on the enclosed yellow cover sheet. Dealers should verify correct owners
and assure that complete mailing and shipping addresses are provided for each listed owner.

BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY
P.O. Box 937 – 402 Blue Bird Blvd – Fort Valley, Georgia – (478) 825-2021

Blue Bird Body Company
Page 2

R17ZB

If you have in your possession or have sold a bus that was purchased from another dealer that may be
affected by this recall, please notify me at 478-822-2242 or [email protected].
C E White/HSM will notify Blue Bird Campaigns Administration of the completion of the recall.
The C E White/HSM contact for this recall campaign is as follows:
Beth Utz
Customer Service Agent
HSM Transportation Solutions
417 N. Kibler Street
New Washington, OH 44854
Phone: 419-492-2157 ext. 243 | Fax: 419-492-2544
[email protected]
If HSM Solutions does not provide service repair kits, you may contact Blue Bird Body Company Recall
Administration at 478-822-2242.
Federal law requires that any vehicle lessor receiving this recall notice must forward a copy of this
notice to the lessee within ten days.
Dealers are reminded of their responsibilities under Section 154 of The National Traffic and Motor
Vehicle Safety Act of 1991. Dealers are required to complete modifications on units in their inventory
before delivering to the final owner. Reference Blue Bird Body Company Distributor Memo No. 42-92.
Questions regarding this recall campaign should be directed to me at (478) 822-2242 or
[email protected].
Sincerely,
Lisa Hancock
Corporate Recall Administrator
Blue Bird Corporation
402 Blue Bird Blvd, Fort Valley, Georgia 31030
Phone 478.822.2242
[email protected]