The 1989 Blue Bird Tc2000 has 14 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 140,314 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 1 complaint with NHTSA, most often about the engine and engine cooling. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
SEATS99V0180001999-06-1541,260 affected
Defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SCHOOL BUSES. THE WALL SIDE ATTACHING BOLTS FOR SOME OF THE PASSENGER SEATS MAY HAVE BEEN INSTALLED TOO CLOSE TO THE EDGE OF THE SEAT LEDGE AND IN THE WRONG ATTACHING HOLE RESULTING IN WEAKENING OF THE SEAT LEDGE AT THE ATTACHMENT POINTS.
Consequence
IN THE EVENT OF A FRONTAL CRASH, THE REAR ATTACHING BOLT OF THESE SEATS COULD PULL OUT OF THE SEAT LEDGE INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY TO THE SEAT OCCUPANT.
Remedy
BLUE BIRD WILL FURNISH TO DISTRIBUTORS AND OWNERS, PARTS AND INSTRUCTIONS NECESSARY TO STRENGTHEN THE PASSENGER SEAT ATTACHMENT AT THE WALL SIDE.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: FRONT AND REAR ENGINE SCHOOL BUSES EQUIPPED WITH 60 GALLON SIDE MOUNTED FUEL TANK BARRIERS. THESE BUSES DO NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 301, "FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITY."
Consequence
IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE FUEL TANK COULD BE DAMAGED, LEAKING FUEL, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE FIRE.
Remedy
BLUE BIRD WILL SHIP INSTRUCTIONS AND MODIFICATION KITS TO THE OWNERS OF THESE BUSES.
STRUCTURE96V0730001996-05-0318,000 affected
Defect
PASSENGER'S CLOTHING CAN UNKNOWINGLY BECOME CAUGHT IN THE FORWARD HANDRAILS AT BUS DOORS WHEN EXITING THE BUS.
Consequence
WHEN A PASSENGER'S CLOTHING BECOMES CAUGHT IN THE HANDRAIL, AND THE BUS DRIVER CLOSES THE DOOR AND PUTS THE VEHICLE IN MOTION, THE INDIVIDUAL IS SUBJECT TO BEING DRAGGED BY THE BUS. THIS CAN RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.
Remedy
OWNERS WILL BE DIRECTED TO REMOVE ALL FORWARD HANDRAILS. PROVISIONS WILL BE MADE FOR THOSE OWNERS OPERATING IN STATES WHICH MANDATE A FORWARD HANDRAIL THAT A REPLACEMENT HANDRAIL WILL BE PROVIDED.
STRUCTURE95V1360001995-07-26416 affected
Defect
THESE UNITS ARE EQUIPPED WITH A COUNTER WEIGHT ASSEMBLY MADE UP OF 300 POUNDS OF 1/4" PLATE STEEL WELDED TOGETHER AND BOLTED BETWEEN THE FRAME RAILS IN THE REAR OVERHANG JUST FORWARD OF THE REAR BUMPER. SOME OF THE WELDS HAVE BROKEN DUE TO INSUFFICIENT WELDS, CORROSION, OR ICE EXPANSION.
Consequence
THESE PLATES CAN DROP TO THE ROADWAY BECOMING A HAZARD TO FOLLOWING VEHICLES INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL INSTALL A MECHANICAL RETAINING DEVICE WHICH CLAMPS THE PLATES TOGETHER AND FASTENED WITH THREADED FASTENERS. BUS OWNERS WILL HAVE THE OPTION OF REPAIRING THEIR OWN VEHICLES.
STRUCTURE95V0900001995-05-0927,189 affected
Defect
PASSENGERS CLOTHING CAN UNKNOWINGLY BECOME CAUGHT IN THE HANDRAILS AT BUS DOORS WHEN EXITING THE BUS.
Consequence
WHEN A PASSENGER'S CLOTHING BECOMES CAUGHT IN THE HANDRAIL, AND THE BUS DRIVER CLOSES THE DOOR AND PUTS THE VEHICLE IN MOTION,THE INDIVIDUAL IS SUBJECT TO BEING DRAGGED BY THE BUS. THIS CAN RESULT INSERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL INSTALL A SET SCREW TO THE METAL CLAMP WHICH RETAINS THE INTERMEDIATE HANDRAIL. A HIGH IMPACT MOLDED PLASTIC "CLAM SHELL" WILL BE PLACED OVER EACH END OF THE INTERMEDIATE HANDRAIL COMPLETELY COVERING THE CLAMP AND ELIMINATING ALL CATCH-POINTS. THE FLANGE OF THE EXISTING FLOOR LINE BRACKET WILL BE…
STRUCTURE93V0320001993-03-0121,000 affected
Defect
PASSENGERS CLOTHING CAN UNKNOWINGLY BECOME CAUGHT IN THE HANDRAILS AT BUS DOORS WHEN EXITING THE BUS.
Consequence
WHEN A PASSENGER'S CLOTHING BECOMES CAUGHT IN THEHANDRAIL, AND THE BUS DRIVER CLOSES THE DOOR AND PUTS THE VEHICLE IN MOTION, THEINDIVIDUAL IS SUBJECT TO BEING DRAGGED BY THE BUS. THIS CAN RESULT IN SERIOUSINJURY OR DEATH.
Remedy
REPLACE OR REPOSITION THE HANDRAILS TO STOP CLOTHING FROM BECOMING CAUGHT.
THE DIESEL FUEL FILTER SEPARATOR IS LOCATED TOO CLOSE TO THE CHASSIS FRAME CROSS MEMBER WHICH COULD DEFORM AND DISLODGE THE BOWL OF THE SEPARATOR IN AN ACCIDENT.
Consequence
FUEL SPILLAGE DURING AND AFTER A CRASH, IN EXCESS OF LIMIT ALLOWED BY FMVSS 301, COULD CAUSE A FIRE NEAR A SOURCE OF IGNITION.
Remedy
RELOCATE FUEL FILTER - SEPARATOR TO ELIMINATE INTERFERENCE WITH CROSSMEMBER IN ANY CRASH.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC89V2020001989-11-161,369 affected
Defect
FRONT AXLE ASSEMBLIES MAY CONTAIN CRACKED BRAKE DRUMS DUE TO IMPROPER FIT BETWEEN THE WHEEL HUBS AND THE BRAKE DRUMS.
Consequence
THIS COULD CAUSE LOSS OF BUS BRAKING CONTROL AND RESULTIN AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy
REPLACE DEFECTIVE BRAKE DRUMS.
STEERING89V1160001989-07-17302 affected
Defect
LOOSE RETAINING NUT ON STEERING WHEEL COULD CAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL TO FEEL LOOSE.
Consequence
THIS COULD ADVERSELY AFFECT STEERING CONTROL WITHPOTENTIAL FOR AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy
TORQUE RETAINING NUT TO SPECIFICATION AND APPLY LOCKTITE.
Complaints by component
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
1
Total complaints1
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“While in the park position and idled the engine revved at a high rate of rpms for approximately 6 minutes until it died. Dealer was contacted. *ak”
Defect investigations
InvestigationPE89136 Opened 1989-07-06 · closed 1989-07-25
STEERING WHEELS LOOSE
SYNOPSIS:WHEN THE STEERING WHEELS WERE TORQUED TO SPECIFICATIONTHE HUB OF THE WHEEL WOULD BIND ON THE STEERING COLUMN.OPERATORS ON THEASSEMBLY LINE CORRECTED THIS BY NOT COMPLETELY TIGHTING THE NUT ANDUSING LOC TITE TO SECURE IT.THIS HAS RESULTED IN COMPLAINTS OF LOOSESTEERING WHEELS AND ONE CASE OF THE WHEEL COMING…
InvestigationPE89137 Opened 1989-07-06 · closed 1989-11-16
CRACKED BRAKE DRUMS
===
InvestigationPE93048 Opened 1993-05-12 · closed 1993-08-31
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1989 Blue Bird Tc2000 as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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