BLUE BIRD ALL AMERICAN (2019) recall — Electrical System
Blue Bird is recalling 2018-2019 school buses with PowerDrive 7000 EV electric drivetrains due to potential loss of power steering and drive, increasing crash risk. Owners must update VCU software for safety.
Use caution until it’s fixed
An unexpected loss of drive and power steering may increase the risk of a crash.
Contact the company & request your remedy
What happened, in plain English
Blue Bird is recalling certain 2018-2019 school buses with PowerDrive 7000 EV electric drivetrains. The vehicle control unit may unexpectedly shut down power steering and drive systems, increasing crash risk. Owners must update the software to prevent this issue. Read more at govinfonow.com/recall/1223512-blue-bird-2019-school-bus-electrical-recall-risk-of-crash.
Source Summary by GovInfoNow · govinfonow.com/recall/1223512-blue-bird-2019-school-bus-electrical-recall-risk-of-crash · Updated October 5, 2026 · Official notice: NHTSA #19V471000
Cite this page
“Blue Bird 2019 School Bus Electrical Recall: Risk of Crash from Power Steering Loss.” GovInfoNow, updated October 5, 2026. https://govinfonow.com/recall/1223512-blue-bird-2019-school-bus-electrical-recall-risk-of-crash. Based on NHTSA recall #19V471000 (https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=19V471000).
Why it’s dangerous
The Vehicle Control Unit (VCU) may unexpectedly shut down high voltage contactors, causing loss of power steering and drive systems. This could lead to a crash if the bus loses steering or traction while moving.
Who’s affected
School bus owners with 2018-2019 Blue Bird Vision or All American models equipped with PowerDrive 7000 EV electric drivetrains are affected. Drivers and passengers on these buses face the highest risk due to potential loss of power steering and drive.
How to tell if you have this one
Check if your Blue Bird school bus has a PowerDrive 7000 EV electric drivetrain. The recall covers 2018-2019 model years with the specific VCU software issue.
- Brand
Blue Bird- Category
Vehicle
What to do — step by step
Update VCU Software
Contact Blue Bird at 1-478-822-2242 or Cummins at 1-800-286-6467 to receive the free software update for the Vehicle Control Unit.
What NHTSA says to do
Cummins will notify Blue Bird owners and will update the VCU software with a revised version, free of charge. The recall began July 24, 2019. Owners may contact Cummins customer service at 1-800-286-6467 or Blue Bird at 1-478-822-2242. Blue Bird's number for this recall is R19AE (SB).
Questions people ask
Why is this recall happening?
The Vehicle Control Unit (VCU) may unexpectedly shut down high voltage contactors, causing loss of power steering and drive systems, which increases crash risk.
How can I check if my bus is affected?
Check if your Blue Bird school bus is a 2018-2019 Vision or All American model with PowerDrive 7000 EV electric drivetrain.
What should I do if I own an affected bus?
Contact Blue Bird at 1-478-822-2242 or Cummins at 1-800-286-6467 to get the free VCU software update.
Contact Blue Bird
We’ve drafted a message you can send Blue Bird to request your refund or repair — edit it as you like.
Subject: Recall 19V471000 — Blue Bird Blue Bird Hello, I own a Blue Bird that is covered by recall 19V471000 from Blue Bird. The official recall notice states: Cummins will notify Blue Bird owners and will update the VCU software with a revised version, free of charge. The recall began July 24, 2019. Owners may contact Cummins customer service at 1-800-286-6467 or Blue Bird at 1-478-822-2242. Blue Bird's number for this recall is R19AE (SB). I’m writing to arrange the remedy described in the recall (a refund, repair, or replacement as applicable). Could you please tell me the next steps to resolve this? Thank you.
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Where this comes from
The facts (hazard, remedy, dates, manufacturer) are pulled from the official NHTSA recall record. The plain-language summary and step-by-step checklist are written by GovInfoNow to make the official notice easier to act on — they don’t replace it.
- Official source: NHTSA Recall #19V471000 (June 19, 2019)
- Plain-language summary written by qwen3:4b on October 5, 2026, from the official record above. Not reviewed by a person — if it conflicts with the NHTSA notice, the notice is correct. Report an error on this page.
- GovInfoNow is an independent service and is not a government agency. We republish official NHTSA recall data; we don’t issue, amend or administer recalls.