Use cautionVehicle recall · NHTSA · Published December 10, 2025
Blue Bird 2026 School Bus Wheelchair Retractor Recall: Unsecured Wheelchairs Risk Injury
Blue Bird is recalling 2026-2027 Vision and All American school buses with QRT-Deluxe or QRT-Max wheelchair restraints. Retractors may not lock, causing wheelchairs to move during transit and increasing injury risk. Owners should contact Blue Bird for free inspections and replacements.
“Blue Bird 2026 School Bus Wheelchair Retractor Recall: Unsecured Wheelchairs Risk Injury.” GovInfoNow, updated September 14, 2026. https://govinfonow.com/recall/744848-blue-bird-2026-school-bus-wheelchair-retractor-recall-unsecured-wheelchairs. Based on NHTSA recall #25V851000 (https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=25V851000).
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced on December 10, 2025, that Blue Bird is recalling certain 2026-2027 Vision and All American school buses due to an unsecured wheelchair hazard. Owners should contact Blue Bird customer service at 1-478-822-2242 for a free inspection and replacement of retractors as necessary.
How to tell if you have it
Blue Bird
Vision School Bus, 2026-2027
All American School Bus, 2026-2027
Vision School Bus (Electric), 2026-2027
What to do
Blue Bird will work with Q'Straint to inspect and replace the retractors as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 29, 2026. Owners may contact Blue Bird customer service at 1-478-822-2242.
The hazard
According to NHTSA records show, the retractors on certain buses equipped with QRT-Deluxe and QRT-Max wheelchair restraints may not lock. This prevents the wheelchair from being properly secured, increasing the risk of injury during transit.
Context
GovInfoNow's records show Blue Bird Body Company has 133 other recalls on record since June 7, 2009. Other recent recalls include a loose battery bolt issue on October 2, 2026, and a wheelchair lift hazard on August 31, 2026. Similar recent recalls of similar products include an electrical short hazard on August 10, 2026, unlocked wheelchair risks on November 8, 2025, and October 31, 2025, and an unsecured wheelchair risk on December 9, 2025.
How to tell if you have this one
Check if your school bus is a 2026-2027 Vision or All American model with QRT-Deluxe or QRT-Max wheelchair restraints. Blue Bird mailed owner notification letters on January 29, 2026.
Brand
Blue Bird
Category
Vehicle
Based on the official NHTSA remedy
What to do — step by step
Contact Blue Bird Customer Service
Reach out to Blue Bird at 1-478-822-2242 for free inspections and replacements of the retractors.
Official remedy
What NHTSA says to do
Blue Bird will work with Q'Straint to inspect and replace the retractors as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 29, 2026. Owners may contact Blue Bird customer service at 1-478-822-2242.
How this recall unfolded
Recall timeline
Owners were mailed letters 50 days after NHTSA received the defect report.
1NHTSA received the defect report
2Owner letters mailed
3Added to GovInfoNow
Dates from the agency record only; steps without a date are left out.
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.
Plain-language summary written by qwen3:4b on September 14, 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.