2018–2026 Blue Bird ALL American School Bus (electric) and 1 other Blue Bird model: electrical system recall
A high voltage battery with loose or missing mounting bolts can cause a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
What was reported
Source: manufacturer filing, 49 CFR Part 573Reported to NHTSA Oct 2, 2026 by Blue Bird Body Company.
Which vehicles are covered
Source: NHTSA campaign 26V641000Vehicles built Jul 11, 2018 to Jun 17, 2025 — a VIN outside that window is not part of this campaign even if the year, make and model match.
| Model year | On WhichTrim |
|---|---|
| 2018 Blue Bird ALL American School Bus (electric) | — |
| 2019 Blue Bird ALL American School Bus (electric) | — |
| 2020 Blue Bird ALL American School Bus (electric) | — |
| 2021 Blue Bird ALL American School Bus (electric) | — |
| 2022 Blue Bird ALL American School Bus (electric) | — |
| 2023 Blue Bird ALL American School Bus (electric) | — |
| 2024 Blue Bird ALL American School Bus (electric) | — |
| 2026 Blue Bird ALL American School Bus (electric) | — |
| 2018 Blue Bird Vision School Bus (electric) | — |
| 2019 Blue Bird Vision School Bus (electric) | — |
| 2020 Blue Bird Vision School Bus (electric) | — |
| 2021 Blue Bird Vision School Bus (electric) | — |
| 2022 Blue Bird Vision School Bus (electric) | — |
| 2023 Blue Bird Vision School Bus (electric) | — |
| 2024 Blue Bird Vision School Bus (electric) | — |
| 2026 Blue Bird Vision School Bus (electric) | — |
None of the vehicles this campaign names has a page on WhichTrim: the catalogue covers the cars, trucks and SUVs the EPA certifies from 2016 on, and these vehicles fall outside it — older model years, or motorhomes, trailers, buses, motorcycles and chassis cabs the EPA does not rate. The campaign record above is complete as filed, and whether one specific vehicle is included is settled by its VIN. Other campaigns on vehicles without a page here →
The federal paperwork
Source: nhtsa.govFiled documents
Check one specific vehicle
A recall applies to a build range, so year, make and model cannot settle it. NHTSA checks a VIN against the manufacturer's own list and tells you whether the repair is still outstanding on that vehicle.
NHTSA VIN recall lookup →Campaign 26V641000 · the manufacturer calls it R26AK
Own one, or run a fleet? Recall Watch checks each VIN against every new NHTSA campaign and emails you when one lands, this one's expansions included. Or take a free one-line alert by model year.
A recall covers a build range. Only your VIN settles it.
Check it against NHTSA’s database now, or have us check it every night and email you when something new is filed.
Common questions
Source: NHTSA, 49 CFR Part 573Is R26AK the same recall as 26V641000?
Yes. R26AK is the number Blue Bird Body Company uses for this campaign in its own paperwork and in the letter it sends owners. 26V641000 is the number NHTSA files it under. One recall, two references — dealers and service departments generally quote the manufacturer's.
Does this recall repair cost anything?
No. Federal law requires the manufacturer to remedy a safety defect or a compliance failure at no charge, for vehicles up to 15 years old measured from the date of first sale. A dealer that asks you to pay for a recall repair is in the wrong.
How do I know whether my vehicle is included?
By VIN, not by model year. This campaign covers vehicles built Jul 11, 2018 to Jun 17, 2025. The manufacturer files a build range with NHTSA and only vehicles inside it are covered, so two identical-looking cars from the same year can differ. NHTSA's own lookup checks a VIN against the manufacturer's list.
What if the repair is not available yet?
It happens, and often. Manufacturers must notify owners when a defect is found even if the parts or the software are not ready, then notify them a second time once the remedy exists. The remedy filed for this campaign is described above.
What did the manufacturer say was wrong?
The problem, risk and fix quoted on this page are the manufacturer's own words as filed with NHTSA under 49 CFR Part 573. WhichTrim does not paraphrase them.
Who started this recall?
NHTSA's record credits NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. A recall can begin with the manufacturer's own testing, with a defect investigation, or with a compliance test against a Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard.