Blue Bird recall R18ZO - SB

Q: Is R18ZO - SB the same recall as 18V783000?

Yes. R18ZO - SB is Blue Bird’s own number for it; 18V783000 is NHTSA’s. One recall, two references.

Blue Bird calls it R18ZO - SB. NHTSA filed it as campaign 18V783000 on Nov 6, 2018: electrical system on the 2017–2019 Blue Bird Vision, 6,307 vehicles potentially affected. One recall, two numbers — the dealer quotes the manufacturer’s, the federal record carries NHTSA’s.

The full filing, 18V783000 →Check a VIN at NHTSA

What NHTSA has under this number

Source: 49 CFR Part 573 filings

NHTSA campaign	Vehicles	Component	Filed	Affected	Severity
18V783000	2017–2019 Blue Bird Vision	Electrical System	Nov 6, 2018	6,307	critical

Problem Blue Bird Body Company (Blue Bird) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Vision school buses with Ford 6.8L Gen IV LPG, Gasoline, or CNG engines. The alternator cables may not be routed correctly and may contact and chafe against the air conditioning support bracket or a firewall reinforcement. Risk A damaged alternator cable could cause result in an electrical short, increasing the risk of a fire. Fix Blue Bird will notify owners, and dealers will verify that the air conditioning bracket and the alternator cables are properly installed, repairing them as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin December 06, 2018. Owners may contact Blue Bird customer service at 1-478-822-2242. Blue Birds recall number is R18ZO-SB.

The manufacturer’s own words as filed for 18V783000. Every model year it covers, the build window and the filed PDFs →

Two numbers, one recall

Every safety recall carries two identifiers. R18ZO - SB is the number Blue Bird assigned in its own system: it is what appears on the owner letter, on the dealer’s service screen and on the repair order. 18V783000 is the number NHTSA filed the same recall under when the manufacturer reported it, and it is the one every federal record, this site included, is keyed on.

The repair is free by federal law for vehicles up to fifteen years old. Whether one particular vehicle is included is settled by its VIN against the manufacturer’s build list, not by its model year.

Check one specific vehicle

Both lookups check a VIN against the manufacturer’s own list and say whether the repair is still outstanding on that vehicle.

NHTSA VIN recall lookup →

Common questions

Source: NHTSA, 49 CFR Part 573

Is R18ZO - SB the same recall as 18V783000?

Yes. R18ZO - SB is Blue Bird’s own number for it; 18V783000 is NHTSA’s. One recall, two references.

Which vehicles does R18ZO - SB cover?

2017–2019 Blue Bird Vision, 6,307 vehicles by the manufacturer’s count. A recall covers a build range, so the VIN decides whether one particular vehicle is in it.

Does the R18ZO - SB repair cost anything?

No. The manufacturer must remedy a safety defect at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from first sale.