Blue bird/freezing in the park brake valve exhaust
Defect Summary
On certain conventional style school buses, only those equippped with air brakes, the underhood firewall location of the air brake manifold may permit rainwater entry into the parking brake exhaust port fitting of the manifold. in freezing weather, this water could form ice blocking the exhaust port. when this occurs, the parking brake does not operate as designed.
Safety Consequence
In the event that this condition should occur and the parking brake failed to apply, the bus could roll away, resulting in property damage or personal injury.
Corrective Action
Dealers will modify these vehicles. owner notification began on december 8, 2003. owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact blue bird at 1-478-822-2242.
Similar Recalls
Other recalls from Blue Bird Body Company or involving N/A.
FAQ: Recall 03V498000
Your rights, the repair process, and what each field on this page means.
What is recall 03V498000?
NHTSA recall 03V498000 was issued by Blue Bird Body Company on December 4, 2003. It addresses: Blue bird/freezing in the park brake valve exhaust. The recall affects approximately 417 vehicles, with the defect involving the N/A component.
How do I get this recall repaired?
Contact any authorized Blue Bird Body Company dealer and reference NHTSA recall ID 03V498000 or the manufacturer campaign number R03HL. Under federal law, the repair is completely free regardless of vehicle age or owner history.
Is my vehicle included in this recall?
The only way to confirm is to look up your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. NHTSA's tool will tell you if VIN-by-VIN this exact recall applies.
How long do I have to get a recall repair done?
There is no expiration on most federal safety recalls. Even if your vehicle is years old and you bought it used, the manufacturer is required to perform the repair at no cost.
Where does the data on this page come from?
All information on this page is sourced directly from the U.S. Department of Transportation public dataset for NHTSA recalls. Last refreshed: 2026-05-22. For the most current official notice, visit nhtsa.gov/recalls.