Blue Bird Recalls 82 School Buses Because Wheelchair Lifts May Not Stop Moving

September 4, 2026

Blue Bird school bus recall — Blue Bird is recalling 82 Vision school buses from model years 2025 through 2027 because an electrical problem may prevent certain Ricon wheelchair lifts from stopping once they are in motion. Jaren Jai Wicklund/Shutterstock

Blue Bird is recalling 82 Vision school buses from model years 2025 through 2027 because a problem with their wheelchair lifts could prevent the platforms from stopping once they begin moving, creating an injury risk for passengers using the equipment.

The recall, identified by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration as campaign 26V556000, was reported to the agency on August 31, 2026. Blue Bird’s internal recall number is R26AH.

Wheelchair Lift Controls May Fail to Stop the Platform

The affected Blue Bird Vision school buses are equipped with Ricon K-Series wheelchair platform lifts designed to help passengers with mobility needs enter and exit the vehicle.

According to the recall information submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, an electrical contactor in the wheelchair lift can fail. If that happens while the platform is moving, using the lift’s controls may not stop its movement as intended.

An occupied platform that continues moving when the operator is attempting to stop it can increase the risk of an injury.

The relatively small number of buses involved—82—doesn’t diminish the importance of the recall for the school districts and transportation providers that operate them. Wheelchair lifts are safety-critical equipment for students and other passengers who rely on accessible transportation, making predictable operation particularly important during boarding and exiting.

Blue Bird Dealers Will Modify the Lift Wiring

Blue Bird’s remedy involves a wiring modification rather than replacing the entire wheelchair lift.

Dealers will install two diodes to correct the wiring issue, according to the recall information. The repair will be performed free of charge.

NHTSA explains that manufacturers are responsible for providing safe and effective remedies for vehicles and equipment affected by safety recalls. Owners receiving a recall notice should follow the manufacturer’s instructions and arrange for the required repair.

Blue Bird expects owner notification letters for this recall to be mailed October 30, 2026.

Fleet operators don’t necessarily have to wait for a letter to begin checking their buses, however. Blue Bird maintains an online recall lookup that allows operators to search using a bus’s 17-digit Vehicle Identification Number or seven-digit Blue Bird body number.

School Districts Should Check Individual Buses

The model-year range doesn’t mean every 2025, 2026, or 2027 Blue Bird Vision school bus is being recalled. The campaign applies to specific buses equipped with the affected wheelchair lift equipment, so individual vehicles should be checked rather than assuming an entire fleet is included or excluded based only on model year.

School districts, transportation departments, contractors, and other fleet operators can use NHTSA’s recall lookup to check recall information. NHTSA notes that recently announced recalls may not immediately have every affected VIN loaded into its consumer lookup, so operators with questions can also contact the manufacturer.

Blue Bird customer service can be reached at 1-478-822-2242, and operators should reference recall R26AH when asking about the campaign.

Because accessible school transportation depends on equipment working predictably every time it is used, transportation officials responsible for affected buses should review the recall and arrange for the free wiring correction according to Blue Bird’s instructions.

Owners and fleet managers can also periodically check their buses for other open recalls rather than relying solely on mailed notifications. NHTSA recommends checking vehicles for recalls regularly, and its recall database can identify unrepaired safety campaigns associated with a particular VIN.