The worst 1998 Blue Bird Q-Bus problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
Problems by type
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Recalls 4
Electrical system: wiring
- What is wrong
- Vehicle description: school and transit buses equipped with rear mounted engines. The 12-volt power supply cable(s) may be chaffed by hoses, harnesses, frame components, or clamps.
- Risk
- This condition can result in power failure and/or risk of fire in the engine compartment.
- Remedy
- Dealers will remove and inspect the 12-volt power cable(s) from the battery to the starter and, if necessary, will replace the cables. Owner notification began july 30, 2001. 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 1‑912‑822‑2242.
Recall number 01V191000 · Recall details
Service brakes, air: controls: foot control/valve
- What is wrong
- Vehicle description: school and transit buses equipped with bendix air brakes. Bendix changed the internal design of the qr1c relay valve by adding a hole in the internal diaphragm. When the hole in the diaphragm aligns with the hole in the valve body, the brake application time increases.
- Risk
- Under certain conditions, such as parked on an incline, driver activates the parking brake but removes foot from the threadle valve, the bus could roll before the parking brake is fully engaged.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the diaphragms with holes with solid diaphragms for the qr1c valves.
Recall number 00V162000 · Recall details
Service brakes, air: supply: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
- What is wrong
- Vehicle description: school and transit buses equipped with bendix ABS anti-lock braking system. The primary and secondary brake treadle valve air lines were installed incorrectly at the bendix r12dc relay valve.
- Risk
- With the brake system installed incorrectly, future maintenance might be affected by this inconsistency, causing the brakes to be installed incorrect, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will correct the air line plumbing at the bendix r12dc relay valve.
Recall number 00V051000 · Recall details
Electrical system: wiring: front underhood
- What is wrong
- Vehicle description: school and transit forward and rear engine buses equipped with cummins isb and isc engines. The wiring harness to the combustion air intake grid heater can chafe against the engine and wear through causing an electrical short in the grid heater power supply. The short causes the fusible link to fail.
- Risk
- When the fusible link fails, insulation on the fusible link can ignite, creating a fire risk in the engine compartment.
- Remedy
- Owners will be advised to replace the original grid heater power supply harness with fusible links with a new grid heater power supply harness equipped with fuses. In addition, a clamp will be added to support the harness away from the engine components.
Recall number 98V313000 · Recall details
Technical service bulletins for the 1998 Blue Bird Q-Bus 2
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
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Questions about the 1998 Blue Bird Q-Bus
Is the 1998 Blue Bird Q-Bus reliable?
Owners have filed 0 complaints about the 1998 Blue Bird Q-Bus.
What is the most common problem with the 1998 Blue Bird Q-Bus?
There are not enough complaints to tell.
How many recalls does the 1998 Blue Bird Q-Bus have?
4 recalls, covering electrical system and service brakes, air.
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