Suburban electric school buses may face ‘total loss of vehicle functions’

Suburban schoolchildren may be riding on electric buses facing potential safety issues, NBC 5 Responds has learned. A voluntary recall was recently issued after an electric school bus in downstate Illinois crashed following what the manufacturer described as a possible power failure.

The Blue Bird-manufactured electric bus crashed into a tree in Madison County in November. According to a report the company filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the vehicle’s electrical system shut down due to a loose power cable. No injuries were reported.

Following the crash, Blue Bird issued a voluntary recall. In its notice to NHTSA, the company said, “Loose 12V cables can cause intermittent system failures or total loss of vehicle functions, including instrument panel displays, steering assist, braking assist, or traction motor shut down.”

Just days before the crash, NBC 5 attended a West Aurora School District event celebrating its new contract to add 27 all-electric Blue Bird buses to its fleet. At the time, district officials called it “the largest electric school bus fleet operating in the Chicago region.”

NBC 5 Responds notified the district after discovering the recall notice on NHTSA’s website.

A district spokesperson said West Aurora will not know whether its buses are affected until Blue Bird completes its notification process, which the company said begins Feb. 17.

In a statement to NBC Chicago, Blue Bird said it is acting within “NHTSA’s 60-day [notification] requirement.” The company added that “affected customers may contact authorized Blue Bird service centers to check and — if needed — to properly fasten the power cable connections.”

Blue Bird said no injuries or deaths have been linked to the issue. West Aurora School District 129 confirmed its electric buses remain in service, adding that it will take appropriate action once it learns whether its fleet is affected.

This story is developing.