AI Damage2008 Blue Bird ALL American: common problems
Owners of the 2008 Blue Bird ALL American filed 4 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and cooling and equipment. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 4
What fails most often
- 1 Engine and cooling 50% of all complaints
- 2 Equipment 25% of all complaints
- 3 Fuel/propulsion system 25% of all complaints
- 4 Service brakes 25% of all complaints
- Engine and cooling: 2 complaints (50% of all).
- Equipment: 1 complaints (25% of all).
- Fuel/propulsion system: 1 complaints (25% of all).
- Service brakes: 1 complaints (25% of all).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and cooling | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipment | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
The fuel lines on these engines are held in by a plastic clip. The plastic clip has a sharp area on the clip which then punches holes in the fuel line that is on the left side of the engine. There are three lines that are held in by these clips. The holes then leak diesel fuel all over the engine wire harness.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 blue bird all american international. The contact received a notice for nhtsa campaign number: 14v510000 (equipment adaptive); however, the part to do the repair was not available. The contact felt the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the repair.
Bus was used 14 dec for about 2 hours when we went to shut the engine down, it would not. To get the engine stopped had to disconnect the alternator and batteries before engine stopped. All passengers had been unloaded, bus now is scheduled into maintenance for troubleshooting.
Right rear air lines going to brake chamber melted when bus went into regeneration mode. The bus had 25 students and coaches on it at the time. The air brakes applied and the bus was stuck on the road at the top of hill by a blind curve at 7:00 pm.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 15,521 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 42% most complained about).
On average one model year of the ALL American has 3 complaints (17 years in the data). This year has 4, above average.
What to check before buying
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Fuel/propulsion system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2008 Blue Bird ALL American?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine and cooling, equipment, fuel/propulsion system. Total complaints: 4.
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2008 Blue Bird ALL American?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2008 Blue Bird ALL American from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.