2003 MCI E4500: recalls and complaints

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All updates to the register

• 25V85300010 Dec 2025Structure / Body / Door
• 19V0270007 Jan 2019Steering / Hydraulic Power Assist System
• 13V49800017 Oct 2013Electrical System
• 11V52400026 Oct 2011Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
• 10V37300011 Aug 2010Visibility / Glass, Side/Rear
• 09V1960001 Jun 2009Steering
• 08V60300021 Nov 2008Equipment
• 06V2410006 Jul 2006Visibility / Defroster/Defogger/HVAC System
• 06V14000027 Apr 2006Engine and Engine Cooling / Engine / Diesel

1. 25V853000Received 10 Dec 2025. 15,454 units.

   Structure / Body / Door

   Defect, in the NHTSA record

   Motor Coach Industries (MCI) is recalling certain 102DL3, 102D3, MC12PTV, E4500, D4000, 102D3ISTV, D4500, J4500, D4000ISTV, D4005, D4505, and J3500 transit buses. Please refer to MCI's recall report for specific model year information. The front door lower curb view glazing material is incorrect. As such, these vehicles fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 205, "Glazing Materials."

   Consequence, in the NHTSA record

   The incorrect window glazing material may reduce the driver's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.

   Remedy, in the NHTSA record

   MCI will replace the glass, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 4, 2026. Owners may contact MCI customer service at 1-800-241-2947. MCI's number for this recall is 22-005.

   Report filed by Motor Coach Industries, Inc. Manufacturer campaign number 22-005. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 4 Feb 2026.

2. 19V027000Received 7 Jan 2019. 2,089 units.

   Steering / Hydraulic Power Assist System

   Defect, in the NHTSA record

   Motor Coach Industries (MCI) is recalling certain 2001-2015 J4500 and 1997-2013 102EL3/E4500 coaches equipped with a hydraulic rear axle (tag axle) steering system. The axle's alignment and low hydraulic pressure in the steering system may cause the steering system to lock, causing a loss of steering control at highway speeds.

   Consequence, in the NHTSA record

   Loss of steering control may increase the risk of a crash.

   Remedy, in the NHTSA record

   MCI will inspect and repair axle alignment, as necessary, free of charge. MCI issued owners an interim notification on March 26, 2019. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 14, 2021. Owners may contact MCI customer service at 1-800-241-2947. MCI's number for this recall is SB 469.

   Report filed by Motor Coach Industries. Manufacturer campaign number SB 469. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 14 May 2021.

3. 13V498000Received 17 Oct 2013. 10,016 units.

   Electrical System

   Defect, in the NHTSA record

   Motor Coach Industries (MCI) is recalling certain model year 2000-2012 D, E, G and J series coaches manufactured January 2000 through June 2011 and equipped with Sure Power battery equalizers containing a particular epoxy sealing, aka 'potting', compound. The specific potting compound used in the subject products for insulation was found to be capable of conducting electricity after being exposed to heat.

   Consequence, in the NHTSA record

   Once electrically conductive, the material is capable of melting and burning, increasing the risk of a fire.

   Remedy, in the NHTSA record

   MCI will notify owners, and Sure Power will replace the equalizers, free of charge. Owners may contact MCI at 1-847-285-2000. This campaign is MCI service bulletin 401.

   Report filed by Motor Coach Industries. Manufacturer campaign number 401. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 4 Feb 2014.

4. 11V524000Received 26 Oct 2011. 1,962 units.

   Electronic Stability Control (ESC)

   Defect, in the NHTSA record

   Motor coach industries (mci) is recalling certain model year 2003, and 2007-2012 e and j models along with model year 2007-2012 d4000, d4005, d4500, d4505, d4000istv motor coaches equipped with meritor wabco electronic stability control (ESC) modules, manufactured from october 2002, through october 2011. Under certain road and driving conditions, vehicle body roll and road inclination characteristics may adversely affect the slip angle calculation of the electronic stability control (ESC) system. This might cause the ESC to perceive an over steering situation and therefore apply the outer wheel brake on the front axle until the vehicle is perceived to be stable.

   Consequence, in the NHTSA record

   If the driver is slow to react during this ESC intervention, the vehicle may deviate from the intended line of travel, increasing the risk of a crash.

   Remedy, in the NHTSA record

   Mci will notify owners and replace the control module free of charge. The safety recall began on january 4, 2012. Owners may contact mci customer service at 1-800-241-2947.

   Report filed by MOTOR COACH INDUSTRIES, INC. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 4 Jan 2012.

5. 10V373000Received 11 Aug 2010. 1,087 units.

   Visibility / Glass, Side/Rear

   Defect, in the NHTSA record

   Mci is recalling certain model year 2001-2004 e4500, model year 2002-2006 e4500c, model year 2001-2005 j4500, and model year 2006 j4500c motor coaches equipped with se-gi passenger windows. The adhesive bond between the window glass and the aluminum window frame on the affected coaches may degrade.

   Consequence, in the NHTSA record

   If the window glass becomes partially or completely debonded from its frame, the window glass may detach and fall from the coach and cause personal injury or property damage.

   Remedy, in the NHTSA record

   Dealers will inspect, test, and repair, as necessary, the se-gi window assemblies free of charge. The safety recall began on august 23, 2010. Owners may contact mci customer service at 1-800-241-2947.

   Report filed by MOTOR COACH INDUSTRIES, INC. Manufacturer campaign number 348. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 23 Aug 2010.

6. 09V196000Received 1 Jun 2009. 502 units.

   Steering

   Defect, in the NHTSA record

   Mci is recalling certain model year 2008 and 2009 motor coaches, model j4500 manufactured between october 2007 and april 2009; 2009 motor coaches models d4000istv, d4005, d4500, and d4505 manufactured between january and july 2009; 2010 d4500 coaches manufactured between december 2008 and april 2009; 2009 e4500 coaches manufactured between january and april 2009; and one 2003 e4500 coach manufactured in october 2002. These vehicles may have been equipped with meritor wabco steering angle sensors (sas) which can develop internal friction between the sensor gears and the sensor housing as a result of external forces experienced on the vehicle including vibration. If developed friction is great enough, the driving tab of the sas can sheer as the driver turns the steering wheel.

   Consequence, in the NHTSA record

   With a broken sas driving tab, the electronic stability control (ESC) will not function properly, which could possibly result in a vehicle crash.

   Remedy, in the NHTSA record

   Mci will notify owners and the vehicles will be repaired free of charge. The safety recall began on july 10, 2009. Owners may contact mci at 1-800-241-2947.

   Report filed by MOTOR COACH INDUSTRIES, INC. Manufacturer campaign number 327 & 328. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 10 Jul 2009.

7. 08V603000Received 21 Nov 2008. 1,893 units.

   Equipment

   Defect, in the NHTSA record

   Mci is recalling 1,893 my 2002-2008 d model and my 2001-2008 e and j4500 motor coaches equipped with zf transmissions. There is a potential for the shift selector to malfunction as a result of a cell phone or radio being placed in close proximity to the shifter control pad.

   Consequence, in the NHTSA record

   When this happens, the shift selector may move into reverse without driver knowledge increasing the risk of a crash.

   Remedy, in the NHTSA record

   Mci is working with zf and has created a software update that protects against the potential for transient analog or digital signal interference. The recall is expected to begin during november 2008. .owners may contact mci at 1-800-333-0371 and zf at 1-734-416-6200.

   Report filed by MOTOR COACH INDUSTRIES, INC. Manufacturer campaign number 308. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 17 Dec 2008.

8. 06V241000Received 6 Jul 2006. 1,768 units.

   Visibility / Defroster/Defogger/HVAC System

   Defect, in the NHTSA record

   On certain motor coaches equipped with a slide switch to control the defroster blower speed, there is a speed controller for each of the two defroster fan motors. The speed controller may fail causing the fan motor to operate continuously in the "high" speed mode, and the carrier slide switch may fail to reduce or otherwise control the fan motor speed.

   Consequence, in the NHTSA record

   The speed controller may overheat and result in a thermal even, such as smoking or possible fire.

   Remedy, in the NHTSA record

   Dealers will replace the defroster speed controller free of charge. The recall began on july 20, 2006. Owners may contact motor coach at 1-800-241-2947.

   Report filed by MOTOR COACH INDUSTRIES, INC. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 20 Jul 2006.

9. 06V140000Received 27 Apr 2006. 4,765 units.

   Engine and Engine Cooling / Engine / Diesel

   Defect, in the NHTSA record

   On certain motor coaches equipped with detroit diesel series 60 engines, the turbocharger compressors can fail.

   Consequence, in the NHTSA record

   A fire can result should the turbocharger fail.

   Remedy, in the NHTSA record

   Detroit diesel is conducting this recall (please see 06e019000) and will remedy these motor coaches. The engines will be repaired free of charge. Owners may contact detroit diesel at 313-592-3708 or motor coach at 866-624-2622.

   Report filed by MOTOR COACH INDUSTRIES, INC.

The campaign number opens the NHTSA record. Each quotation is the text of the NHTSA recall file.

Recall campaign: One recall in the NHTSA recall file, with one campaign number. A campaign can name many makes, models and model years.

Units: The number of vehicles or products that a recall can include. The manufacturer or the firm reports the number to the agency.

A complaint can name more than one component. Each component that a complaint names is one component mention. This model year has fewer than 50 component mentions, so the table shows the number of mentions only.

Complaints that report a crash

0

Complaints that report a fire

0

Injuries in the complaints

0

Deaths in the complaints

0

Date of the newest complaint

6 Feb 2014

These figures are the entries of the persons who sent the complaints.

Complaint: A report about a possible safety problem that a person sends to NHTSA. This site shows the number of complaints and not their text.

Investigation: A study of a possible safety defect by the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. An investigation with no closing date in the NHTSA file is open.

1. 19971
2. 19982
3. 19993
4. 20004
5. 20018
6. 20027
7. 20039
8. 20047
9. 20057
10. 20065
11. 20078
12. 20088
13. 20098
14. 20108
15. 20119
16. 20124
17. 20133
18. 20141

A year without a link has fewer than 2 campaigns and fewer than 25 complaints. It has no page.

• MCI E4500: all model years
• MCI: 26 model lines

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• NHTSA VIN lookupNHTSA shows the unrepaired recalls of one vehicle from its VIN or its license plate.
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• NHTSA page of the 2003 MCI E4500The recalls, the complaints and the investigations that NHTSA shows for this model year.

How many units are in the recall campaigns for the 2003 MCI E4500?

39,536 units in 9 campaigns. A campaign can name other models and model years, and its units include them.

How many recall campaigns does the MCI E4500 have for all model years?

NHTSA lists 17 recall campaigns for the MCI E4500, model years 1997 to 2014. 9 of them name the 2003 model year.

Which component do the complaints about the 2003 MCI E4500 name most often?

Electrical System: 1 of 1 component mention.

Is an NHTSA investigation of the 2003 MCI E4500 open?

No. The 1 investigation that names this model year has a closing date in the NHTSA file.