2003 Mci 102EL3
Safety record from NHTSA: recalls, owner complaints, investigations and service bulletins.
Have the VIN?
Vehicles › Mci › 102EL3 › 2003
These records cover every 2003 Mci 102EL3. To see whether one car still needs a recall repair, decode its VIN or check it with NHTSA.
Recalls
3 recalls name the 2003 Mci 102EL3. Newest first.
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.
Risk and remedy
Risk
Loss of steering control may increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy
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.
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.
Risk and remedy
Risk
The speed controller may overheat and result in a thermal even, such as smoking or possible fire.
Remedy
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.
On certain motor coaches equipped with detroit diesel series 60 engines, the turbocharger compressors can fail.
Risk and remedy
Risk
A fire can result should the turbocharger fail.
Remedy
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.
Defect investigations
NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation opened these reviews into vehicles including this one.
- MCI Drive Shaft Safety Loop Failures
In the fall of 2011, network contacts made ODI aware of four (4) incidents of drive shaft failure on the subject buses involving a loss of vehicle control.Two of the incidents were relatively low speed non-crash events; and two resulted in motor coach rollovers.All four events showed signs of a common failure mode.The…
In the fall of 2011, network contacts made ODI aware of four (4) incidents of drive shaft failure on the subject buses involving a loss of vehicle control.Two of the incidents were relatively low speed non-crash events; and two resulted in motor coach rollovers.All four events showed signs of a common failure mode.The incidents and crashes studied during this investigation all resulted from a series of complex events that began with the the yoke journal ears on the drive shafts fracturing.Once the drive shaft failed. it was not adequately contained by a drive shaft safety loop or structure.The spinning and unrestrained drive shaft caused severe damage to components on the steerable tag axle at the rear of the vehicle and created a forced steering condition.Once the rear of the bus was being forcibly steered by the tag axle, the driver lost control of the vehicle.These conclusions are based on the forensics evidence and testing conducted by the Vehicle Research and Test Center (VRTC).The VRTC test report is attached to this closing resume that provides details on how the test center was able to conclusively identify the defective components on the buses and demonstrate the sequence of events that caused the buses to crash.Prior to the drive shaft failure events, there were no indications of improper maintenance or that maintenance was required that would have prevented the incidents.Additionally, the U-joints on the incident vehicles were found to be in good working condition at the time of the failure. Finally, records of driver interviews indicated a sudden onset of the failure with no warning.Following the VRTC testing, MCI issued recall 14V-335 involving certain model year 1993-1995 102DL3 motor coaches manufactured November 1992 to January 1995, and 2006 and 2008 D4505 motor coaches manufactured June 2005 to April 2008.The affected buses are equipped with a drive shaft with a compressed length of 30 inches or less (allowing it to escape containment if it fails), a steerable trailing tag axle equipped with a system that changes the axle caster when the vehicle is in reverse travel and no electronic stability control (ESC).Recall 14V-335 addresses the concerns of this investigation.The ODI report cited above can be viewed at www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID: ODI Number 10447575.
Service bulletins
Technical service bulletins and other communications the manufacturer sent dealers about this vehicle. Ask a dealer for the full document by its number.
- 10038824Motor coach indudstries: information on replacing the coolant pump that may have a problem.
- 10038195Motor coach industries service campaign: see document search button for owner letter. There may be a harsh downshift, rpm flare, or the transmission may lock.
Every Mci 102EL3 model year
Bars are owner complaints, dots mark years with recalls. Select a year to open its report.