2012 Mci E4500
Safety record from NHTSA: recalls, owner complaints, investigations and service bulletins.
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These records cover every 2012 Mci E4500. To see whether one car still needs a recall repair, decode its VIN or check it with NHTSA.
Recalls
4 recalls name the 2012 Mci E4500. Newest first.
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…
Risk and remedy
Risk
The incorrect window glazing material may reduce the driver's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
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.
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.
Motor Coach Industries (MCI) is recalling certain model year 2009-2014 E4500 and J4500 motorcoaches manufactured October 2008 through October 2013, and equipped with passenger seats with 3-point seat belts. The seat track for the second row passenger seats may be missing a weld at the end of the seat track where it enters the frame structure.
Risk and remedy
Risk
In the event of a crash, the seat may detach from its floor mounting, increasing the risk of injury to the occupant.
Remedy
MCI will notify owners, and dealers will modify the seat anchorage, free of charge. The recall began on May 9, 2014. Owners may contact MCI at 1-800-241-2947. MCI's number for this recall is 408.
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…
Risk and remedy
Risk
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
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.
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.
- 11011092Information to owners showing the proper procedure for checking the oil level in a BITZER HVAC compressor.
- 10206198This Technical Service Information Bulletin (TSIB) describes an update from Meritor for the bolt torque application requirements on hub-to-rotor bolts for the front, drive and tag axles, on specific coaches equipped with Meritor EX225 disc brakes, on either Conventional, PreSet or Unitized Wheel-End hubs.
- 10152973This Service Bulletin informs affected owners of 1997-2013 E4500 and 2001-2015 J4500 model coaches equipped with Rear Axle Steering (RAS) system of the importance of maintaining tag axle caster, and provides the procedure to adjust the caster, if necessary.
- 10119150This Service Bulletin informs customers that MCI was notified by Cummins Inc. that it has released Campaign C1344 that addresses a calibration change, which Cummins advises will improve the engine and aftertreatment reliability on Cummins ISX engines in model year 2011-2013 MCI D model coaches, model year 2011-2013 MCI E4500 model coaches and model year 2011-2013 MCI J4500 model coaches. This program is being performed only by Cummins Service Network and its authorized dealers, therefore, all parts and labor required for this program will be provided by Cummins.
- 10119144This Service Bulletin informs affected customers that MCI was notified by Shaw Development that the diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) tank cap requires routine cleaning to prevent the potential for crystallization build up at the vent, which may result in potential vacuum issues which could result in collapsing of the tank walls on MCI D model coaches, MCI E4500 model coaches and MCI J4500 model coaches.
- 10119143This Service Bulletin informs affected customers that MCI was notified by Cummins Inc. that it has issued campaign C1241 that addresses a calibration issue, which results in the engine brakes being energized with 24 volts rather than the required 12 volts on Cummins ISX engines in model year 2011-2012 MCI D model coaches, model year 2011-2012 MCI E4500 model coaches, and model year 2011-2012 MCI J4500 model coaches. This program is being performed only by Cummins Service Network and its authorized dealers, therefore, all parts and labor required for this program will be provided by Cummins.
- 10119139This Service Bulletin informs affected customers that the retention nut utilized on the Leece Neville alternator pulley installation is not maintaining the proper torque which may result in alternator bearing failure on model year 2011-2012 MCI D model coaches, 2011-2012 MCI E4500 model coaches, and 2011-2012 MCI J4500 model coaches, and that MCI will remedy the affected coaches at no cost to the customers.
- 10052638Mci: information procedure outlining operational checks for park brake automatic actuation operation and primary brake system on certain coaches. Models e4500 series, j4500 series. No model years listed.
- 10051850Mci: the engine brakes are being energized with 24 volts instead of required 12 volts due to calibration issue and information IS provided regarding recalibrating ecm and replacing two engine brake solenoids. Models 3, e4500, j4500 series. No model years listed.
- 10051838Mci: information provided regarding the replacement steps of existing engine harness p clip, if in the event loom damage or chafing has occurred. Models e, j series. No model years listed.
- 10047439Motor coach ind.: the alternator bearing fails on existing retention nut due to failure of proper torque utilized for leece neville alternator pulley. Models d, e4500, j4500. No model years listed.
- 10045859Motor coach inc: drive axle suspension support structure may accumulate water causing support structure damage due to expansion, in freezing temperatures, while coach IS being operated. Models e4500, j4500. No model years listed. Updated 12/10/12.
- 10044567Mci: on some coaches, due to an absence of washer, the fan clutch bracket bushing may walk out of bracket and allow clutch misalignment and belt failure.
- 10044566Mci: additional load placed on engine's internal gears, resulting in vibration transmitted to steering wheel caused by air compressor cutting in, at low speed, and a demand for power steering.
- 10044565Mci: smartwave full function display fails to receive sensor data from tire positions due to electromagnetic interference (emi) by 24V mp brush type boost pump motor prevention of required reception of tire sensor data.
- 10043707Mci: the manufacturing process of fan clutch cooling ring fins may cause coaches to experience missing portions and/or stress cracks. No model years listed.
- 10043706Mci: due to failure of diode, which caused designated fuse to blow, the boost pump (code A22) fail to operate properly. No model years listed.
- 10042911Motor coach industries: on some coaches, water may migrate onto/into the transmission and/or the fill tube, through the breather vent that IS located on top of transmission. No model years listed.
- 10042889Motor coach industries: bulletin information on some motor coaches, at a high temperature threshold that the drive axle wheel hub cover would become detached during the operation of the motor coach. No model years listed.
Every Mci E4500 model year
Bars are owner complaints, dots mark years with recalls. Select a year to open its report.