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 & remedy
Consequence: Once electrically conductive, the material is capable of melting and burning, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy: 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.
MCI IS RECALLING MODEL YEAR 2001-2004 G4500 MOTOR COACHES EQUIPPED WITH WHEELCHAIR LIFTS. IF THE UPPER WHEELCHAIR DOOR OPENS DUE TO A MALFUNCTION OF THE DOOR'S LATCHES, THERE IS A TELLTALE LIGHT IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL THAT ILLUMINATES TO ALERT THE DRIVER THAT THE UPPER WHEELCHAIR DOOR IS NOT FULLY LATCHED AND CLOSED, HOWEVER THE DRIVER COULD FAIL TO NOTICE THAT THIS LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN THE WHEELCHAIR DOOR SLIDING OPEN WITHOUT FURTHER WARNING AND EXPOSE PASSENGERS TO THE RISK OF FALLING FROM THE COACH WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL AN AUDIBLE ALARM IN THE DRIVER'S AREA TO PROVIDE AN ADDITIONAL ALERT IN THE EVENT THE DOOR IS NOT FULLY CLOSED AND LATCHED, AND WILL REINFORCE THE UPPER LATCH TO IMPROVE ITS DURABILITY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 4, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MCI CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE AT 1-800-241-2947.
MCI IS RECALLING 542 MY 2000-2004 G4100 AND G4500 MOTOR COACHES. CERTAIN REWORKED TAG AXLE ARM ASSEMBLIES HAD BEEN IDENTIFIED WITH NEW CRACKS FORMING. SOME OF THE TAG AXLE ARM ASSEMBLIES THAT HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN REPAIRED DURING RECALLS 03V-411 OR 06V458 MAY HAVE BEEN REPAIRED WITH UNIDENTIFIED MICRO FRACTURES AND/OR INSUFFICIENT WELD PENETRATION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE TAG AXLE SWING ARM CRACKS AND REMAINS UNDETECTED, THE CRACKS CAN SPREAD AND POTENTIALLY RESULT IN A PARTIAL OR TOTAL SEPARATION OF THE TAG AXLE ASSEMBLY FROM THE COACH, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL RE-INSPECT AND IF CRACKS ARE IDENTIFIED OR INCORRECT WELDS IN THE PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED AREAS, BOTH RIGHT AND LEFT TAG ARM ASSEMBLIES WILL BE REPLACED. IF NO PROBLEMS ARE IDENTIFIED, DEALERS WILL REINSTALL THE EXISTING TAG AXLE ARM ASSEMBLIES WITH NEW HARDWARE FREE OF CHARGE. PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS CAMPAIGN SUPERSEDES MCI'S PREVIOUS RECALLS (PLEASE SEE 03V411 AND 06V458). THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 18, 2008. OWNER MAY CONTACT MOTOR COACH AT 1-800-241-2947.
ON CERTAIN MOTOR COACHES, A WELD JOINING A GUSSET SUPPORT FROM THE FRONT BOGIE LEG TO THE STEERING BOX MOUNTING PLATE CAN CRACK.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CAN ALLOW ADDITIONAL MOVEMENT OF THE MOUNTING PLATE IN DRY STEER APPLICATIONS AND AT THE EXTREME OUTWARD STEERING POSITIONS INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL AN ADDITIONAL GUSSET TO THESE ASSEMBLIES AND REWELD AS REQUIRED. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 23, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MOTOR COACH AT 1-800-241-2947.
ON CERTAIN G4500 MOTOR COACHES, THE TAG AXLE SWING ARM CAN BREAK AWAY.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE TAG AXLE SWING ARM CRACKS AND REMAINS UNDETECTED, THE CRACKS CAN SPREAD AND POTENTIALLY RESULT IN A PARTIAL OR TOTAL SEPARATION OF THE TAG AXLE ASSEMBLY FROM THE COACH, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS CAMPAIGN HAS BEEN SUPERSEDED BY 08V121.
ON CERTAIN MOTOR COACHES EQUIPPED WITH DETROIT DIESEL SERIES 60 ENGINES, THE TURBOCHARGER COMPRESSORS CAN FAIL.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: 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.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
3
PE09038 · Wheel Chair Door Becomes Unlatched
Opened Aug 28, 2009 · Closed Nov 5, 2009
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure:body:door
THIS INVESTIGATION WAS PROMPTED BY A REVIEW OF SERVICE BULLETINS PROVIDED BYMCI TO THE AGENCY. MCI SUBMITTED A FIELD CHANGE PROGRAM BULLETIN IN THEIR JULY 2009 MONTHLY COMMUNICATIONS (49 CFR 597.5) SUBMISSION REGARDING A WHEELCHAIR LIFT INTERLOCK DOOR RETROFIT KIT FOR G4500 SERIES COACHES.PER THE BULLETIN, THE SLIDING WHEELCHAIR DOOR MAY BECOME UNLATCHED, THE VISUAL WARNING INDICATOR IN THE DRIVER'S AREA MAY GO UNNOTICED BY THE DRIVER AND THERE IS NO AUDIBLE WARNING.DURING THE REVIEW PROCESS, ODI LEARNED OF ACOMPLAINT FROM AN INDIVIDUAL WHOSE GROUP CHARTERED A G4500 MOTORCOACH AND REPORTEDLY THE WHEELCHAIR ACCESS DOOR ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE BUS OPENED WHILE THE BUS WAS TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 55 MPH.THE INVESTIGATION WAS OPENED TO ASSESS THE SCOPE AND SAFETY CONSEQUENCE OF THIS ISSUE.IN SEPTEMBER 2009, MCI FILED A SAFETY RECALL (09V-345) OUTLINING THEIR INTENDED REMEDY PROGRAM TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. MCI WILL ADD AN AUDIBLE ALARM TO ALERT THE DRIVER THAT THE DOOR IS NOT FULLY LATCHED. THEY ALSO INTEND TO REINFORCE THE UPPER DOOR LATCH TO IMPROVE LATCHING SYSTEM DURABILITY.THE ACTION TAKEN BY MCI RESOLVES THE ISSUES RAISED BY THIS INVESTIGATION. ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.
PE06051 · Steering Box Mounting Bracket Crack
Opened Nov 13, 2006 · Closed Mar 22, 2007
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering
THIS INVESTIGATION WAS OPENED AFTER ODI WAS CONTACTED BY A FLEETALLEGING THAT THEY HAVE HAD NINE INCIDENTS WHERE CRACKS WERE FOUND IN THE BRACKET THAT SUPPORTS THE STEERING GEAR BOX ASSEMBLY.THESE CRACKS WERE ALLOWING MOVEMENT OF THE STEERING BOX.ODI WAS CONCERNED THAT SHOULD THIS BRACKET COMPLETELY FAIL WHILE THE BUS IS BEING DRIVEN, A LOSS OF STEERING WOULD OCCUR.AS A RESULT OF ODI'S INVESTIGATION, MCI HAS AGREED TO INITIATE A SAFETY RECALL TO ADD AN ADDITIONAL GUSSET TO THE BRACKETS AND REWELD AS NECESSARY. THE TARGET DATE FOR LAUNCHING THE CORRECTIVEACTION ISMARCH 31, 2007.MCI'S ACTIONRESOLVES THE ISSUES RAISED BY THIS INVESTIGATION.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED. THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION ON THESE VEHICLES IF WARRANTED IN THE FUTURE.
RQ06008 · Failed Tag Axle Swing Arms
Opened Sep 5, 2006 · Closed Jan 17, 2007
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension:front:control Arm
MCI ORIGINALLY FILED A DEFECT NOTIFICATION ON OCTOBER 20, 2003, (03V-411) TO ADDRESSCRACKS LOCATED ON THE TAG AXLE SWING ARM AT THE CONNECTION TO THE PIVOT SPINDLE TUBE.FOUR HUNDRED AND NINETY-THREE (493) MCI G4500 2000-2003 MOTOR COACHES WERE INVOLVED.MCI?S ENGINEERING ANALYSIS DETERMINED THAT INSUFFICIENT WELD METAL AND /OR WELD PENETRATION ON THE FAILED COMPONENTS COULD RESULT IN EARLY STRESS AND FATIGUE CRACKS AT A WELD JOINING THE TAG AXLE TO THE PIVOT TUBE ASSEMBLY.MCI'S FIELD REPAIR CONSISTED OF INSPECTING AND RE-WELDING THE TAG AXLE SWING ARM.A SMALL PERCENTAGE WERE NOT REPAIRABLE AND REQUIRED A FULL REPLACEMENT OF THE SWING ARM. ON JULY 18, 2006, ODI WAS CONTACTED BY A FLEETALLEGING THAT THEY HAD THREE TAG AXLE ARMS CRACK AND SUBSEQUENTLY BREAK IN THE SAME AREA REPAIRED BY MCI DURING THE SAFETY RECALL.AS A RESULT, ODI OPENED THIS RQ.MCI CONDUCTED FURTHER ANALYSIS AND DETERMINED THAT SOME OF THE PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED SWING ARMS, REPAIRED DURING RECALL 03V-411 MAY HAVE BEEN REPAIRED WITH EXISTING UNIDENTIFIED MICRO-FRACTURES AND/OR WELDS WITH INSUFFICIENT PENETRATION.THIS COULD LEAD TO FURTHER CRACKING AND RESULT IN A PARTIAL OR TOTAL SEPARATION OR THE TAG ARM. AS A RESULT OF THIS INVESTIGATION, MCI HAS ANNOUNCED A NEW SAFETY RECALL IN WHICH THEY WILL REPLACE ALL THE TAG ARMS WITH A NEWLY DESIGNED TAG AXLE SWING ARM.MCI'S NEW RECALL ACTIONRESOLVES THIS INVESTIGATION.THEREFORE, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE PROGRESSION OF THE NEW RECALL BEING CONDUCTED BY MCI.
2004 Mci G4500 Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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