2003 Mci E4500 Recalls

Recalls on record Updated July 2026

The 2003 Mci E4500 has 9 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 39,536 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 1 complaint with NHTSA, most often about the electrical system. Last updated July 5, 2026.

Recall campaigns

VISIBILITY 25V853000 2025-12-10 15,454 affected
Defect

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…

Consequence

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.

STEERING 19V027000 2019-01-07 2,089 affected
Defect

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…

Consequence

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.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 13V498000 2013-10-17 10,016 affected
Defect

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…

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.

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) 11V524000 2011-10-26 1,962 affected
Defect

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…

Consequence

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.

VISIBILITY 10V373000 2010-08-11 1,087 affected
Defect

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

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

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.

STEERING 09V196000 2009-06-01 502 affected
Defect

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…

Consequence

WITH A BROKEN SAS DRIVING TAB, THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) WILL NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY, WHICH COULD POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy

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.

EQUIPMENT 08V603000 2008-11-21 1,893 affected
Defect

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

WHEN THIS HAPPENS, THE SHIFT SELECTOR MAY MOVE INTO REVERSE WITHOUT DRIVER KNOWLEDGE INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy

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.

VISIBILITY 06V241000 2006-07-06 1,768 affected
Defect

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…

Consequence

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.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 06V140000 2006-04-27 4,765 affected
Defect

ON CERTAIN MOTOR COACHES EQUIPPED WITH DETROIT DIESEL SERIES 60 ENGINES, THE TURBOCHARGER COMPRESSORS CAN FAIL.

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.

Complaints by component

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
1
Total complaints1

What owners report

Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.

“Tl* the contact owns a 2003 mci e4500. The contact received recall notice nhtsa campaign number: 13v498000 (electrical system). The manufacturer stated that they did not know where to direct the contact in order to have the recall repair performed. The vin was not available. The vehicle was not…”

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM · reported 2014-01-17

Defect investigations

Investigation EA12007 Opened 2012-09-13 · closed 2015-12-03

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…

Investigation EA12007 Opened 2012-09-13 · closed 2015-12-03

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…

Investigation EA12007 Opened 2012-09-13 · closed 2015-12-03

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…

Sources & methodology

Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2003 Mci E4500 as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.