2014 Mci D4505 Recalls

During the review of Motor Coach Industries (MCI) Early Warning Reporting (EWR) 2016 Q4 data, field reports were identified that described fires on 2 buses from different regions of the country.These fires were alleged to have occurred as a result of a loose clamp allowing the tailpipe to separate from the exhaust after treatment assembly.During exhaust after treatment regeneration high temperature gases were directed at the plastic rear bumper.Prior to the fires, there were no indications (such as soot trails) that the clamps were loose.When contacted, the fleet maintenance manager stated all maintenance schedules and DOT inspections had been performed without a failure citation of the exhaust systems. MCI addressed the issue by installing additional brackets to the pipe on all the other buses in the fleet ensuring the tailpipe stayed intact should the clamp lose torque.In correspondence with another fleet using the same style bus, the fleet safety manager described having loose clamps resulting in fires.The MCI fix for the second fleet was to install a shield at the rear bumper to deflect the high temperature exhaust gases in the event of the tailpipe separated from the exhaust after treatment system.This fix was different from the first fleet.During review of communications submitted in March 2017, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) identified MCI Service Bulletin No. 309 regarding a maintenance procedure of the exhaust system Torca Accuseal clamp.This bulletin instructed that a new clamp must be utilized after any service or maintenance is performed in which the existing clamp was loosened or removed.ODI requested further information on this bulletin and received warranty claims showing loose tailpipes.MCI has taken the position that fires at the clamp location were due to improper maintenance by the fleets.After analysis of data, provided by MCI to ODI in response to an information request letter, ODI found there was not an increasing number (claim rate of 1.1%) of failures and fires even with portions of the fleet having over seven years in service.The 4 fires identified were from 2 fleets.ODI contacted the fleets with fire incidents and was informed that one of the two buses involved in the fire incidents was sold in 2016 and other fleet does not have maintenance records since they only keep records for one year.ODI is closing the investigation as no actionable trend has been identified.This investigation is closed. Further use of agency resources does not appear to be warranted. The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist. The agency reserves the right to take further action if warranted by the circumstances.

By letter dated April 15, 2013, Motor Coach Industries (MCI) notified the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) of a safety defect that may exist in certain model year (MY) 2012 and 2013 MCI D-model coaches built from December 22, 2011 to May 19, 2012 equipped with the Cummins 2010 EPA ISX 12 Liter engine.These vehicles may have had an incorrect installation of the exhaust pipe.If installed incorrectly, the elbow pipe may prematurely fail and if a Diesel Particulate Filter regeneration event occurs, the hot exhaust gases could cause a fire, resulting in injury to persons and/or damage to property.MCI conducted an inspect and repair if necessary recall campaign identified by NHTSA Recall No: 13V-142. At the time MCI believed that 13V-142 covered all the vehicles potentially having the safety defect. However, ODI review of EWR data indicated that other vehicles outside the scope of 13V-142 also experienced the same defect condition. Subsequently, in May 2017, MCI expanded the scope of the previous recall to include certain MY 2011-2012 MCI D-model coaches manufactured from January 31, 2011 to May 19, 2012, identified by NHTSA Recall No: 17V-337.In April 2013 when MCI conducted recall 13V-142 to remedy incorrectly installed bellows pipes on certain MCI model year 2012 and 2013 D model vehicles they also changed the bellows pipe assembly process in then current production.With recall 17V-337 MCI expanded the first recall by an additional 178 vehicles they felt also had not had the bellows pipe properly installed.Following the receipt of complaints and EWR data alleging bellows pipe failures on vehicles built after the implementation of the improved assembly process, NHTSA opened this Recall Query to assess the scope and adequacy of these two safety recalls and MCI's recall decision making process.Analysis of the failure data provided by MCI to this investigation found that the improved assembly process reduced the failure rate but did not eliminate the defect all together.In response to this investigation, MCI agreed to conduct recall 18V-309. This latest recall includes and expands upon the vehicle population of the prior recalls, and implements a new remedy that adds a mesh component to the bellows assembly to reduce vibration.This remedy was also implemented in production in 2015.Vehicles built after this date do not have an elevated failure rate even with a significant amount of time in service.With recall action 18V-309 taken by MCI this investigation is closed. Further use of agency resources does not appear to be warranted. The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist on other model or MY vehicles outside of the recall scope. The agency reserves the right to take further action if warranted by the circumstances.