RoadVitals

2001 Mci E4500

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
1
Latest Feb 6, 2014
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
8
Latest Dec 10, 2025
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
1
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
1

Overview

Our database contains 1 NHTSA owner-reported complaint for the 2001 Mci E4500, most frequently naming the electrical category. 8 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 1 NHTSA investigation names it; and 14 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Electrical1100.0%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

8 campaigns cover this model year

View all 8

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
25V853000

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR; VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR

Dec 10, 2025
15,454 units potentially affected
The 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 vehicles fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 205, "Glazing Materials."
The risk: The incorrect window glazing material may reduce the driver's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
The 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, IncManufacturer number 22-005View on NHTSA.gov
19V027000

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

Jan 7, 2019
2,089 units potentially affected
The 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 highway speeds.
The risk: Loss of steering control may increase the risk of a crash.
The 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 IndustriesManufacturer number SB 469View on NHTSA.gov
13V498000

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Oct 17, 2013
10,016 units potentially affected
The 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 insulation was found to be capable of conducting electricity after being exposed to heat.
The risk: Once electrically conductive, the material is capable of melting and burning, increasing the risk of a fire.
The 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.
Motor Coach IndustriesManufacturer number 401View on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

EA12007ClosedEngineering Analysis

MCI Drive Shaft Safety Loop Failures

Opened Sep 13, 2012
Closed Dec 3, 2015

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.

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINELed to recall 14V335000

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Electrical
Filed Feb 6, 2014
Fire reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MCI E4500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V498000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE CONTACT NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY STATED THAT THEY DID NOT KNOW WHERE TO DIRECT THE CONTACT IN ORDER TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. IN MAY 2011, THE CONTACTS VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE BECAUSE OF THE EQUALIZER IN THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE DAMAGE AT HIS OWN EXPENSE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 350,000 MILES.

NHTSA ID
10563238
Incident
May 11, 2011
Mileage
350,000 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

TSIB 21-04

STRUCTURE

Technical Service Information Bulletin issued as a reminder to customers of specifically equipped older motor coaches, who performed Service Bulletin 348 in conjunction with NHTSA Recall 10V-373, to continue to inspect the SE-GI side windows for de-bonding as indicated in the maintenance manual, and repair if necessary in accordance with that Service Bulletin.

SB 3118

STEERING

This 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.

SB 3077

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM; EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY

This 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.

SB-390

STRUCTURE; STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

MOTOR 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. *PE UPDATED 12/10/12. *PE

SB-367

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

MOTOR 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. *PE

SB-357

MOTOR COACH INDUDSTRIES: INFORMATION ON REPLACING THE COOLANT PUMP THAT MAY HAVE A PROBLEM. *RM

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Mci E4500 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2014010—
2013030—
2012041—
2011091—
2010081—
2009081—
2008081—
2007081—
2006051—
2005071—
2004071—
2003191—
2002071—
2001Viewing181—
2000041—
1999031—
1998020—
1997010—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.