RoadVitals

2006 Mci E4500 Recalls

Safety recall campaigns filed with NHTSA that cover this model year

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
Recall campaignsA 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.
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Newest Dec 10, 2025
Carrying an NHTSA advisoryCampaigns where NHTSA told owners not to drive the vehicle, or to park it outside, until the repair is done.
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Open 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.
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1 investigation on file

Recall campaigns

5 campaigns cover this model year — what the defect is, what it could cause, and what the remedy is

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
21V737000

EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY:WHEELCHAIR LIFT/RAMP

Sep 23, 2021
510 units potentially affected
The defect: Motor Coach Industries (MCI) is recalling certain 2005-2009 E4500 and 2005-2012 J4500 motorcoaches equipped with Ricon Baylift Wheelchair Lifts. When the lift's outer barrier is fully deployed, it may not withstand a sufficient amount of force, which could cause it to fail. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 403, "Platform Lift Systems," and number 404, "Platform lift installations."
The risk: In the event that a mobility device pushes into the outer barrier, the barrier may fail, increasing the risk of injury for the lift occupant.
The remedy: Ricon will reinforce the outer barrier with additional supports, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on October 18, 2021. Owners may contact the Ricon's Customer Service at (800) 322-2884, or email Ricon’s Recall Coordinator, at [email protected] or by locating the nearest Ricon servicing dealer using the locator on the Ricon website – www.riconcorp.com. Owners may also contact MCI's customer service at 1-800-241-2947. MCI's number for this recall is R21-024.
Motor Coach IndustriesManufacturer number R21-024View 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
08V603000

EQUIPMENT

Nov 21, 2008
1,893 units potentially affected
The 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.
The risk: WHEN THIS HAPPENS, THE SHIFT SELECTOR MAY MOVE INTO REVERSE WITHOUT DRIVER KNOWLEDGE INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The 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.
MOTOR COACH INDUSTRIES, INCManufacturer number 308View on NHTSA.gov

What a recall is

Safety recall
A 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.
Safety investigation
NHTSA 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.
Manufacturer communication
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.

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and it is not a recall.

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

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources