RoadVitals

2003 Mci J4500

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 Apr 29, 2017
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.
9
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.
0
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.
0

Overview

Our database contains 1 NHTSA owner-reported complaint for the 2003 Mci J4500, most frequently naming the body & structure category. 9 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 23 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

  • Body & structure1100.0%

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

9 campaigns cover this model year

View all 9

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

Recent owner complaints

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

Body & structure
Filed Apr 29, 2017

COACH SIDE GLASS IS BOWING (CHANGING SHAPE) AND DE-BONDING. ALL GLASS ON COACH SAYS "SI-GI", WHICH IS THE DEFECTIVE GLASS SUBJECT TO A RECALL (NHTSA RECALL #10V373000). CONTACTED MCI IN 2015 AFTER 1 OF THE PIECES OF GLASS ACTUALLY ALMOST FELL OUT. MFGR REFUSES TO HONOR WARRANTY BECAUSE THEY SHIPPED REPLACEMENT GLASS TO THE PREVIOUS VEHICLE OWNER FOR THEM TO INSTALL THEMSELVES. DEFECTIVE SI-GI GLASS STILL IN THE COACH. MFGR PRACTICE OF SHIPPING REPLACEMENT GLASS TO OWNERS IS A VERY BAD IDEA. MFGR DOES NOT ACTUALLY VERIFY THAT THE WORK WAS COMPLETED. I'M SURE 95% OF OWNERS NEVER GET AROUND TO INSTALLING IT OR JUST KEEP THE GLASS AS SPARES, SO THE RECALL IS ACTUALLY NEVER COMPLETED. AS TEMPORARY FIX, WE RE-BONDED THE GLASS THAT WAS COMING DE-BONDED, BUT IT IS BECOMING DE-BONDED AGAIN, SINCE GLASS ON THE BUS HAS BOWED. WE WANT MFGR TO HONOR THE RECALL, AS IT WAS NEVER DONE, AND GLASS IS VERY BAD.

NHTSA ID
10981434
Incident
Sep 15, 2015

Manufacturer communications

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

TSIB 22-12

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

MCI has released Technical Service Information Bulletin (TSIB) 22-12 to address concerns with water ingress in remote switch box. The TSIB provides guidance on how to rework the box to inhibit water intrusion and connector corrosion

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.

D20M4

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING; EQUIPMENT

DDC Field service campaign for GHG17 Detroit DD13 engines requiring software reprogramming and new emission label replacement. This field service applies only to MCI (Motor Coach Industries) vehicles.

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 3101

POWER TRAIN:AXLE HUBS; WHEELS

This Service Bulletin informs affected customers that ZF Friedrichshafen AG has released a Service Information bulletin regarding checking axle hubs and wheel heads if an ABS tell-tale lamp is activated during coach operation on MCI J model coaches, and that immediate action is required in such event to prevent an overheat condition.

SB 3099

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM; ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR

This Service Bulletin informs affected customers of the maintenance procedures for the Torca Accuseal clamp utilized on the connection between the after-treatment system (selective catalyst reduction device) and tailpipe; that the clamp is a one time usage clamp; and that a new clamp must be utilized after any service or maintenance is performed in which the existing clamp was loosened or removed on MCI D and MCI J model coaches.

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 J4500 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2026010—
2025010—
2024000—
2023000—
2022000—
2021050—
2020091—
20190121—
20180131—
2017081—
2016070—
20150100—
20140100—
2013070—
2012170—
20110130—
20100110—
20090110—
20080100—
2007180—
2006080—
2005090—
2004080—
2003Viewing190—
2002070—
2001080—
2000000—
1999000—
1998000—

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.