1997 Mci 102DL3: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
1 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
122,232 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1997 model year. Data updated: . 1 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.
Most common problems
Suspension is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1 of 1 complaints (100.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Suspension | 1 |
Suspension: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 0 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2013 | 1 |
2013: 1
Pattern summary
Suspension leads the component reports. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10553371 · 2013-11-22 (November 22, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 MCI 102DL3 BUS. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 55 MPH AND TRANSPORTING CHILDREN WHEN A BURNING ODOR WAS EMITTED INTO THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE TO INSPECT THE FAILURE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER TAG AND THE DRIVE WHEEL WAS ON FIRE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE BY USING A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 122,232.
Owner-reported narrative. 122,232 miles reported. Look up ODI 10553371 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
3 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
06V481000 · Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery
Reported: 2006-12-19 (December 19, 2006)
ON CERTAIN MOTOR COACHES, THE BOOST CONNECTOR HOUSING CAN FAIL OVER TIME, EXPOSING THE POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE TERMINALS.
Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN THE GROUNDING OF AN UNPROTECTED CIRCUIT AND COULD LEAD TO A THERMAL EVENT IF NOT CORRECTED.
Remedy: CUSTOMERS ARE BEING ADVISED TO REMOVE THE BOOST CONNECTOR AND DISCARD IT. CUSTOMERS WILL BE OFFERED A NEW DESIGN BOOST CONNECTOR AS AN ALTERNATIVE AT NO COST. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 2, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MCI AT 1-800-241-2947.
NHTSA campaign record ↗25V853000 · Visibility:Glass, Side/Rear | Structure:Body:Door
Reported: 2025-12-10 (December 10, 2025)
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."
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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗97V053000 · Equipment:Recreational Vehicle/Trailer:Lpg Systems:Furnace
Reported: 1997-04-03 (April 3, 1997)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: BUSES EQUIPPED WITH 4-STROKE CYCLE ENGINES. ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES HAVE OCCURRED AT OR NEAR THE WEBASTO DIESEL FUELED AUXILIARY HEATER.
Consequence: PERSONAL INJURY AND PROPERTY DAMAGE CAN OCCUR DUE TO AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE.
Remedy: MCI IS ASKING COACH OPERATORS TO DISABLE THE WEBASTO HEATER BY DISCONNECTING THE APPROPRIATE FUSES.
NHTSA campaign record ↗Vehicle analysis explorer
Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.
Data completeness
1 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-09-30.
Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.
Problems by model year
Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.
| Component | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 1100.0%ODI 10553371 · 122,232 miTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 MCI 102DL3 BUS. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 55 MPH AND TRANSPORTING CHILDREN WHEN A BURNING ODOR WAS EMITTED INTO THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE TO INSPECT THE FAILURE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER TAG AND THE DRIVE WHEEL WAS ON FIRE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE BY USING A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 122,232. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. |
| Suspension:Rear:Axle:Non-Powered Axle Assembly | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 1100.0%ODI 10447575FIRST GROUP ALLEGES TO HAVE EXPERIENCED SEVERAL DRIVESHAFT FAILURES BEGINNING IN MARCH 2010 WHICH WERE NOT CONTAINED BY THE SAFETY LOOPS ON THE SUBJECT MCI BUSES. THEY BELIEVE THAT TWO OF THE EVENTS RESULTED IN MULTIPLE INJURIES AND FATALITIES DUE AN "UNLOCKED CONDITION" OF THE STEERABLE TAG AXLE AND A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. THE DESIGN IN QUESTION HAS BEEN IN PRODUCTION SINCE THE EARLY 1990S. A STEERABLE TAG AXLE IS USED TO INCREASE THE GVWR WHILE REDUCING THE TURNING RADIUS AND MINIMIZING THE TIRE SCRUB WHICH WOULD NORMALLY OCCUR WITH A… | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. |
Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.
Failure mileage by component
Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.
| Component | Mileage range (25th–75th percentile) | Median | Usable records | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suspension | Too few reports for a range | 122,232 mi | 1 (sparse) | ODI 10553371 · 122,232 miTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 MCI 102DL3 BUS. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 55 MPH AND TRANSPORTING CHILDREN WHEN A BURNING ODOR WAS EMITTED INTO THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE TO INSPECT THE FAILURE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER TAG AND THE DRIVE WHEEL WAS ON FIRE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE BY USING A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 122,232. |
Complaint and recall timeline
Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.
Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.
Monthly counts, recall campaigns and complaint examples
| Month | Complaints | Campaigns announced | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-10 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2024-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2024-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-10 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-12 | 0 | 25V853000 | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-09 (partial) | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
Emerging complaint spikes
Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.
This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.
No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.
Equal-age model-year comparison
Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.
2005: 0 complaints · 2006: 0 complaints
| Model year | Through age 0 | Through age 1 | Through age 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2006 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Date coverage across each selected cohort
| Year | Incident dates used | Filing date fallbacks | Excluded dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2006 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.
Components reported together
Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.
| Component | Suspension |
|---|---|
| Suspension | — |
Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.
Recurring narrative patterns
Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.
0 patterns with matching reports.
No narratives match the published patterns.