2018 Mci J4500: complaints, problems and recalls

Reported: 2017-10-30 (October 30, 2017)

Motor Coach Industries (MCI) is recalling certain 2018 MCI J4500 buses. The primary air line was incorrectly hooked to the secondary air pressure gauge and the secondary air line was hooked to the primary air pressure gauge. As such, these buses fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 121, "Air Brake Systems."

Consequence: The incorrect air pressure readings may increase the risk of a crash by delaying the driver's reaction to addressing the low air condition.

Remedy: MCI will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the air lines for proper connection, repairing them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on December 12, 2017. Owners may contact MCI customer service at 1-800-241-29471. MCI's number for this recall is SB 455.

Reported: 2018-04-09 (April 9, 2018)

Motor Coach Industries (MCI) is recalling certain 2018 J4500 vehicles. The left rear taillight harness branch of the engine compartment wiring may contact the engine coolant tank causing a loss of power to the left taillight. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

Consequence: If the left taillight does not work, the coach would have reduced visibility to other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: MCI will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the left taillight wiring harness, re-routing and repairing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on April 23, 2018. Owners may contact MCI customer service at 1-800-241-2947. MCI's number for this recall is SB 461.

Reported: 2018-04-09 (April 9, 2018)

Motor Coach Industries (MCI) is recalling certain 2018 MCI J4500 motor coaches. The rear left hand window may separate from the vehicle.

Consequence: If the left rear window separates from the vehicle while it is moving, it can become a road hazard, increasing the risk of crash or injury.

Remedy: MCI will notify owners, and dealers will check the rear left hand window to make sure that it is securely installed, correcting it as necessary, free of charge. MCI issued owners an interim notification on June 8, 2018. The recall began on August 24, 2018. Owners may contact MCI customer service at 1-800-241-2947. MCI's number for this recall is SB 463.

Reported: 2018-10-03 (October 3, 2018)

Motor Coach Industries (MCI) is recalling certain 2018-2019 MCI J4500 motorcoaches with the 60 passenger seating option. These vehicles may have an insufficient number of emergency egress windows, inhibiting passenger exit in the event of an emergency. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 217, "Bus Emergency Exits and Window Retention and Release."

Consequence: In the event of an emergency, an insufficient number of emergency egress windows can lengthen the time that passengers need to exit the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: MCI will notify owners, and dealers will replace a non-egress window on each side of the vehicle to an egress window and install the proper emergency exit window labels, free of charge. The recall began April 4, 2019. Owners may contact MCI customer service at 1-800-241-2947. MCI's number for this recall is FCP 468.

Reported: 2019-05-03 (May 3, 2019)

Motor Coach Industries (MCI) is recalling certain 2019 J3500 and D4505 buses, and 2018-2019 J4500 buses equipped with Transpec T287x Series glass roof hatches. Temperature and vibration stresses may cause the tempered glass roof hatch to shatter.

Consequence: If the tempered glass roof hatch shatters, glass fragments may fall onto passengers, increasing the risk of an injury.

Remedy: MCI will notify owners, instructing them to contact the hatch manufacturer for a replacement roof hatch, free of charge. The recall began June 20, 2019. Owners may contact MCI customer service at 1-800-241-2947. MCI's number for this recall is SB 471.

Reported: 2020-04-27 (April 27, 2020)

Motor Coach Industries (MCI) is recalling certain model year 2014-2019 J4500 and 2018-2019 J3500 motor coaches. The brake hoses may crack or otherwise fail resulting in an air leak. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 121, "Air Brake Systems."

Consequence: A leaking brake hose could cause a delay in the actuation time of the front brake, which would increase vehicle's stopping distance and increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: MCI will notify owners to inspect the brake hoses and replace any hoses that are leaking or otherwise damaged. MCI will reimburse owners for the cost of the inspection, and will provide replacement parts as necessary, free of charge. The recall began June 26, 2020. Owners may contact MCI customer service at 1-800-241-2947. MCI's number for this recall is SB 481.

Reported: 2020-04-29 (April 29, 2020)

Motor Coach Industries (MCI) is recalling certain 2015-2016 D4000, 2015-2020 D4500 and D4505, 2016-2020 J4500, 2018 J3500, and 2017 D4005 buses. The seat belts may not extend from the retracted position, rendering the seat belt unusable. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection," and number 209, "Seat Belt Assemblies."

Consequence: Inability to use the seat belt may increase the risk of injury in the event of a crash.

Remedy: MCI will notify the affected owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the seat belts, as necessary, free of charge. MCI issued owners an interim notification June 26, 2020. The recall began January 13, 2021. Owners may contact MCI customer service at 1-800-241-2947. MCI's number for this recall is SB 482.

Reported: 2020-06-12 (June 12, 2020)

Motor Coach Industries (MCI) is recalling certain 2018-2020 D4000, D4005, D4500, D4505 and D45CRTLE buses manufactured with electric cooling fans (E-fan) for the radiator and charge air cooler, Borg Warner 55SI model dual alternator configuration (with a sense stud and wire), and Parker Vansco Multiplexing Module (VMM) Multiplex system. A build-up of debris, corrosion, and/or water flow could cause a high resistance path to ground for the sense stud on the back of the alternator and cause the alternator to produce excessive voltage output, which may exceed the threshold limit currently programmed in the VMM and result in a loss of engine power and vehicle shutdown.

Consequence: If the engine shuts down or loses power while the vehicle is in motion, this may increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: MCI will notify the affected owners, and dealers will install a new application code in the Parker VMM multiplex modules increasing the overvoltage threshold limit, free of charge. The recall began July 23, 2020. Owners may contact MCI customer service at 1-800-241-2947. MCI's number for this recall is SB 479.

Reported: 2020-08-31 (August 31, 2020)

Motor Coach Industries (MCI) is recalling certain 2017-2020 J4500 motor coaches. The coolant hose may fail, resulting in a low coolant warning followed by an engine shut down sequence, as well as the potential for engine coolant spilling on the roadway.

Consequence: The spilled coolant may increase the risk of a crash. Additionally, transferring passengers from the disabled bus can increase their risk of injury.

Remedy: MCI will notify owners, and dealers will replace the coolant hose, free of charge. The recall began October 30, 2020. Owners may contact MCI customer service at 1-800-241-2947. MCI's number for this recall is SB 486.

Reported: 2021-02-10 (February 10, 2021)

Motor Coach Industries (MCI) is recalling certain 2018-2021 J4500 and 2018-2020 D45CRTLE vehicles. The power cables may have been improperly installed and routed in the vehicle battery compartment, which may result in chafing.

Consequence: The power cables may chafe, increasing the risk of a fire.

Remedy: MCI will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and if necessary, correct the clearance for the power cables in the battery compartment, free of charge. The recall began March 12, 2021. Owners may contact MCI customer service at 1-800-241-2947. MCI's number for this recall is R21-003.

Reported: 2021-05-18 (May 18, 2021)

Motor Coach Industries (MCI) is recalling certain 2017-2018 D4000, 2017-2019 D4005, D4000ISTV, D4505, 2017-2020 D4500, J4500, 2018-2020 D45CRTLE, and 2018-2021 J3500 vehicles. The sealing washer may not seat correctly in the pilot bore holes, allowing the high pressure fuel rail assembly to leak.

Consequence: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect the rail threads, and replace the rail as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on June 28, 2021. Owners may contact MCI customer service at 1-800-241-2947. MCI's number for this recall is R21-009.

Reported: 2021-09-24 (September 24, 2021)

Motor Coach Industries (MCI) is recalling certain 2018 D4000, 2018-2020 D4005, D4000ISTV, 2017-2020 D4500, D4505, 2018-2021 J3500, 2017-2021 J4500, 2020 D4520, and 2018-2021 D45CRTLE motorcoaches. The Main Distribution Panel (MDP) located within the battery compartment contains a circuit board that may fail.

Consequence: MDP circuit board failure can result in a fire or an unexpected vehicle shutdown, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: MCI Service Centers will remove the MDP and install a new main disconnect and circuit breaker panel, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 12, 2021. Owners may contact MCI's customer service at 1-800-241-2947. MCI's number for this recall is R21-010.

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.