2015 Mci J4500: complaints, problems and recalls

Reported: 2015-01-05 (January 5, 2015)

Motor Coach Industries (MCI) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 MCI J4500 motor coaches manufactured July 83, 2013, to December 19, 2014 and equipped with ZF axles and independent front suspension. The routing and clamping of the steering axle brake hose to the steering axle brake chamber may allow the brake hose to rub the front tire or contact and rub the upper control arm.

Consequence: The rubbing may wear a hole into the brake hose resulting in a loss of air pressure in the front brake chamber, reducing brake performance and increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: MCI will notify owners. The remedy for this recall is still under development. The recall began on March 2, 2015. Owners may contact MCI customer service at 1-800-241-2947.

Reported: 2015-03-30 (March 30, 2015)

Motor Coach Industries (MCI) is recalling certain model year 2014 J4500 and model year 2015 D4000ISTV, D4005, D4500, and D4505 motor coaches manufactured August 26, 2014, to December 3, 2014. The affected motor coaches have front and steerable tag axles whose tie rod nuts may be improperly torqued.

Consequence: If the tie rod nuts are not properly torqued, the tie rod may not be adequately secured, resulting in a loss of vehicle control and increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: MCI will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the tie rod nut torque, replacing the parts as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on April 15, 2015. Owners may contact MCI customer service at 1-800-241-2947.

Reported: 2015-06-19 (June 19, 2015)

Motor Coach Industries (MCI) is recalling certain model year 2014 D4500 vehicles manufactured December 19, 2013, to April 14, 2014, 2013-2014 D4505 vehicles manufactured February 1, 2013, to April 22, 2014, and 2013-2015 J4500 vehicles manufactured November 26, 2013, to May 22, 2015. The affected motorcoaches are equipped with hub carriers that may have areas of porosity which could result in the hub carrier leaking oil or cracking.

Consequence: Cracks in the hub may result in hub failure, which could cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: MCI will notify owners, and dealers will begin a routine inspection process to identify any hub carrier leaks. When parts become available, the affected hub carriers will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began on August 4, 2015. Owners may contact MCI customer service at 1-800-241-2947. MCI's number for this recall is SB 425.

Reported: 2016-01-20 (January 20, 2016)

Motor Coach Industries (MCI) is recalling certain model year 2011-2013 and 2015 J4500 coaches manufactured November 18, 2011, to July 10, 2015, 2011-2012 and 2014-2015 D4000 coaches manufactured manufactured September 24, 2010, to September 5, 2015, 2011-2013 and 2015-2016 D4005 coaches manufactured January 17, 2011, to November 23, 2015, 2012-2014 and 2016 D4000ISTV coaches manufactured July 18, 2012, to December 2, 2015, 2010-2016 D4500 coaches manufactured April 15, 2010, to December 18, 2015 and 2011-2016 D4505 coaches manufactured December 15, 2010, to December 4, 2015. The affected buses are equipped with certain Recaro Ergo-M Commercial Bus Driver Seats that have J-Brackets that may be missing welds which could allow the seat belt anchorage assembly to separate from the J-Bracket.

Consequence: If the seatbelt anchorage assembly separates from the J-Bracket, the bus driver may not be properly restrained in the event of a crash increasing their risk of injury.

Remedy: MCI will notify owners and dealers will inspect the seats and determined if welds are missing. Any J-Bracket that is missing welds will be removed and replaced, free of charge. The recall began on February 15, 2016. Owners may contact MCI at 1-800-241-2947. MCI's number for this recall is SB 431.

Reported: 2016-07-06 (July 6, 2016)

Motor Coach Industries (MCI) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 J4500 vehicles manufactured April 14, 2015, to February 22, 2016. On the affected vehicles, the non-egress single pane passenger windows may have improperly installed mounting hardware, allowing the windows to open unexpectedly at the bottom.

Consequence: A window that opens unexpectedly as a result of a crash or contact with the window may allow the passenger to be ejected from the bus, increasing their risk of injury.

Remedy: MCI will notify owners, and dealers will tighten and secure the window mounting hardware, free of charge. The recall began on July 22, 2016. Owners may contact MCI customer service at 1-800-241-2947. MCI's number for this recall is SB 433B.

Reported: 2017-03-27 (March 27, 2017)

Motor Coach Industries (MCI) is recalling certain 2014 -2016 J4500 vehicles. The front sway bar on these vehicles may crack at the bushing/clamp locations.

Consequence: If the sway bar cracks, it can detach from the vehicle, affecting vehicle handling and increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Motor Coach Industries (MCI) will notify owners and dealers will replace the sway bar assembly, free of charge. The recall began on June 13, 2017. Owners may contact Motor Industries at 1-800-241-2947. MCI's number for this recall is Service Bulletin 452.

Reported: 2017-06-02 (June 2, 2017)

Motor Coach Industries (MCI) is recalling certain 2014-2017 J4500 motor coaches equipped with ZF front axles. In the affected vehicles, the front brake hose routing clamps may have been over-tightened, possibly damaging the brake hose wall reinforcement. If the brake hose wall reinforcement is damaged, the brake hose may leak. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 121, "Air Brake Systems."

Consequence: If the front brake hoses leak, the distance needed to stop the vehicle may be lengthened, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: MCI will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the clamp tightness, replacing any damaged brake hoses, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on July 14, 2017. Owners may contact MCI customer service at 1-800-241-2947. MCI's number for this recall is SB 454.

Reported: 2019-01-07 (January 7, 2019)

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.

Consequence: Loss of steering control may increase the risk of a crash.

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.

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: 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.