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1998 Mci 102D3 problems

The most common problem on the 1998 Mci 102D3 is acceleration and speed control. Its complaint count is close to a typical 102D3 model year.

Typical yearClose to a typical year
Owner complaints
1
Recalls
4
Service bulletins
2
Worst area
Acceleration

The worst 1998 Mci 102D3 problems

Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.

  • Acceleration
    1
  • Brakes
    1
  • Visibility
    1

Problems by type

Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.

  • Acceleration
    1
  • Brakes
    1
  • Visibility
    1

Recalls 4

Visibility: glass, side/rearReported December 10, 2025 · 15,454 vehicles affected
What is wrong
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."
Risk
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.

Recall number 25V853000 · Recall details

Electrical system: 12v/24v/48v batteryReported December 19, 2006 · 1,617 vehicles affected
What is wrong
On certain motor coaches, the boost connector housing can fail over time, exposing the positive and negative terminals.
Risk
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.

Recall number 06V481000 · Recall details

Service brakes, air: antilockReported September 6, 2000 · 1,849 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Vehicle description: motor home chassis built with bendix air ABS with an ec-17 1030r electronic control unit (ecu), there have been reports of unwanted ABS activation at low speeds caused by 1) chafed ABS wheel speed sensor wires on rotating parts or 2) a damaged component at the wheel end that generates a certain type of erratic sensor signal.
Risk
This condition could cause the ABS ecu to exhaust the air at the air brake modulators for one or more of the wheels. This could result in extended braking distances and a possible crash.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the ABS ecu.

Recall number 00V232010 · Recall details

Unknown or otherReported May 7, 1998 · 547 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Vehicle description: transit coaches equipped with wheel chair lifts. An instruction label identifying the location of the emergency exit was omitted from the wheel chair seating position located on the curb side of the vehicle. This does not comply with requirements of fmvss no. 217, "bus window retention and release."
Risk
In the event of a vehicle crash or other emergency, passengers located in this seating position will not have the information to find proper access to the emergency exit.
Remedy
Owners will be provided with a label and installation instructions.

Recall number 98V098000 · Recall details

See all 4 recalls for the 1998 Mci 102D3

Defect investigations

MCI Drive Shaft Safety Loop FailuresOpened September 13, 2012, closed December 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.the federal safety agency.dot.gov/owners/Searchreference: ODI Number 10447575.

EA12007

MCI Driveshaft Safety Loop FailuresOpened March 21, 2012, closed September 20, 2012

ODI has identified certain MCI coaches with powertrain configurations that may allow a driveshaft separated at the rearward universal joint to escape the guardian structure of the steerable tag axle and damage steering and braking components.The damaged components may increase the risk of a loss of vehicle control. The subject coaches include 806 model year 1992 through 2012 MCI D and E series motor coaches with steerable tag axles.This Preliminary Evaluation is being upgraded to an Engineering Analysis (EA12-007) to further study the alleged defect and to determine if a safety defect exists. The ODI report cited above can be viewed at www-odi.the federal safety agency.dot.gov/owners/Searchreference: ODI Number 10447575.

PE12007

Technical service bulletins for the 1998 Mci 102D3 2

Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.

What 1998 Mci 102D3 owners say

Most recent owner complaints, unedited.

Filed Mar 10, 2013 · Acceleration, Brakes · NY

A bus company, pocono transit service and tours, aka pocono progressive, llc operates with total disregard for passenger and driver safety. The company is located at 46s 20th st. Ivington, nj07111. They keep the buses registered in pa. To avoid nj inspections. They falsify all maintenance reports. One bus has gone through pa inspections at least 3 times with half drivers mirror missing. Mirrors held in by tape, used parts used in brakes,which rarely are adjusted properly. They put decent tires on bus to get through inspection, then take off. Interior lights inop.ventilation systems don't work. Drivers windows fog up and get iced up constantly. Most of the time wipers have to be jumpstarted to work at all.drivers are not allowed to fill out defect reports.doors have to be locked shut with passengers in them, creating horribly unsafe conditions. Owner takes 5-7,000 per week in cash out of business.they avoid being taken off the road by having reg. In pa while operating out of nj.. Send buses out with no insurance, drivers are fired if they complain. Engine retarders disconnected. One day they will have a horrible accident and kill someone.

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Other model years

19971998

Questions about the 1998 Mci 102D3

Is the 1998 Mci 102D3 reliable?

Owners have filed 1 complaint about the 1998 Mci 102D3, close to a typical 102D3 model year.

What is the most common problem with the 1998 Mci 102D3?

Acceleration and speed control, with 1 complaint. Next is brakes (1).

How many recalls does the 1998 Mci 102D3 have?

4 recalls, covering visibility, electrical system and service brakes, air.

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