The worst 2012 Mci E4500 problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
Recalls 4
Visibility: glass, side/rear
- 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
Steering: hydraulic power assist system
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Risk
- 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.
Recall number 19V027000 · Recall details
Seats
- What is wrong
- Motor Coach Industries (MCI) is recalling certain model year 2009-2014 E4500 and J4500 motorcoaches manufactured October 2008 through October 2013, and equipped with passenger seats with 3-point seat belts. The seat track for the second row passenger seats may be missing a weld at the end of the seat track where it enters the frame structure.
- Risk
- In the event of a crash, the seat may detach from its floor mounting, increasing the risk of injury to the occupant.
- Remedy
- MCI will notify owners, and dealers will modify the seat anchorage, free of charge. The recall began on May 9, 2014. Owners may contact MCI at 1‑800‑241‑2947. MCI's number for this recall is 408.
Recall number 14V172000 · Recall details
Electronic stability control (ESC)
- What is wrong
- Motor coach industries (mci) is recalling certain model year 2003, and 2007-2012 e and j models along with model year 2007-2012 d4000, d4005, d4500, d4505, d4000istv motor coaches equipped with meritor wabco electronic stability control (ESC) modules, manufactured from october 2002, through october 2011. Under certain road and driving conditions, vehicle body roll and road inclination characteristics may adversely affect the slip angle calculation of the electronic stability control (ESC) system. This might cause the ESC to perceive an over steering situation and therefore apply the outer wheel brake on the front axle until the vehicle is perceived to be stable.
- Risk
- If the driver is slow to react during this ESC intervention, the vehicle may deviate from the intended line of travel, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Mci will notify owners and replace the control module free of charge. The safety recall began on january 4, 2012. Owners may contact mci customer service at 1‑800‑241‑2947.
Recall number 11V524000 · Recall details
See all 4 recalls for the 2012 Mci E4500
Defect investigations
MCI Drive Shaft Safety Loop Failures
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
Technical service bulletins for the 2012 Mci E4500 19
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- Information to owners showing the proper procedure for checking the oil level in a BITZER HVAC compressor.
- This Technical Service Information Bulletin (TSIB) describes an update from Meritor for the bolt torque...
- This Service Bulletin informs affected owners of 1997-2013 E4500 and 2001-2015 J4500 model coaches...
- This Service Bulletin informs customers that MCI was notified by Cummins Inc. that it has released...
- Mci: information procedure outlining operational checks for park brake automatic actuation operation and...
- This Service Bulletin informs affected customers that MCI was notified by Shaw Development that the diesel...
- Mci: the engine brakes are being energized with 24 volts instead of required 12 volts due to calibration...
- This Service Bulletin informs affected customers that MCI was notified by Cummins Inc. that it has issued...
- Mci: information provided regarding the replacement steps of existing engine harness p clip, if in the...
- Motor coach ind.: the alternator bearing fails on existing retention nut due to failure of proper torque...
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Questions about the 2012 Mci E4500
Is the 2012 Mci E4500 reliable?
Owners have filed 0 complaints about the 2012 Mci E4500.
What is the most common problem with the 2012 Mci E4500?
There are not enough complaints to tell.
How many recalls does the 2012 Mci E4500 have?
4 recalls, covering visibility, steering and seats.
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