Motor Coach Industries, Inc: Safety Recalls in 2010

MCI IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009-2010 D4005 AND D4505 MOTOR COACHES EQUIPPED WITH A NATIONAL SEATING COMPANY DRIVER'S SEAT CONTAINING A STABILUS BLOC-O-LIFT SHOCK. THE DRIVER'S SEAT SHOCK DAMPER MAY BREAK ALLOWING THE DRIVER'S SEAT TO UNEXPECTEDLY DROP TO THE FLOOR WITHOUT WARNING.

MCI IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2001-2004 E4500, MODEL YEAR 2002-2006 E4500C, MODEL YEAR 2001-2005 J4500, AND MODEL YEAR 2006 J4500C MOTOR COACHES EQUIPPED WITH SE-GI PASSENGER WINDOWS. THE ADHESIVE BOND BETWEEN THE WINDOW GLASS AND THE ALUMINUM WINDOW FRAME ON THE AFFECTED COACHES MAY DEGRADE.

MCI IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010 D4000, D4005, D4500, D4505, E4500, AND J4500 MODEL MOTOR COACHES MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 2009 THROUGH MAY 2010, EQUIPPED WITH ARVINMERITOR FRONT AND TAG AXLE ASSEMBLIES. THE SUSPECT AXLES MAY HAVE HAD IMPROPER TORQUE APPLIED TO THE HUB/ROTOR/WHEEL ADAPTER BOLTS DURING THE ASSEMBLY PROCESS. REDUCED BOLT TORQUE COULD LEAD TO VIBRATION LOOSENING OF THE BOLT.

MCI IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1999-2001, 2007-2011 E4500 AND MODEL YEAR 2001-2011 J4500 COACHES EQUIPPED WITH DOGA WINDSHIELD MOTORS. THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR MAY FAIL TO OPERATE PROPERLY WHILE THE WIPER SYSTEM IS FUNCTIONING. IF THIS OCCURS, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS MAY OPERATE INTERMITTENTLY, OPERATE AT A SINGLE SPEED ONLY, OR COMPLETELY STOP OPERATING.

MCI HAS NOTIFIED NHTSA OF A DEFECT IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009 D4000 AND MODEL YEAR 2008-2010 D4500 AND D4505 MOTOR COACHES FITTED WITH RICON PUBLIC USE LIFTS. THE RESTRAINT BELT ON THESE LIFTS WAS DESIGNED TO PREVENT THE LIFT FROM MOVING, UNLESS THE TONGUE OF THE BELT IS FULLY ENGAGED AND LATCHED IN THE BUCKLE. RICON HAS DISCOVERED, HOWEVER, THAT IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THE OPERATOR TO INSERT THE BELT TONGUE INTO THE BUCKLE WITHOUT FULLY ENGAGING THE LATCHING MECHANISM. IN THIS CASE, THE RESTRAINT BELT WOULD APPEAR TO BE LATCHED, AND THE OPERATOR COULD RUN THE LIFT. IF THE RESTRAINT BELT TONGUE IS NOT FULLY ENGAGED INTO THE RESTRAINT BELT BUCKLE, AND LATCHED, THE LIFT MAY OPERATE WITH AN OCCUPANT ON THE PLATFORM.

MCI IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2000-2009 D4000, MODEL YEAR 2001-2010 D4500 AND MODEL YEAR 2005-2007 D4505 COACHES EQUIPPED WITH RICON WHEELCHAIR LIFT (WCL) AND A CASSETTE-TYPE WCL COMPARTMENT DOOR. THE WHEELCHAIR LIFT MAY BECOME DISENGAGED FROM A LOCKED POSITION AND SLIDE UNRESTRAINED ON ITS ROLLERS IN THE STORAGE STRUCTURE, POTENTIALLY BREAKING THROUGH THE CASSETTE DOOR AND EXTENDING BEYOND THE OUTSIDE OF THE DOOR WHEN THE COACH IS IN MOTION, PARTICULARLY WHEN THE COACH IS MAKING A LEFT TURN.