The problem
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.
The risk
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.
The fix
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.
Contacts
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
What to do
- Check your VIN. Enter it at nhtsa.gov/recalls - it shows whether this recall applies to your vehicle and whether the repair has been done.
- Call a dealer. Any authorized Mci dealer will do the repair free, whether or not you bought the vehicle there. Quote campaign 16V020000.
- Ask about parts and a loaner. If parts aren't available yet, ask what to do in the meantime.
- Keep your paperwork. If you paid for this repair before the recall, you may be able to get reimbursed - here's how.