Recall 20V242 covers 641 2015-2020 Mci D4000, D4005, D4500, D4505, J3500, and J4500 buses with unusable seat belts. Free repair at any franchised Mci dealer.
Mci is recalling 641 2015-2020 J4500, D4505, D4000, D4500, D4005, and J3500 buses because the seat belts can stay locked in the retracted position and become unusable. An unusable belt can increase injury risk in a crash, and Mci dealers will complete the recall repair free of charge.
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What's wrong?
The Kiel passenger seat belt assembly on affected 2015-2020 Mci J4500, D4505, D4000, D4500, D4005, and J3500 buses is supposed to pull out from the passenger seat, latch, and hold the passenger in position during a crash. The belt uses a retractor, which is the spring-loaded mechanism that stores the webbing and locks the belt when needed.
On the recalled buses, the automatic locking part of the retractor does not deactivate properly after the belt retracts into its stored position. Once that lock stays engaged, the belt remains trapped in the seat and will not extend far enough for a passenger to use it. Mci and Kiel found the problem on Kiel passenger seats, including belts from the identified batch and belts that failed inspection outside that group.
The warning sign is direct. A passenger tries to pull the belt from its stowed position, and the belt stays locked instead of extending.
Who's affected?
Spans six Mci coach models from 2015-2020, all using the same seat belt assembly.
| 2018 Mci J4500 | seat belt |
|---|---|
| 2019 Mci D4505 | seat belt |
| 2015 Mci D4505 | seat belt |
| 2015 Mci D4000 | seat belt |
| 2016 Mci D4000 | seat belt |
| 2016 Mci D4500 | seat belt |
| 2016 Mci D4505 | seat belt |
| 2016 Mci J4500 | seat belt |
| 2017 Mci D4005 | seat belt |
| 2017 Mci D4500 | seat belt |
| 2017 Mci D4505 | seat belt |
| 2017 Mci J4500 | seat belt |
| 2018 Mci D4500 | seat belt |
| 2018 Mci D4505 | seat belt |
| 2019 Mci J4500 | seat belt |
| 2020 Mci J4500 | seat belt |
| 2019 Mci D4500 | seat belt |
| 2020 Mci D4500 | seat belt |
| 2020 Mci D4505 | seat belt |
| 2018 Mci J3500 | seat belt |
| 2015 Mci D4500 | seat belt |
| Units affected | 641 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
The year and model narrow the scope, but the VIN decides. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific bus is included.
What's the safety risk?
If a seat belt stays locked in its stowed position, the passenger cannot buckle in, which increases injury risk in a crash. Treat a belt that will not extend as a reason to leave that seat unused and schedule service. Repair is free at any franchised Mci dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2015-2020 Mci J4500, D4505, D4000, D4500, D4005, or J3500 bus is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Mci dealer to schedule the free seat-belt inspection and replacement that addresses belts that do not extend from the retracted position.
- Bring the recall notice if Mci sent one. If not, reference recall number 20V242 and Mci recall SB 482 when you call.
- Call Mci customer service at 1-800-241-2947 with questions before the appointment.
- Keep any affected seat belt out of service if it will not extend from the retracted position.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, an Mci technician inspects the affected seat belts and replaces any seat belt that does not extend from the retracted position. The inspection, replacement parts, and labor are free under the recall. Mci also reimburses vehicle owners for the time required to inspect the seat belts and replace them when replacement is needed. Contact Mci customer service at 1-800-241-2947 and reference recall SB 482 for reimbursement details.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| April 29, 2020 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| November 30, 2020 | Dealer notification began |
| November 30, 2020 | Dealer notification ended |
| November 30, 2020 | VIN-searchable in NHTSA's database — Check your VIN to see whether this recall applies to your specific vehicle. |
| November 30, 2020 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
| January 13, 2021 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 20V242?
Recall 20V242 covers 641 2015-2020 Mci D4000, D4500, D4505, D4005, J3500, and J4500 buses with seat belts that fail to extend from the retracted position. Mci dealers will inspect the seat belts and replace them as needed for free.
What should I do if my 2015-2020 Mci J4500, D4505, D4000, D4500, D4005, or J3500 is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific bus is included in recall 20V242. If it is, contact a franchised Mci dealer to schedule the seat belt inspection and replacement. Reference recall number 20V242 or Mci recall SB 482 when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires manufacturers to repair safety defects at no cost, and Mci dealers will inspect and replace the affected seat belts as needed free of charge. Parts and labor are covered by the recall.
What is the safety risk?
An unusable seat belt leaves the passenger without the intended restraint in a crash, which increases injury risk. The recall involves compliance with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards 208, Occupant Crash Protection, and 209, Seat Belt Assemblies.
What if I bought this Mci bus used?
The free repair still applies. Recall coverage follows the VIN, not the first owner. Check your VIN to confirm whether the bus is included, then contact a franchised Mci dealer and reference recall 20V242 or SB 482.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/20V242000 |
|---|---|
| Mci customer service | 1-800-241-2947 |
| NHTSA recall # | 20V242 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 20V242000 |
Source documents
-
Download Quarterly Report (PDF) - Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 23, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →