NHTSA complaint: 1997 MCI 102D3 — SUSPENSION
GREYHOUND BUS FIRES- UNSOLICITED REPORT. *TS GREYHOUND CONFIRMED THAT THE FOLLOWING AREAS OF THE COACHES ARE RECURRING ORIGINATION POINTS FOR BUS FIRES: TAG AXLES AND BEARINGS, TURBO CHARGERS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, BRAKE SYSTEM AND FUEL HEATERS AND FILTER. THE TAG AXLE WAS REDESIGNED. THE NEW DESIGN USED SMALL WHEEL BEARINGS. THE LOAD RATING FOR THE SMALL WHEEL BEARING DECREASED BY APPROXIMATELY 30% FOR THE INNER WHEEL BEARING AND BY 35% FOR THE OUTER WHEEL BEARING WHEN COMPARED TO THE OLDER, LARGER BEARINGS. GREYHOUND ALSO OBSERVED STRESS RELATED PROBLEMS WITH THE TAG AXLE ASSEMBLY SINCE 2001. THE SECOND RECURRING ISSUE GREYHOUND HAD IS THE TURBO CHARGER FAILURES ON DETROIT DIESEL SERIES 60 ENGINES BUILT FROM 2000-2005. SPARKS CAUSED BY SHORTS AND FAULTY ELECTRICAL SYSTEM COMPONENTS HAVE BEEN ANOTHER RECURRING SOURCE OF BUS FIRES. THE HEAT GENERATED BY THE BRAKE SYSTEM IS THE FOURTH RECURRING SOURCE OF FIRES. GREYHOUND ALSO FOUND ANCILLARY FUEL SYSTEM COMPONENTS SUCH AS FUEL HEATER AS ANOTHER RECURRING SOURCE OF BUS FIRES. TYPICALLY, AN ELECTRICAL SPARK IGNITES DIESEL FUEL IN THESE INCIDENTS. (MAKE: MOTOR COACH IND MODEL: 102D3 YEARS: 1997-2001). *NM
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation