2004 IC FE: what breaks, and at what mileage
What breaks on the 2004 IC FE
No owner has filed a defect report with NHTSA about the 2004 IC FE. That is not a clean bill of health — it usually means few were sold, or the year is too new for problems to have surfaced.
Recalls on the 2004 model year
NHTSA has issued 3 recall campaigns covering the 2004 IC FE, affecting an estimated 25,269 vehicles. A recall is a different kind of evidence from a complaint: it is the regulator and the manufacturer agreeing that something has to be fixed, and the fix is free for as long as the car exists.
The campaigns cover equipment adaptive/mobility and equipment. Whether the work was actually done on the car in front of you is a question only the VIN can answer, and the manufacturer or NHTSA will answer it free.
Recalls also distort complaint counts. Publicity about a campaign reminds owners that complaining is possible, so reports for a recalled component often spike after the recall rather than before it.
EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY
1,220 vehicles 2004-09-21- Defect
- Certain my 2001-2005 amtran/ic corporation ce, fe, and re school buses equipped with sure-lok wheelchair tie-down securement assemblies p/n 8625-13. The sprocket teeth of the retractor assembly may be out of alignment causing the load pawl not to fully seat in the sprocket teeth.
- Consequence
- In the event of a vehicle crash, the wheelchair may not be adequately secured possibly resulting in injuries.
- Remedy
- Sure-lok will notify ic's customers and repair the buses on ic's behalf at no cost to the customer. The recall began august 16, 2004. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact sure-lok at 1-908-231-1804.
EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY
300,000 vehicles 2004-08-06- Defect
- Certain sure-lok wheelchair tie-down securement assemblies p/n 8625-13 for use on certain school and transit buses. The sprocket teeth of the retractor assembly may be out of alignment causing the load pawl not to fully seat in the sprocket teeth.
- Consequence
- In the event of a vehicle crash, the wheelchair may not be adequately secured possibly resulting in injuries to the seat occupant and/or other passengers.
- Remedy
- Sure-lok will notify its customers and replace the defective part free of charge. The recall began august 16, 2004. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact sure-lok customer service at 866-787-3565.
EQUIPMENT
1,589 vehicles 2004-02-24- Defect
- On certain "special needs" school buses equipped with sur-loc "l" wheelchair tracks, the lift mounting bolts could corrode if moisture occurs in the treated plywood floor.
- Consequence
- This could reduce the function of the track or the strength of the lift mounting bolts resulting in personal injury to the occupants.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the sur-loc "l" tracks with protected tracks and mounting hardware. Also, lift floor-mounting bolts will be replaced. Owner notification is expected to begin march 19, 2004. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact ic at 1-800-843-5615.
Recall work is free at a franchised dealer regardless of the car's age. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before assuming it was done.
Every year of the IC FE
Scores compare each year against other cars of the same model year, so a low number on an older car is a real result and not an artefact of age.
Why this page is short
A model year needs about 8 reports before percentiles mean anything, and this one does not have them. Complaint volume tracks how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road, so a thin page usually means a rare car, a new car, or a car whose owners do not file.
Where this comes from. Every figure above is computed from NHTSA owner complaints and recall records for this exact make, model and year. Complaints are voluntary and self-selected, so treat counts as a floor. The methodology page writes out each formula, and the same numbers are available as JSON.
What breaks at my mileage Compare with another car
Source Owner complaints and recall records published by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, model years 1996–2027 Figures rebuilt Published by AtWhatMileage How every figure is computed