2020 Mack Anthem (an) Owner Complaints

This vehicle was sold to me as a new truck by Mountain West Truck Center in Salt Lake City, UT, with Federal Excise Tax paid accordingly. Prior to sale, the truck had undergone structural frame repair at Tec Equipment, an authorized Mack/Volvo dealer and repair facility in Reno, Nevada. During that repair, Huck bolts — permanent, engineered structural fasteners used to secure the frame and axle assemblies to OEM specification — were removed and replaced with non-equivalent standard threaded bolts. Those substitute fasteners were not properly installed. This condition was not disclosed at the time of sale. Nature of the Safety Defect Huck bolts are permanent, high-clamp-load fasteners engineered for critical structural joints in heavy-duty commercial vehicles. They function through a swaging process — a permanent mechanical crimp creating an interference fit engineered to withstand heavy vibration and dynamic load. They are not interchangeable with standard threaded fasteners. When the failure manifested on Truck #35, the vehicle was unable to move and drive unless the axle lock was engaged. It exhibited clunking from the transmission and speedometer dropout — symptoms consistent with loss of driveline integrity. Teardown by Mountain West technicians revealed a broken left-side axle shaft and gear metal in the front differential fluid, indicating differential destruction caused by axle instability. The rear axle was essentially floating, unsecured from the frame. The axle was missing several bolts and many were finger tight or loose. This safety failure resulted in a serious highway breakdown incident endangering other motorists, This failure presents a clear and foreseeable risk of axle separation or driveline failure at highway speed with no warning. The truck was operated in normal commercial service prior to discovery of this condition.

NHTSA ID

11751705

Incident

Mar 20, 2026

While driving on the Interstate I apparently lost control and hit a guardrail at approx 40-45mph. The impact stopped the truck causing severe damage to the vehicle the front right 1/2 of the vehicle including bumper, quarter panel with enough impact to break the front axle. I was found unconsious and spent 6 days in the hospital. I have fractures in my back and believe that possibly the airbag should have deployed? The vehicle is available at this time for inspection. I have sent notification to the manufacturer. The day prior to this accident the check ECU light came on, however it did turn off later that day. I

NHTSA ID

11707679

Incident

Dec 10, 2025

LED MARKER LAMPS ARE IN A SEALED UNIT WHICH ARE NOT SERVICEABLE ROADSIDE, LEADING TO LOW VISIBILITY UNDER CERTAIN LIGHTING AND APPROACH CONDITIONS TO OTHER VEHICLES. ALSO CREATES VIOLATIONS WHILE ON THE ROAD UNDER SECTION 393 AS THE DRIVER AND/ OR ROAD SERVICE VENDOR CANNOT SERVICE A PART WITHOUT RETURNING TO A DEALER OR STOCKING SUPPLIER. THIS IS DANGEROUS BOTH IN TRAVELING AND STATIONARY POSITIONS.

NHTSA ID

11316944

Incident

Mar 9, 2020

Mileage

35,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 MACK ANTHEM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT EACH TIME THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE MOVED FROM SIDE TO SIDE, THE WHEELS WOULD JUMP, AND THE HOOD ATTEMPTED TO OPEN. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO NEXTRAN TRUCK CENTERS (2200 W LANDSTREET RD, ORLANDO, FL 32809, (407) 855-1200) WHERE THE DRUM, BRAKE LINE, AND BRAKE ADJUSTMENTS WERE COMPLETED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS TO THE SAME DEALER FOR THE SAME FAILURE, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 12139296. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 28,000.

NHTSA ID

11282437

Incident

Jul 2, 2019

Mileage

28,000 mi