RoadVitals

1978 Mack Rwl Recalls

Safety recall campaigns filed with NHTSA that cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
Recall campaignsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
7
Newest Nov 18, 1983
Carrying an NHTSA advisoryCampaigns where NHTSA told owners not to drive the vehicle, or to park it outside, until the repair is done.
0
Open investigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0

Recall campaigns

7 campaigns cover this model year — what the defect is, what it could cause, and what the remedy is

83V121000

STEERING:GEAR BOX:SHAFT PITMAN

Nov 18, 1983
1,377 units potentially affected
The defect: MOUNTING OF THE PITMAN ARM MAY LOOSEN AND LEAD TO EXCESSIVE WEAR IN EITHER THE PITMAN ARM SPLINES OR THE STEERING GEAR SHAFT SPLINES, OR BOTH. THIS CONDITION IS DUE TO INCORRECT TIGHTENING OF THE MOUNTING SCREWS DURING ASSEMBLY.
The remedy: THE DEALER WILL INSPECT AND PROPERLY TIGHTEN THE PITMAN ARM RETAINING SCREWS.
MACK TRUCKS, INCORPORATEDView on NHTSA.gov
79V137000

STEERING:LINKAGES

Jun 1, 1979
6,673 units potentially affected
The defect: THE PITMAN ARM RETAINING NUT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN TORQUED TO MANUFACTURER SPECIFICATIONS. THIS COULD RESULT IN INADEQUATE RETENTION OF THE NUT AT THE OUTPUT SHAFT, ALLOWING THE PITMAN ARM TO BECOME LOOSE.
The remedy: DEALER WILL INSPECT AND RETORQUE PITMAN ARM, IF NECESSARY, AT NO COST TO OWNER.
MACK TRUCKS, INCORPORATEDView on NHTSA.gov
79V133000

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

May 31, 1979
23,000 units potentially affected
The defect: IN THE EVENT OF TURBOCHARGER COMPRESSOR WHEEL FAILURE, ONE OR MORE OF THE FOUR CAPSCREWS THAT HOLD THE TURBOCHARGER TOGETHER MAY BE STRUCK BY PARTS OF THE COMPRESSOR WHEEL, RESULTING IN THE CAPSCREWS BEING DAMAGED. IF THESE CAPSCREWS ARE DAMAGED TO THE POINT THAT THEY ALLOW THE COMPRESSOR BACK PLATE TO DISLOCATE FROM THE TURBOCHARGER BEARING HOUSING, ENGINE LUBRICATING OIL MAY BE ALLOWED TO ESCAPE UNDER PRESSURE, CONTACTING THE ENGINE EXHAUST MANIFOLD SECTIONS OR TURBOCHARGER TURBINE HOUSING.
The remedy: DEALER WILL INSTALL A SHIELD FOR THE HEADS OF THE FOUR CAPSCREWS, ALONG WITH STRONGER SAE 8 GRADE 8 CAPSCREWS, IF NECESSARY, AT NO COST TO OWNER.
MACK TRUCKS, INCORPORATEDView on NHTSA.gov
79V130000

STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR

May 30, 1979
2,187 units potentially affected
The defect: IT HAS BEEN DETERMINED THAT TWO SCREWS THAT ARE PART OF THE BEARING ASSEMBLY LOCATED AT THE CAB DASH SHEET MAY NOT HAVE BEEN TIGHTENED PROPERLY. AS A RESULT, THE UPPER STEERING SHAFT MAY BE FREE TO "FLOAT" THROUGHOUT MUCH OF ITS LENGTH WHICH MAY RESULT IN INADEQUATE ENGAGEMENT IN THE SLIP SPLINES OF THE LOWER STEERING SHAFT. AXLE ARTICULATION COULD RESULT IN DISENGAGEMENT OF THE LOWER STEERING SHAFT SLIP SPLINES.
The remedy: DEALER WILL INSTALL A SLEEVE BETWEEN THE DASH SHEET BEARING AND THE UPPER STEERING SHAFT LOWER YOKE TO ASSURE POSITIVE UPPER STEERING SHAFT LOCATION.
MACK TRUCKS, INCORPORATEDView on NHTSA.gov
78V222000

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

Oct 11, 1978
161 units potentially affected
The defect: A SHORT CIRCUIT COULD OCCUR DUE TO CHAFING OR WIRE DISCONNECTION IN THE BOX.
The remedy: THE WIRING IN THE SLEEPER BOX WILL BE CORRECTED, FREE OF CHARGE.
MACK TRUCKS, INCORPORATEDView on NHTSA.gov
78V210000

SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:INTERCONNECTING ASSEMBLY(WIRING)

Oct 3, 1978
19,370 units potentially affected
The defect: DELAYS OF UP TO ABOUT 2 SECONDS MAY EXIST IN THE BRAKE APPLICATION TIMES TO THE BRAKES ON THE BOGIE AXLES IN THE PRESENCE OF CERTAIN TYPES OF WHEEL SPEED SENSOR SIGNAL DISCONTINUITIES OR DISTORTIONS THAT MAY OCCUR AS A RESULT OF SENSOR WIRE FAILURE. THIS CONSTITUTES A NON-COMPLIANCE TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 121, "AIR BRAKE SYSTEMS".
The remedy: DEALER WILL INSTALL NEW WHEEL SPEED SENSORS THAT INCORPORATE IMPROVED WIRING AND THE PRESENT BOGIE ANTI-WHEEL LOCK SYSTEM WILL BE CHANGED TO AN AXLE-TO-AXLE SYSTEM FOR IMPROVED RELIABILITY.
MACK TRUCKS, INCORPORATEDView on NHTSA.gov
78V170000

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

Aug 8, 1978
850 units potentially affected
The defect: THE POSSIBILITY EXISTS THAT THE ALUMINUM ENGINE REAR SUPPORT BRACKETS MAY FAIL DUE TO METAL FATIGUE. THIS TYPE OF FAILURE WOULD ALLOW THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION ASSEMBLY TO DISLOCATE DOWNWARD. THIS WILL RESULT IN THROTTLE CONTROL LOSS WITH THE ENGINE OPERATING CONTINUOUSLY IN THE MID TO UPPER RANGE OF THE GOVERNED SPEED RANGE.
The remedy: DEALER WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE ALUMINUM SUPPORT BRACKETS WITH BRACKETS MADE FROM DUCTILE IRON FOR INCREASED STRENGTH.
MACK TRUCKS, INCORPORATEDView on NHTSA.gov

What a recall is

Safety recall
A safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
Safety investigation
NHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
Manufacturer communication
Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources