RoadVitals

1979 Mack Wl 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.
4
Newest Jul 12, 1979
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

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

79V171000

SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLY

Jul 12, 1979
1,706 units potentially affected
The defect: THE SPRING SEAT PLATE, LOCATED BETWEEN THE AXLE HOUSING AND THE SUSPENSION SPRINGS, MAY DEFORM DUE TO SPRING BENDING. AS A RESULT, THE CLAMPING FORCE IN THE ASSEMBLY MAY BE REDUCED. LOSS OF CLAMPING FORCE COULD CAUSE SPRING FAILURE AND THE AXLE WILL DISLOCATE. ALSO, THE TIRE COULD COME INTO CONTACT WITH THE SPRING.
The remedy: THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THE EXISTING SPRING SEAT WITH A NEWLY FABRICATED SEAT WHICH IS WELDED TO THE HOUSING. AN IMPROVED SPRING CLAMPING PLATE AND NEW SPRINGS WILL ALSO BE INSTALLED WITHOUT CHARGE.
MACK TRUCKS, INCORPORATEDView on NHTSA.gov
79V164000

STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR

Jul 9, 1979
4,640 units potentially affected
The defect: THE FLANGE HEAD PINCH BOLTS USED IN THE YOKES OF THE STEERING SHAFT ASSEMBLIES MAY HAVE BEEN OVERSTRESSED DUE TO THE BOLTS NOT BEING TIGHTENED TO SPECIFICATIONS. AS A RESULT, THE PINCH BOLTS COULD BREAK WHILE IN SERVICE.
The remedy: FLANGE HEAD PINCH BOLTS WILL BE REPLACED WITH STANDARD GRADE 8 FASTENERS WITHOUT CHARGE TO OWNER.
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

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