Model year record

1979 MACK RWL

6 recall campaigns on file for this model year. No owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 83V121000

Steering: gear box: shaft pitman

Component
Steering: gear box: shaft pitman
Manufacturer
MACK TRUCKS, INCORPORATED
Vehicles affected
1,377
Reported to NHTSA
1983-11-18
Owners notified
1984-04-13

Defect description

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.

Manufacturer remedy

THE DEALER WILL INSPECT AND PROPERLY TIGHTEN THE PITMAN ARM RETAINING SCREWS.

Recall campaignNHTSA 79V171000

Suspension: rear: springs: leaf spring assembly

Component
Suspension: rear: springs: leaf spring assembly
Manufacturer
MACK TRUCKS, INCORPORATED
Vehicles affected
1,706
Reported to NHTSA
1979-07-12
Owners notified
1979-12-10

Defect description

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.

Manufacturer 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.

Recall campaignNHTSA 79V164000

Steering: steering wheel/handle bar

Component
Steering: steering wheel/handle bar
Manufacturer
MACK TRUCKS, INCORPORATED
Vehicles affected
4,640
Reported to NHTSA
1979-07-09
Owners notified
1980-01-11

Defect description

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.

Manufacturer remedy

FLANGE HEAD PINCH BOLTS WILL BE REPLACED WITH STANDARD GRADE 8 FASTENERS WITHOUT CHARGE TO OWNER.

Recall campaignNHTSA 79V137000

Steering: linkages

Component
Steering: linkages
Manufacturer
MACK TRUCKS, INCORPORATED
Vehicles affected
6,673
Reported to NHTSA
1979-06-01
Owners notified
1979-10-22

Defect description

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.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALER WILL INSPECT AND RETORQUE PITMAN ARM, IF NECESSARY, AT NO COST TO OWNER.

Recall campaignNHTSA 79V133000

Engine and engine cooling: engine

Component
Engine and engine cooling: engine
Manufacturer
MACK TRUCKS, INCORPORATED
Vehicles affected
23,000
Reported to NHTSA
1979-05-31
Owners notified
1979-11-02

Defect description

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.

Manufacturer 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.

Recall campaignNHTSA 79V130000

Steering: steering wheel/handle bar

Component
Steering: steering wheel/handle bar
Manufacturer
MACK TRUCKS, INCORPORATED
Vehicles affected
2,187
Reported to NHTSA
1979-05-30
Owners notified
1979-11-23

Defect description

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.

Manufacturer 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.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

No complaints recorded for this model year.

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.