1978 Mack RD: recalls and complaints

NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns for the 1978 Mack RD. The newest campaign is 79V133000. NHTSA received the report on 31 May 1979. The NHTSA record gives the component Engine and Engine Cooling / Engine. NHTSA has no complaint on file for this model year.

The NHTSA recall file shows no do-not-drive advisory and no park-outside advisory on these campaigns.

This page cannot show if a recall applies to one vehicle. The NHTSA VIN lookup shows the unrepaired recalls of one vehicle.

Remedy of the newest campaign, 79V133000, in the NHTSA record

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.

NHTSA VIN lookup

Complaint information entered into NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation vehicle owner's complaint database is used with other data sources to identify safety issues that warrant investigation and to determine if a safety-related defect trend exists.
NHTSA publishes these words. Source: NHTSA Datasets and APIs, section Complaints, read on 1 Oct 2026. Complaint file through 29 Mar 2018. Recall file through 29 Sep 2026.

Since the last update

No tracked figure of this page changed in a data update. What the log tracks

All updates to the register

Recall campaigns

7 campaigns, newest first. 136,337 units in total.

79V13300031 May 1979Engine and Engine Cooling / Engine
79V13400030 May 1979Steering / Steering Wheel/Handle Bar
79V0820003 Apr 1979Steering / Steering Wheel/Handle Bar
79V01800012 Jan 1979Suspension / Rear / Springs / Leaf Spring Assembly / Hanger/Bracket
79V01700012 Jan 1979Suspension / Multiple Axle
78V2100003 Oct 1978Service Brakes, Air / Antilock / Interconnecting Assembly(Wiring)
78V1720008 Aug 1978Steering / Linkages / Knuckle / Spindle / Arm

79V133000Received 31 May 1979. 23,000 units.
Engine and Engine Cooling / Engine
Defect, in the NHTSA record
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.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
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.
Report filed by MACK TRUCKS, INCORPORATED. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 2 Nov 1979.
79V134000Received 30 May 1979. 64,150 units.
Steering / Steering Wheel/Handle Bar
Defect, in the NHTSA record
In the involved trucks it is possible the adjustable steering column rear mounting bracket could fail, allowing steering wheel assembly to fall down onto the operator"s lap.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
Dealer will install an additional bracket in this area to prevent the steering wheel from dislocating in the event of a bracket failure.
Report filed by MACK TRUCKS, INCORPORATED. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 10 Nov 1979.
79V082000Received 3 Apr 1979. 12,000 units.
Steering / Steering Wheel/Handle Bar
Defect, in the NHTSA record
An improper pinch bolt and nut may have been used in the clamping of the steering shaft to the steering gear input shaft. Due to clamping force loads applied at the bolt, the nut could yield, resulting in looseness of the input shaft yoke. Should this condition go unnoticed, spline wear could cause shaft separation.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
Vehicles will be inspected and, if necessary, the correct fasteners will be installed at no charge to owner.
Report filed by MACK TRUCKS, INCORPORATED. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 13 Aug 1979.
79V018000Received 12 Jan 1979. 17 units.
Suspension / Rear / Springs / Leaf Spring Assembly / Hanger/Bracket
Defect, in the NHTSA record
The steel brackets on the suspension beam were found to be deficient due to excessive shrinkage and low mechanical properties. Failure of one or both of these brackets could cause a separation of the axle housing from the suspension.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
The dealer will inspect and, if necessary, replace any suspect bogie spring insulator caps with new caps meeting the proper specifications at no cost to owner.
Report filed by MACK TRUCKS, INCORPORATED. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 5 Sep 1979.
79V017000Received 12 Jan 1979. 4,000 units.
Suspension / Multiple Axle
Defect, in the NHTSA record
A casting deficiency exists in the lower section of the caps resulting in a reduction in the thickness of the material. Failure of a cap can allow the end of the rear spring to detach from the axle housing.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
Dealer will inspect and, if necessary, replace any of the spring insulator caps found to be defective. This will be done at no cost to owner.
Report filed by MACK TRUCKS, INCORPORATED. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 13 Aug 1979.
78V210000Received 3 Oct 1978. 19,370 units.
Service Brakes, Air / Antilock / Interconnecting Assembly(Wiring)
Defect, in the NHTSA record
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".
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
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.
Report filed by MACK TRUCKS, INCORPORATED. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 7 Nov 1978.
78V172000Received 8 Aug 1978. 13,800 units.
Steering / Linkages / Knuckle / Spindle / Arm
Defect, in the NHTSA record
The existing cross steering arms may have insufficient fatigue life in the neck area. This is near the boss for the cross steering tube ball joint connection. Failure of either of the cross steering levers could lead to loss of steering control of the right front wheel.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
The dealer will inspect and, if necessary, install cross steering arms of improved design and greater strength.
Report filed by MACK TRUCKS, INCORPORATED. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 22 Feb 1979.

The campaign number opens the NHTSA record. Each quotation is the text of the NHTSA recall file.

Recall campaign: One recall in the NHTSA recall file, with one campaign number. A campaign can name many makes, models and model years.

Units: The number of vehicles or products that a recall can include. The manufacturer or the firm reports the number to the agency.

Complaints by component

The NHTSA complaint file has no complaint for this model year.

Investigations

The NHTSA investigation file has no investigation that names this model year.

Investigation: A study of a possible safety defect by the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. An investigation with no closing date in the NHTSA file is open.

Other model years

The number under each year is the number of recall campaigns.

19681
19691
19703
19715
19723
19734
19747
19756
19765
197711
19787
19791
19801
19811
19821
19831
19841
19851
19861
19872
19882
19893
19902
19911
19922
19931
19941
19960
19982
19994
20005
20015
20023
20031
20043

A year without a link has fewer than 2 campaigns and fewer than 25 complaints. It has no page.

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Official channels

NHTSA VIN lookupNHTSA shows the unrepaired recalls of one vehicle from its VIN or its license plate.
NHTSA: report a safety problemThe NHTSA form for a complaint about a vehicle, a tire, a child seat or equipment.
NHTSA page of the 1978 Mack RDThe recalls, the complaints and the investigations that NHTSA shows for this model year.

Cite this page

Recall Register. 1978 Mack RD: recalls and complaints. https://recallregister.com/vehicle/mack/rd/1978/. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, recall, complaint and investigation files. Data through 29 Sep 2026.

Sources

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation
Licence: US government work, public domain
Recall file through: 29 Sep 2026
Complaint file through: 29 Mar 2018
First complaint in the file: 1 Jan 1995
Manufacturer in the recall file: MACK TRUCKS, INCORPORATED

The NHTSA record is the authority. A complaint count is the number of different complaint numbers for the make, the model and the model year. How the register is made. Report an error.

Questions

How many units are in the recall campaigns for the 1978 Mack RD?: 136,337 units in 7 campaigns. A campaign can name other models and model years, and its units include them.
How many recall campaigns does the Mack RD have for all model years?: NHTSA lists 40 recall campaigns for the Mack RD, model years 1968 to 2004. 7 of them name the 1978 model year.
Is an NHTSA investigation of the 1978 Mack RD open?: The NHTSA investigation file has no investigation that names this model year.