RecallMyCar

1979 Mack R Series Recalls, Complaints & Specs

5 safety recalls list the 1979 Mack R Series. Check your own VIN below.

5
safety recalls
0
owner complaints to NHTSA

5 safety recalls for the 1979 Mack R Series

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Leaf spring assembly (suspension)

    NHTSA 84V036000 Reported 3,421 vehicles potentially affected MACK TRUCKS, INCORPORATED

    Spring seat can deform, which causes a decrease in the clamping force in the suspension assembly. Loss of clamping force may bring about axle misalignment or axle housing failure.

    Remedy: The axle housing will be inspected and replaced, if necessary. The spring seats will also be replaced.

  2. Exterior lighting

    NHTSA 81V153000 Reported 209 vehicles potentially affected MACK TRUCKS, INCORPORATED

    The right hand clearance lamp is obscured, from certain angles of vision, by the in-line precleaner air cleaner cap. The involved vehicles fail to conform to federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment".

    Remedy: Dealer will replace the air cleaner with one of acceptable height.

  3. Hand control/valve (service brakes)

    NHTSA 81V088000 Reported 10,000 vehicles potentially affected MACK TRUCKS, INCORPORATED

    The retaining pin for the brake control knob has been misaligned (off the center line of the valve plunger hole). This causes the knob to be overstressed at the retaining pin hole area causing it to separate from the valve.

    Remedy: The holes will be retooled to provide correct alignment and plastic knobs will be replaced by knobs of stronger material having metal reinforcements.

  4. Air (parking brake)

    NHTSA 80V052000 Reported 9,666 vehicles potentially affected MACK TRUCKS, INCORPORATED

    On certain vehicles, the knob that operates the tractor park valve may break off, rendering the valve inoperable.

    Remedy: Defective knobs will be replaced with an improved type, without charge to owner.

  5. Gear box (other than rack and pinion) (steering)

    NHTSA 80V054000 Reported 109 vehicles potentially affected MACK TRUCKS, INCORPORATED

    The prefabricated pinch bolt clamp at the lower steering shaft lower yoke may not perform adequately when tightened to specifications. The clamp may then deform and loss of clamping force and steering shaft disengagement may result.

    Remedy: Dealer will retrofit with lower steering shaft lower yokes that provide for integral pinch bolt installation in place of previous separately fabricated clamp for the pinch bolt.

No owner complaints on file

NHTSA has no owner complaints on file for the 1979 Mack R Series. For context, the average model year in NHTSA's database has dozens; a zero can mean a reliable vehicle, a rare one, or both.

Compare Mack R Series model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Mack R Series model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1968 Mack R Series10
1969 Mack R Series10
1970 Mack R Series10
1971 Mack R Series10
1972 Mack R Series10
1973 Mack R Series10
1974 Mack R Series10
1975 Mack R Series10
1976 Mack R Series20
1977 Mack R Series20
1978 Mack R Series30
1979 Mack R Series50
1980 Mack R Series60
1981 Mack R Series40
1982 Mack R Series20
1983 Mack R Series20
1984 Mack R Series21
1987 Mack R Series30
1988 Mack R Series60
1989 Mack R Series20

Checking a specific 1979 Mack R Series

How do I know if my 1979 Mack R Series has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 5 campaigns currently list the 1979 Mack R Series; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Mack dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 80V052000).

What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?

A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.

Other Mack models

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.