1981 Mack Rd Series Recalls, Complaints & Specs
3 safety recalls list the 1981 Mack Rd Series. Check your own VIN below.
3 safety recalls for the 1981 Mack Rd Series
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Cables (vehicle speed control)
The accelerator rod hole clearance is not adequate and can cause the accelerator linkage to bind. Consequence of defect: if binding occurs while in a full throttle position, accelerator control would be lost without warning and an accident could occur.
Remedy: Enlarge the accelerator rod hole to eliminate interference within accelerator linkage.
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Exterior lighting
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.
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Shaft pitman (steering)
The pitman arm retaining bolt may not have been tightened to the required specifications due to a design change. Inadequate retention of the bolt to the output shaft could allow the pitman arm to loosen.
Remedy: The dealer will inspect and, if necessary, retorque the retaining bolt to proper specifications at no charge.
No owner complaints on file
NHTSA has no owner complaints on file for the 1981 Mack Rd 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 Rd Series model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Mack Rd Series model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1977 Mack Rd Series | 1 | 0 |
| 1978 Mack Rd Series | 1 | 1 |
| 1979 Mack Rd Series | 1 | 0 |
| 1980 Mack Rd Series | 1 | 0 |
| 1981 Mack Rd Series | 3 | 0 |
| 1982 Mack Rd Series | 1 | 0 |
| 1983 Mack Rd Series | 2 | 0 |
| 1984 Mack Rd Series | 2 | 0 |
| 1987 Mack Rd Series | 5 | 0 |
| 1988 Mack Rd Series | 8 | 0 |
| 1989 Mack Rd Series | 1 | 0 |
Checking a specific 1981 Mack Rd Series
How do I know if my 1981 Mack Rd 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. 3 campaigns currently list the 1981 Mack Rd 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 81V153000).
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
- Mack28 complaints
- Anthem (an)12 complaints
- Granite (gr)9 complaints
- CXU6127 complaints
- Ch6 complaints
- Gu6 complaints
- CH6005 complaints
- Cxu5 complaints
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.