RecallMyCar

1978 Mack Rwl Recalls, Complaints & Specs

7 safety recalls list the 1978 Mack Rwl. Check your own VIN below.

7
safety recalls
0
owner complaints to NHTSA

7 safety recalls for the 1978 Mack Rwl

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

  1. Shaft pitman (steering)

    NHTSA 83V121000 Reported 1,377 vehicles potentially affected MACK TRUCKS, INCORPORATED

    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.

    Remedy: The dealer will inspect and properly tighten the pitman arm retaining screws.

  2. Linkages (steering)

    NHTSA 79V137000 Reported 6,673 vehicles potentially affected MACK TRUCKS, INCORPORATED

    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.

    Remedy: Dealer will inspect and retorque pitman arm, if necessary, at no cost to owner.

  3. Engine (engine and engine cooling)

    NHTSA 79V133000 Reported 23,000 vehicles potentially affected MACK TRUCKS, INCORPORATED

    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…

    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.

  4. Steering wheel/handle bar (steering)

    NHTSA 79V130000 Reported 2,187 vehicles potentially affected MACK TRUCKS, INCORPORATED

    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…

    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.

  5. Electrical system: wiring

    NHTSA 78V222000 Reported 161 vehicles potentially affected MACK TRUCKS, INCORPORATED

    A short circuit could occur due to chafing or wire disconnection in the box.

    Remedy: The wiring in the sleeper box will be corrected, free of charge.

  6. Interconnecting assembly(wiring) (service brakes)

    NHTSA 78V210000 Reported 19,370 vehicles potentially affected MACK TRUCKS, INCORPORATED

    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…

    Remedy: 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.

  7. Engine (engine and engine cooling)

    NHTSA 78V170000 Reported 850 vehicles potentially affected MACK TRUCKS, INCORPORATED

    The possibility exists that the aluminum engine rear support brackets may fail due to metal fatigue. This type of failure would allow the engine and transmission assembly to dislocate downward. This will result in throttle control loss with the engine operating continuously in the mid to upper range of the governed speed range.

    Remedy: Dealer will inspect and, if necessary, replace aluminum support brackets with brackets made from ductile iron for increased strength.

No owner complaints on file

NHTSA has no owner complaints on file for the 1978 Mack Rwl. 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 Rwl model years

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

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1975 Mack Rwl10
1976 Mack Rwl10
1977 Mack Rwl40
1978 Mack Rwl70
1979 Mack Rwl60
1980 Mack Rwl10
1981 Mack Rwl10

Checking a specific 1978 Mack Rwl

How do I know if my 1978 Mack Rwl 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. 7 campaigns currently list the 1978 Mack Rwl; 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 78V170000).

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.