RecallMyCar

1981 Western Rwl Series Recalls, Complaints & Specs

5 safety recalls list the 1981 Western Rwl Series. Check your own VIN below.

5
safety recalls
0
owner complaints to NHTSA

5 safety recalls for the 1981 Western Rwl 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. Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings (service brakes)

    NHTSA 84V032000 Reported 1,163 vehicles potentially affected MACK TRUCKS, INCORPORATED

    Front axle air brake lines are routed too close to the engine exhaust manifold. This can permit brake lines to melt and rupture, causing a reduction in air pressure to brake chambers upon brake application.

    Remedy: Front axle air brake lines will be replaced, employing new routing and heat resistance improvements.

  3. Springs (vehicle speed control)

    NHTSA 81V156000 Reported 186 vehicles potentially affected MACK TRUCKS, INCORPORATED

    The throttle return springs on the affected vehicles provide less than the required torque, causing a sluggish return of the throttle to the idle position after the accelerator pedal is released. This fails to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 124, "accelerator control systems".

    Remedy: New anchor brackets and spring extensions for the throttle return springs, will be installed at corrected locations without charge to owner.

  4. Springs (suspension)

    NHTSA 81V094000 Reported 1,000 vehicles potentially affected MACK TRUCKS, INCORPORATED

    Inadequate weld positioning coupled with radius rod load and loosening of the spring clip nuts could cause spring seat fracture. This can result in loss of directional control of the axle.

    Remedy: Spring seat radius rod brackets will be inspected and replaced if necessary. In addition, supplemental brackets will be installed to reinforce the spring seat, without charge.

  5. Engine (engine and engine cooling)

    NHTSA 81V087000 Reported 15,000 vehicles potentially affected MACK TRUCKS, INCORPORATED

    Due to a deficiency in material strength, the front engine support brackets on the involved vehicles may develop cracks that could lead to bracket failure. This would cause the engine to drop down into the radiator, damaging the shroud, engine fan, and other associated parts. The engine throttle could be pulled into full governed…

    Remedy: The existing support brackets will be replaced with brackets made of ductile iron, at no charge to owner.

No owner complaints on file

NHTSA has no owner complaints on file for the 1981 Western Rwl 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 Western Rwl Series model years

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

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1977 Western Rwl Series10
1978 Western Rwl Series50
1979 Western Rwl Series50
1980 Western Rwl Series40
1981 Western Rwl Series50
1982 Western Rwl Series20
1983 Western Rwl Series20
1984 Western Rwl Series20

Checking a specific 1981 Western Rwl Series

How do I know if my 1981 Western Rwl 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 1981 Western Rwl 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 Western dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 81V087000).

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 Western 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.