RecallMyCar

1978 Western Wl Series Recalls, Complaints & Specs

6 safety recalls list the 1978 Western Wl Series. Check your own VIN below.

6
safety recalls
0
owner complaints to NHTSA

6 safety recalls for the 1978 Western Wl 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. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. Coil springs (suspension)

    NHTSA 79V275000 Reported 9,000 vehicles potentially affected MACK TRUCKS, INCORPORATED

    The involved vehicles fail to comply with federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 204, "steering control rearward displacement". The aluminum front spring rear bracket is subject to breakage. This bracket, along with the taper leaf front springs, attaches the spring shackle to the chassis frame.

    Remedy: Dealer will replace the present aluminum front spring rear bracket with a redesigned spring bracket containing a reinforcing rib.

  5. Electrical system: front underhood

    NHTSA 79V271000 Reported 4,456 vehicles potentially affected MACK TRUCKS, INCORPORATED

    The cab electrical feed cables may have been installed on the involved vehicles with an inadequate crimping of the terminal to the cable. As a result, the cable could separate from the terminal.

    Remedy: Dealer will inspect and, if necessary, recrimp the terminal ends as required.

  6. Anchorage (seat belts)

    NHTSA 79V274000 Reported 400 vehicles potentially affected MACK TRUCKS, INCORPORATED

    The involved vehicles fail to comform to federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 210, "seat belt assembly anchorages". The tether belt mounting brackets may allow the seat upper base to rotate and disconnect upon heavy loading.

    Remedy: Dealer will install improved seat tether mounting brackets, without charge to owner.

No owner complaints on file

NHTSA has no owner complaints on file for the 1978 Western Wl 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 Wl Series model years

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

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1977 Western Wl Series10
1978 Western Wl Series60
1979 Western Wl Series70
1980 Western Wl Series40
1981 Western Wl Series30
1982 Western Wl Series10
1983 Western Wl Series10
1984 Western Wl Series10

Checking a specific 1978 Western Wl Series

How do I know if my 1978 Western Wl 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. 6 campaigns currently list the 1978 Western Wl 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 79V271000).

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.