Service brakes, air: controls: hand control/valve (Mack)
Vehicle recall 81V-088. NHTSA received MACK TRUCKS, INCORPORATED’s report on Jul 8, 1981.
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The short answer
NHTSA received MACK TRUCKS, INCORPORATED’s report on Jul 8, 1981. Copied from NHTSA on Oct 20, 2026.
Every line below is in NHTSA’s own words, with its source beside it.
What’s wrong with it?
The notice gives no hazard in a field of its own.
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.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 20, 2026. Updated daily.
- NHTSA’s part: Service brakes, air: controls: hand control/valve.
What should you do?
THE HOLES WILL BE RETOOLED TO PROVIDE CORRECT ALIGNMENT AND PLASTIC KNOBS WILL BE REPLACED BY KNOBS OF STRONGER MATERIAL HAVING METAL REINFORCEMENTS.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 20, 2026. Updated daily.
- How to reach the firm: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH BRAKE CONTROL KNOBS.SYSTEM: SERVICE BRAKES; KNOB RETAINING PIN.CONSEQUENCES OF DEFECT: WITH THE KNOB BROKEN OFF, THE CONTROL VALVE WOULDBECOME DIFFICULT OR IMPOSSIBLE TO OPERATE. ONE OR A COMBINATION OF BRAKEAPPLICATIONS WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE AND THE VEHICLE COULD BE PARKED IN AN UNSAFECONDITION. AN ACCIDENT AND PERSONAL INJURY COULD RESULT.
- Check a vehicle by its VIN at NHTSA: the recalls still open on it are listed there.
Which ones are recalled?
NHTSA counts 10,000 vehicles potentially involved, across everything this recall names.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 20, 2026. Updated daily.
- Mack R Seriesand 1979 and 1980, before the model years listed here
- Mack F Seriesand 1979 and 1980, before the model years listed here
- Mack MC Seriesand 1979 and 1980, before the model years listed here
- Mack U Seriesand 1979 and 1980, before the model years listed here
Who is recalling it?
- Made by MACK TRUCKS, INCORPORATED.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 20, 2026. Updated daily.
What the record doesn’t say
- NHTSA’s recall file doesn’t say whether anyone was hurt.
- Whether one vehicle or seat has been fixed: only its maker, or NHTSA’s lookup with a VIN, can say.
- This recall names only model years before 2015, which have no pages here. Your VIN, at NHTSA, says which recalls are open on a vehicle.
- How many have been returned or fixed isn’t in the notice.
Hearth Record wrote these lines.
Sources
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National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Recalls flat file before 2010 (FLAT_RCL_PRE_2010).
Released Oct 20, 2026 and checked Oct 20, 2026. Updated daily. Public domain (U.S. Government work).
Vehicle, car seat, tire and vehicle equipment recalls, owner complaints and crash ratings are from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Copied on Oct 20, 2026.