Steering: gear box: shaft pitman (Mack)
Vehicle recall 81V-155. NHTSA received MACK TRUCKS, INCORPORATED’s report on Dec 29, 1981.
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The short answer
NHTSA received MACK TRUCKS, INCORPORATED’s report on Dec 29, 1981. Copied from NHTSA on Oct 26, 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 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.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 26, 2026. Updated daily.
- NHTSA’s part: Steering: gear box: shaft pitman.
What should you do?
THE DEALER WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, RETORQUE THE RETAINING BOLT TO PROPER SPECIFICATIONS AT NO CHARGE.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 26, 2026. Updated daily.
- How to reach the firm: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: TRUCKS.SYSTEM: STEERING; PITMAN ARM RETAINING BOLTS.CONSEQUENCES OF DEFECT: SHOULD THIS LOOSE CONDITION GO UNCORRECTED, THE SPLINEDGROOVES ON THE OUTPUT SHAFT COULD WEAR SMOOTH, CAUSING LOSS OF STEERINGCONTROL, WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, AND A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
- Check a vehicle by its VIN at NHTSA: the recalls still open on it are listed there.
Which ones are recalled?
NHTSA counts 225 vehicles potentially involved, across everything this recall names.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 26, 2026. Updated daily.
- Mack RD Seriesand 1981, before the model years listed here
- Mack R Seriesand 1981, before the model years listed here
- Mack MC Seriesand 1981, before the model years listed here
- Mack MR Seriesand 1981, before the model years listed here
Who is recalling it?
- Made by MACK TRUCKS, INCORPORATED.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 26, 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 26, 2026 and checked Oct 26, 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 26, 2026.