1984 Mack MH: complaints, problems and recalls

Reported: 1984-03-22 (March 22, 1984)

IMPROPER STEERING CLAMP BOLTS AND TORQUE APPLIED DURING INSTALLATION. THE BOLT COULD FAIL, ALLOWING THE STEERING YOKE TO BECOME LOOSE.

Remedy: INSPECTION AND, IF NECESSARY, INSTALLATION OF PROPER STEERING SHAFT CLAMP BOLTS TIGHTENED TO SPECIFICATIONS.

Reported: 1984-11-07 (November 7, 1984)

DUE TO IMPROPER AND INADEQUATE WELDING PRACTICES, THE FIFTH WHEEL ON THE INVOLVED VEHICLES IS DEFECTIVE. FRAME MOUNTED SUPPORTS MAY HAVE INCOMPLETE OR POOR QUALITY WELDS. THE WELDS COULD SUBSEQUENTLY FAIL ALLOWING SEPARATION OF THE TRACTOR FROM THE TRAILER.

Remedy: THE DEALER WILL INSPECT AND REMOVE THE FIFTH WHEEL AND REWELD THE MOUNTING ANGLES AT NO CHARGE TO THE OWNER.

Reported: 1984-11-07 (November 7, 1984)

THE DOOR LATCHES MAY BE DEFECTIVE BECAUSE A PAWL SPRING WAS NOT MANUFACTURED TO SPECIFICATIONS. THE PAWL SPRING DOES NOT CREATE PROPER TENSION ON THE PAWL, (A PART OF THE DOOR LATCH MECHANISM). THIS CONSTITUTES A NON-COMPLIANCE WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 206, "DOOR LATCHES AND DOOR RETENTION COMPONENTS".

Remedy: THE DEALER WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE DOOR LATCHES, IF NECESSARY.

Reported: 1984-11-07 (November 7, 1984)

THE SPRING CENTER BOLT IS NOT THE PROPER SIZE OR LENGTH. AS A RESULT, LOCATION AND ALIGNMENT OF THE SPRING TO THE FRONT AXLE MAY NOT BE CORRECT. IF THE FRONT SPRING CLIPS LOOSEN, THE INADEQUATE CENTER BOLT MAY RESULT IN SPRING TO AXLE MISALIGNMENT, SHIFTING OF THE AXLE, AND LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL.

Remedy: THE DEFECT WILL BE CORRECTED BY THE ADDITION OF A SPACER BETWEEN THE SPRING AND THE CENTER BOLT HEAD TO INCREASE THE EFFECTIVE HEAD LENGTH. A LONGER CENTER BOLT WILL ALSO BE INSTALLED FOR POSITIVE RETENTION.

Reported: 1985-05-01 (May 1, 1985)

THE FLIP OUT STEP CLEVIS ON THE BUMPER MAY FAIL AND BREAK UNDER THE WEIGHT OF THE PERSON STANDING ON THE STEP TO SERVICE THE FRONT AREA OF THE VEHICLE. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: THIS SUDDEN BREAK WILL CAUSE THE PERSON STANDING ON THE STEP TO FALL, WITHOUT WARNING, AND COULD RESULT IN INJURIES.

Remedy: REMOVE THE STEP CLEVIS AND REPLACE WITH A NEW IMPROVED CLEVIS.

Reported: 1985-05-03 (May 3, 1985)

THE DRAG LINKS MAY HAVE BEEN INSTALLED INCORRECTLY ALLOWING DRAG LINK CLAMP BOLT TO AXLE BEAM INTERFERENCE. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: DURING A TURNING MANEUVER, INCREASED STEERING EFFORT OR COMPLETE LOCKUP OF STEERING COULD OCCUR WITHOUT WARNING. THIS COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF TRUCK CONTROL AND A CRASH.

Remedy: ASSURE THAT DRAG LINKS ARE INSTALLED TO CORRECT INTERFERENCE CONDITION.

Reported: 1985-09-17 (September 17, 1985)

THE DUAL DOUBLE CHECK VALVE MAY NOT RELEASE THE PROPER AIR VOLUME TO THE BRAKE SYSTEM, CAUSING A SLIGHT TIMING DELAY BETWEEN THE TRACTOR AND THE TRAILER BRAKE SYSTEM. CONSEQUENCES OF DEFECT: IF THE BRAKES ARE SUDDENLY APPLIED, THE TRAILER COULD JACKKNIFE WITHOUT WARNING TO THE OPERATOR, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: INSTALL TWO NEW SLEEVES IN THE DUAL DOUBLE CHECK VALVE WHICH WILL INCREASE AIR FLOW.

Reported: 1986-01-17 (January 17, 1986)

LEFT OR RIGHT CAB STEP MAY CRACK IN ITS WELDED AREA DUE TO FLEXING OF THE STEP DURING ENTERING AND EXITING. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: AS THE CRACKS EXTEND, THE TUBULAR STEP COULD PARTIALLY COLLAPSE AND BREAK WITHOUT WARNING TO THE USER, AND COULD RESULT IN PERSONAL INJURIES.

Remedy: INSTALL A REINFORCEMENT BRACE IF NO CRACKS ARE FOUND. IN ADDITION, REPLACE STEP IF CRACKS ARE PRESENT.

Reported: 1988-09-06 (September 6, 1988)

SEAT TETHER BELTS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN ADJUSTED DURING ASSEMBLY.

Consequence: DURING AN IMPACT, DRIVER AND/OR RIDER CAN MOVE FORWARDAND POSSIBLY STRIKE THE WINDSHIELD, EVEN WHEN WEARING A SEAT BELT.

Remedy: ADJUST SEAT TETHER BELT IF NECESSARY.