- The problem
- Stresses imposed on the lever during turning maneuvers and/or impact incidents, such as would be caused by curbs or road surface irregularity, reduce the life expectancy of the part. The steering lever may crack and eventually the stresses could cause the steering lever to break.
- The risk
- A broken steering lever will cause loss of steeringcontrol without prior warning which may result in a vehicle crash.
- The fix
- REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE STEERING ARMS.
Vehicle safety record
1981 Mack CF Problems, complaints & recalls
No owner complaints about the 1981 Mack CF have been filed with NHTSA. It is covered by 5 recalls, the latest in May 1991 for the linkages.
NHTSA data checked
DMore problems than a typical CF year, for its age
- Complaints
- 0
- Recalls
- 5
- Crashes
- 0
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Deaths
- 0
1981 Mack CF recalls 5
Recall repairs are free. Your dealer fixes them whether or not you bought the car there - check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if yours is done. What to do
- The problem
- The splined steering shaft may not be sufficiently engaged as designed due to inaccurate drilling of the holes in the frame to which the cab front mount member is bolted. Under certain conditions the steering shaft may disengage. Consequence of defect: a jarring impact might cause disengament of the splined shaft resulting in loss of steering control and possibly an accident.
- The fix
- Replace shafts which measure under the minimum engagement dimensions with longer shaft.
- The problem
- 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.
- The fix
- The axle housing will be inspected and replaced, if necessary. The spring seats will also be replaced.
- The problem
- On the involved vehicles the floorboard opening and the steering column seal bracket do not have sufficient clearance to allow the shaft to turn freely. This causes the pinch bolt to bind or lock against the seal bracket.
- The fix
- The hole in the floorboard will be enlarged to allow sufficient clearance of the steering column u-joint pinch bolt, and a new bracket and lamp will be installed at no charge to owner.
- The problem
- The floorboard opening and the steering column seal bracket may not allow sufficient clearance for the shaft to turn freely in the center of the bracket/seal. The pinch bolt in the column yoke may bind or lock the column against the bracket, allowing little or no wheel return.
- The fix
- Dealer will enlarge the hole in the floorboard to provide clearance for the steering column u-joint pinch bolt. A new bracket and clamp will also be installed without charge to owner.
What owners say
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No complaints about the 1981 Mack CF yet
No owner has filed a complaint about this vehicle with NHTSA. If yours has a problem, share it here and report it to NHTSA.
Mack CF: every year compared
All CF years1981 Mack CF vs rivals
| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 Mack CF | 0 | 5 | D | |
| 1981 Mack Mack | 1 | 3 | D | Compare |
More sales usually means more complaints, so compare similar vehicles of the same year. The grade compares each vehicle with its own model's other years.
Questions about the 1981 Mack CF
Does the 1981 Mack CF have any recalls?
Yes - NHTSA lists 5 recalls for the 1981 Mack CF: linkages (May 1991); steering wheel / handle bar (November 1985); leaf spring assembly (March 1984); steering wheel / handle bar (April 1983) and more. Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours has been fixed.
How many complaints has the 1981 Mack CF had?
None have been filed with NHTSA so far.
Is the 1981 Mack CF a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 32 out of 100 (grade D: more problems than a typical Mack CF year, for its age). The index weighs complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and recalls against how long the vehicle has been on the road, compared with the same model's other years. It is not a measure of every repair - read the complaints and owner experiences, and have any used vehicle inspected before you buy.
What should I do if my 1981 Mack CF has a problem?
If it is a safety problem, stop driving it if it is unsafe and contact your dealer. Report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem - enough reports start investigations and recalls - and share your experience here so other owners know what to look for.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data