- The problem
- Deficiencies, in the form of forging laps, cracks and excessive decarburization during heat treatment, exist in the steering knuckles. Stresses imposed with integral hydraulic power steering may lead to a failure in the area of the steering arm attaching boss. This type of failure would cause loss of steering control.
- The fix
- Dealer will inspect and, if necessary, replace the left steering knuckle with an improved type of knuckle.
Vehicle safety record
1973 Mack R Problems, complaints & recalls
No owner complaints about the 1973 Mack R have been filed with NHTSA. It is covered by 9 recalls, the latest in August 1978 for the arm.
NHTSA data checked
FFar more problems than a typical R year, for its age
- Complaints
- 0
- Recalls
- 9
- Crashes
- 0
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Deaths
- 0
1973 Mack R recalls 9
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 flex blade fans on the involved vehicles may develop cracks in the laminated stiffener as a result of fatigue during operation. If such a condition exists and the cracks go undetected, continued operation could cause pieces of the stiffener to break off.
- The fix
- Dealer will replace the original fan with a steel fixed blade fan, free of charge.
What owners say
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No complaints about the 1973 Mack R 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 R: every year compared
All R yearsQuestions about the 1973 Mack R
Does the 1973 Mack R have any recalls?
Yes - NHTSA lists 9 recalls for the 1973 Mack R: arm (August 1978); fan (October 1977); linkages (April 1976); multiple axle (June 1975) 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 1973 Mack R had?
None have been filed with NHTSA so far.
Is the 1973 Mack R a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 16 out of 100 (grade F: far more problems than a typical Mack R 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 1973 Mack R 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