Defect
AN INCORRECT HIGH PRESSURE POWER STEERING HOSE MAY HAVE BEEN INSTALLED.
Consequence
UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, HOSE COULD FAIL RESULTING INLOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST AND POSSIBLY AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy
REPLACE INCORRECT POWER STEERING HOSES.
Verdict · NHTSA data
Limited data — recalls on file
NHTSA has just 0 complaints on file for the 1987 Mack Rw Series — too few to judge reliability from owner reports alone — but 4 recall campaigns apply to this year, so any used example should have its VIN checked for completed recall work.
0
NHTSA complaints
4
Recalls
0
Investigations
0
Crash-involved
0
Fires reported
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
—
NCAP overall
4 NHTSA recall campaigns on file. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Defect
AN INCORRECT HIGH PRESSURE POWER STEERING HOSE MAY HAVE BEEN INSTALLED.
Consequence
UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, HOSE COULD FAIL RESULTING INLOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST AND POSSIBLY AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy
REPLACE INCORRECT POWER STEERING HOSES.
Defect
THE UNDERSIZED WELD ON THE REAR SUSPENSION BRACKETRY ATTACHMENT CAN CAUSE BRACKET FAILURE.
Consequence
BRACKET FAILURE CAN ALLOW THE SPRING ASSEMBLY TO BERELEASED ONTO THE ROADWAY, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL AND ANACCIDENT.
Remedy
REPLACE ANY HOUSINGS THAT HAVE SINGLE PASS (UNDERSIZED) WELDS ON THE BRACKETRY ATTACHMENT.
Defect
CROSS STEERING LEVERS MAY BE IMPROPERLY HEAT TREATED AND SUBJECT TO FAIL DURING NORMAL OPERATION.
Consequence
SUCH FAILURE COULD CAUSE LOSS OF TRUCK CONTROL WITHOUTPRIOR WARNING AND RESULT IN A CRASH.
Remedy
INSTALL NEW, PROPERLY HEAT TREATED STEERING LEVER.
Defect
ON RIGHT HAND STEERING ARM, KEYWAY MAY BE IN THE WRONG LOCATION CAUSING A TOGGLE CONDITION TO OCCUR UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS.
Consequence
THIS COULD RESULT IN SLOW STEERING RETURN WITHOUT PRIORWARNING WHICH WOULD AFFECT STEERING CONTROL AND CREATE THE POTENTIAL FOR ACRASH.
Remedy
REPLACE INCORRECT STEERING ARM.
The record is thin — 0 NHTSA complaints — so owner-report data can't strongly confirm reliability either way, though 4 recalls should be verified as completed.
Yes — NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns affecting the 1987 Mack Rw Series. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.
Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.
Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.