Structure. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Trailer Hitches. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Suspension. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

What owners actually said

3 reports

303,175 miles · Jul 24, 2011

Suspension

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ON TUESDAY, JULY 19 OF 2011, I OBSERVED THAT THE 5TH WHEEL BOLTS ON ABF UNIT NUMBER 19223 WERE LOOSE ENOUGH TO BE TURNED BY HAND. THE BOLTS ARE NOT BEING INTERFERED WITH BY THE HUCK RIVETS BELOW THEM. THE NUTS ARE PREVAILING TORQUE LOCK NUTS AND ARE NOT LOOSE ON THE BOLTS. THE BOLTS HAVE STRETCHED UNDER LOAD. I WAS GOING TO SHOW THE UNIT TO THE DIRECTOR OF MAINTENANCE, WHO HAPPENED TO BE IN OUR SHOP THAT DAY. UNFORTUNATELY, UNIT 19223 WAS SENT OUT BEFORE I COULD SHOW HIM. I DID, HOWEVER, MAKE A VIDEO OF ME TURNING THE LOOSE BOLT BY HAND. THIS IS ONLY ONE OF HUNDREDS OF ABF MACKS FROM 2009 AND 2010 THAT HAVE 5TH WHEEL BOLTS THAT ARE YIELDING UNDER LOAD.

NHTSA ODI #10415848

Mileage unknown · Oct 3, 2010

StructureTrailer Hitches

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SOME OF THE 2008, MANY OF THE 2009, AND ALMOST ALL OF THE 2010 MODEL MACK TRUCKS USED BY ABF FREIGHT SYSTEM WERE BUILT AND DELIVERED WITH WEAK BOLTS HOLDING THE 5TH WHEEL COUPLER TO THE FRAME. ON 27 SEPT 2010, UNIT 19212 WAS IN THE SHOP FOR ROUTINE REPAIRS. A MECHANIC NOTICED THAT ALL OF THE BOLTS ON THE RIGHT SIDE WERE LOOSE ENOUGH TO RATTLE IN THEIR HOLES AND THAT THE COUPLER WAS SLIDING AROUND ON THE FRAME. THE MANAGER INSTRUCTED US TO TIGHTEN THE BOLTS AND NOT TO REPLACE ANY UNLESS THEY STRETCHED. ALL OF THE BOLTS STRETCHED. ALL WERE REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10358896

179,708 miles · Sep 23, 2010

StructureTrailer Hitches

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MY COWORKER WAS CHANGING THE OIL ON A 2009 MACK AND I HAPPENED TO NOTICE THAT THE 5TH WHEEL PLATE WAS SHIFTING AROUND ON THE FRAME. I APPLIED A BOX END WRENCH TO THE MOUNT BOLTS AND DISCOVERED THAT ALL TEN OF THE FASTENERS HOLDING THE 5TH WHEEL TO THE FRAME COULD BE TURNED EASILY USING ONE HAND. THAT IS NOT MY IDEA OF BEING SECURELY ATTACHED! NO ACTION WAS TAKEN ON THIS TRUCK BECAUSE IT WAS TIME TO GO HOME AND IF THE BOSS DOESN'T CARE AND MACK DOESN'T CARE WHAT CAN I DO EXCEPT COMPLAIN TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT MACK IS USING SUBSTANDARD BOLTS IN THE ASSEMBLY OF THEIR TRUCKS! THE 5TH WHEELS ARE LOOSE. MANAGEMENT DOESN'T WANT TO KNOW! BE VERY AFRAID ON THE HIGHWAYS MY FELLOW AMERICANS, YOU ARE MORE LIKELY TO DIE FROM A TRUCK ACCIDENT THAN YOU ARE FROM A TERRORIST ATTACK! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10357279

Official recalls

14V078000 · Electrical System

Feb 21, 2014

Mack Trucks, Inc. (Mack) notified the agency on February 20, 2014, that they are recalling certain model year 2010-2012 CHU, CXU, GU and TD vehicles manufactured from June 16, 2009, through July 8, 2011. While continuing to research the scope of the issue, Mack expanded the recall on November 18, 2014 to include certain model year 2008-2009 and 2013-2014 CHU, CXU, GU and TD vehicles manufactured from June 16, 2009, through July 8, 2011. Having completed its investigation, Mack once again expanded the recall during February 2015 to include an additional 53,780 vehicles from model years 2007 and 2015. The recall now covers model year 2007-2015 includes CHU, CXU, GU and TD vehicles produced October 13, 2006, through October 3, 2014. In the affected vehicles, the Electronic Power Distribution Module (EPDM) may be contaminated from water leaks in, and around, the windshield. If exposed to water leaks, contaminants such as road salts may deposit on the EPDM.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Deposits of contaminants may result in the circuits being bridged, creating a high resistance short, increasing the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Mack has notified owners, and dealers will inspect the EPDM. If contamination has occurred, dealers will replace the EPDM and address the leak, free of charge. Owners of model year 2010-2012 CHU, CXU, GU and TD vehicles were initially notified April 24, 2014. Owners affected by the recall expansions were notified in February 2015. Owners may contact Mack Trucks at 1-336-393-2000. Mack's number for this recall is SC0375.

12V434000 · Electrical System:wiring:fuses And Circuit Breakers; Exterior Lighting:fog Lights

Sep 6, 2012

Mack is recalling certain model year 2007-2010 CHU and CXU vehicles, manufactured from October 13, 2006, through December 23, 2009 and equipped with daytime running lights and fog lights. A short in the fog light circuit may cause the low beam headlight circuit to cut out.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the low beam headlights go out, the driver may lose visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Mack will notify owners, and install an additional wiring harness on the affected vehicles, free of charge. The safety recall began on November 14, 2012. Owners may contact Mack Trucks at 1-800-866-1177.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Exterior Lighting:fog Lights

Consequence: If the low beam headlights go out, the driver may lose visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Mack will notify owners, and install an additional wiring harness on the affected vehicles, free of charge. The safety recall began on November 14, 2012. Owners may contact Mack Trucks at 1-800-866-1177.

Electrical System:wiring:fuses And Circuit Breakers

Consequence: If the low beam headlights go out, the driver may lose visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.

11V209000 · Trailer Hitches:fifth Wheel Assembly

Mar 31, 2011

MACK TRUCKS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008-2011 CHU AND CXU HEAVY TRUCKS MANUFACTURED FROM JANUARY 2008 THROUGH JULY 2010. THERE MAY BE AN INTERFERENCE WITH THE BOLTS USED TO SECURE THE FIFTH WHEEL TO THE FRAME THAT CAN PREVENT THE BOLTS FROM BEING TORQUED TO SPECIFICATION.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE BOLTS MAY FAIL AND COULD RESULT IN THE FIFTH WHEEL COMING LOOSE CAUSING THE TRAILER TO SEPARATE FROM THE TRACTOR INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE BOLTS AS REQUIRED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 30, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MACK TRUCKS AT 1-800-866-1177.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

PE10042 · Failing 5th Wheel Attachment Bolts

Opened Nov 4, 2010 · Closed Apr 27, 2011

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Trailer Hitches:fifth Wheel Assembly

On October 3rd 2010 the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) received two complaints on 2009 - 2010 Mack CXU612 and CXU trucks for failing bolts that clamp the 5th wheel to the frame of the truck. On January 19, 2011 ODI opened this Preliminary Evaluation.During the course of the investigation ODI took possession of fasteners from the field.These fasteners, taken off subject complaint vehicles, exhibited 'hourglass like stretching' indicating plastic deformation.This same source supplied ODI with new fasteners (for the subject vehicle) that were recently purchased and never used.The bolts supplied by the manufacturer are M16 x 2 Class 10.9 bolts.Per SAE J1199, these bolts should have a proof load 130 kN (~29,000 lbf) and tensile strength of 163 kN (~36,600 lbf).These bolts are not designed to be torque to yield.ODI took possession of these field samples and sent them to (VRTC) Vehicle Research and Testing Center for testing.Some of the new and used fasteners from the field were tested to the SAE J1199 standard and all passed.Other tests at VRTC indicated that the stretched bolts were likely the result of over torque during installation or maintenance.VRTC tested other methods to pre-tension the bolts and found that load indicating washers and turn-of-the-nut method both gave better clamping load control than a torque wrench.In February 2011 Mack started to perform field inspections associated with this investigation in an attempt to understand the cause of the bolt failures.During these inspections, Mack discovered that there was an interference with the bolts used to secure the fifth wheel to the frame.This interference can prevent the bolts from being torqued to specification.If this occurs, the bolt(s) may fail and in extreme cases may result in the fifth wheel coming loose causing the trainer to separate from the tractor.Mack has issued a voluntary Safety Recall 11V-209 for (failure of fifth wheel mounting bolts). However, claims in the field suggest the manufactured supplied fasteners are inferior and stretch regardless of interference.ODI will continue to monitor this issue and follow the completion progress.If failures continue, ODI may open another investigation to investigate future failures.Mack Truck's recall action resolves the issues raised by this investigation and, therefore, this investigation is closed.