2003 Mack CV

Routine

Owners filed 2 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the service brakes, air › disc › chamber. It has been recalled 5 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Structure › Frame and Members1
000
Service Brakes, Air › Disc › Chamber1
010

5 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Power Train › Axle Assembly10V069000
Filed Mar 3, 201015,490 vehiclesMack Trucks, Inc

Defect. MACK TRUCKS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2002 THROUGH 2004 CL, CV, LE, MR, RB, RD, AND MODEL YEAR 2003 THROUGH 2004 DM HEAVY TRUCKS MANUFACTURED FROM FEBRUARY 1, 2002 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30, 2003, EQUIPPED WITH AXLE BEAMS MANUFACTURED BY BHARAT FORGE. THE AXLE BEAM MAY HAVE TRANSVERSE SHEAR LINES ON THE BOTTOM OF THE AXLE FROM THE TRIMMING PROCESS.

Risk. THESE LINES, IF PRESENT, CAN PROMOTE INITIATION OF CRACKS, WHICH OVER TIME MAY POSSIBLY LEAD TO AXLE BEAM FAILURE AND A VEHICLE CRASH CAN OCCUR.

Remedy. MACK WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, INSPECT AND REPLACE ANY AFFECTED AXLE BEAMS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 5, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MACK AT 1-800-866-1177.

Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage › Tank Assembly › Mounting04V530000
Filed Nov 1, 2004920 vehiclesMack Trucks, Inc

Defect. ON CERTAIN TRUCKS, THE FUEL TANK MOUNTING STRAP WAS NOT WELDED TO SPECIFICATIONS AND MAY FAIL. THE FUEL TANK STRAP SUPPORTS AND FASTENS THE STEPS FOR THE OPERATOR AND PASSENGER TO ENTER AND EXIT THE CAB.

Risk. IF THE PEDESTAL STEP MOUNTING BRACKET SEPARATED FROM THE FUEL TANK STRAP, PASSENGER COULD FALL FROM THE VEHICLE WHEN ENTERING OR EXITING THE CAB, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURIES.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FUEL TANK MOUNTING STRAP AND REPLACE IT IF NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN FEBRUARY 7, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT MACK TRUCKS AT 1-610-709-3337.

Service Brakes, Air › Disc › Chamber04V118000
Filed Mar 4, 200435 vehiclesMack Trucks, Inc

Defect. CERTAIN TRUCKS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 121, "AIR BRAKE SYSTEMS." THE FRONT BRAKE CHAMBER ON SOME 18,000 LB. AND 20,000 LB FRONT AXLE ASSEMBLIES IS TOO SMALL TO MEET STOPPING DISTANCE REQUIREMENTS.

Risk. THIS COULD CAUSE THE STOPPING DISTANCE TO BE INCREASED, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT BRAKE CHAMBERS. THE RECALL BEGAN APRIL 21, 2004. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT MACK AT 1-610-709-3337.

Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage › Tank Assembly03V420000
Filed Oct 27, 2003179 vehiclesMack Trucks, Inc

Defect. ON CERTAIN CHASSIS EQUIPPED WITH DEFIANCE METAL FUEL TANK SUPPORT BRACKET ASSEMBLIES, THE FUEL TANK BRACKET WAS NOT WELDED PER SPECIFICATION. THIS CAN CAUSE THE FUEL TANK TO SEPARATE FROM THE CHASSIS DURING ASSEMBLY OPERATION.

Risk. IF THE FUEL TANK SEPARATES FROM THE VECHILE, THERE IS A RISK THE TANK MAY RUPTURE CAUSING FUEL TO LEAK ON THE GROUND WHICH COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPAIR. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JANUARY 1, 2004. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT MACK AT 1-610-709-3337.

Service Brakes, Air › Supply › Check Valve03V253000
Filed Jul 17, 20031,232 vehiclesMack Trucks, Incorporated

Defect. CERTAIN HEAVY DUTY VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 121, "AIR BRAKE SYSTEMS." IMPROPER SEATING OF THE CHECK VALVE RETAINER IN THE BRASS FITTING HOUSING HAS OCCURRED. IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THE AIR BRAKE SYSTEM PRESSURE TO PUSH THE CHECK VALVE INTERNAL PARTS INTO THE PRIMARY SYSTEM RESERVOIR AND A VEHICLE OPERATOR WOULD NOT KNOW THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED.

Risk. IN THIS CONDITION, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MEET THE EMERGENCY REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CHECK VALVE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN NOVEMBER 26, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT MACK AT 1-610-709-3337.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Structure › Frame and Members
Filed May 20, 2010GA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MACK CV. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SIDE FRAME RAILS WERE BREAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR FURTHER INSPECTION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN.

Service Brakes, Air › Disc › ChamberFire
Filed Sep 20, 2005FL

THIS VEHICLE IS A 2003 MACK TRUCK MODEL CV AND IS A STRAIGHT FRAME DUMP TRUCK WITH THREE REAR TANDEM AXLES. STOPPING IS ACHIEVED THROUGH A STANDARD AIR BRAKE SYSTEM WHERE COMPRESSED AIR IS USED AS THE ENERGY MEDIUM. THE BRAKE PEDAL EFFORT OF THE OPERATOR IS USED ONLY TO MODULATE THE AIR PRESSURE APPLIED TO THE BRAKE CHAMBERS. THIS TRUCK CONFORMS TO THE DUAL BRAKE SYSTEM. ALTHOUGH THE ENERGY SOURCE IS COMPRESSED AIR, THE TRANSMISSION OF ENERGY FROM THE BRAKE CHAMBER TO THE FRICTION SURFACES INVOLVES LEVER ARMS AND CAMS. THE COMPRESSED AIR IN THE SPRING BRAKE CHAMBER MAINTAINS PRESSURE ON THE SPRING DURING NORMAL OPERATION. WHEN THE BRAKES ARE ACTIVATED, THE AIR IS RELIEVED ALLOWING THE SPRING TO DECOMPRESS AND APPLY THE FRICTION SURFACES TO THE DRUMS THROUGH THE MECHANICAL LINKAGE. THE FIRE PATTERNS INDICATE THAT THE FIRE WAS LOCALIZED AND ORIGINATED FROM FRICTION PRODUCED BY THE BRAKE PADS AGAINST THE DRUM ON THE CENTER RIGHT REAR TANDEM WHEELS. THE FRICTION PRODUCED TEMPERATURES IN EXCESS OF THE IGNITION TEMPERATURE OF THE TIRES CAUSING THEM TO IGNITE. THERE WAS NO PHYSICAL EVIDENCE OF ANY ELECTRICAL FAILURE. THE SPRING BRAKE CHAMBER IS IDENTIFIED AS MGM 3431157, M092702, 190E 4100 P7. CONCLUSION THE FIRE WAS LOCALIZED AND PRODUCED BY FRICTION. THE FRICTION RESULTED FROM THE BRAKE PADS AGAINST THE DRUMS OF THE CENTER REAR RIGHT TANDEM BRAKES. THIS FRICTION PRODUCED SUFFICIENT TEMPERATURES TO IGNITE THE TIRES. THE APPLICATION OF THE BRAKES THAT PRODUCED THE FIRE RESULTED FROM

2 of 2 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2005
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20080300Routine
20070800Routine
20060500Routine
20052421Fatalities reported
20040600Routine
2003 — this page2510Routine
20020300Routine
20010600Routine
20000300Routine
19990200Routine
19980100Routine

Compare every CV year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Mar 3, 2010. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.