Mack Trucks has issued a recall affecting 151 MD Electric trucks from model years 2024 through 2026 because their dashboards incorrectly indicate that hill start assist is available. The trucks lack the feature, creating a risk that a driver could mistakenly expect the vehicle to remain stationary when starting on an incline.
The recall was reported to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on October 29, 2026, under campaign number 26V-719. It covers certain Mack Medium Duty Electric (MDe) trucks manufactured between June 22, 2023, and September 25, 2025.
Why the Hill Start Assist Display Is Being Recalled
Hill start assist is designed to help prevent a vehicle from rolling backward when moving from a stopped position on an incline. Conventional Mack MD trucks offer the feature, but the electric models involved in this recall do not.
According to Mack’s recall filing, the affected electric trucks were manufactured with a hill start assist notification enabled even though the system itself was not installed. The owner’s manual also stated that the feature was available.
The concern is that a driver could rely on the dashboard indication and expect assistance when starting uphill. Without that functionality, the truck may roll unexpectedly if the driver is not prepared for movement on a grade.
NHTSA identifies the resulting possibility of unintended vehicle movement as a crash risk. The recall concerns inaccurate information presented to the driver rather than a malfunction of an installed hill start assist system.
Which Mack MD Electric Trucks Are Affected
The recall includes 151 Mack MD Electric trucks from the 2024, 2025, and 2026 model years. Mack’s filing identifies the affected production period as June 22, 2023, through September 25, 2025.
The manufacturer estimates that all 151 vehicles in the recall population have the defect.
Although the recall covers three model years, ownership of a Mack MD Electric truck does not automatically establish that a particular vehicle is included. NHTSA’s recall database allows owners and fleet operators to check individual vehicles using their vehicle identification numbers (VINs).
The VINs associated with this campaign became searchable through NHTSA on November 5, 2026.
Mack Dealers Will Correct the Dashboard Software
Mack dealers will update the dashboard notification software to remove the incorrect hill start assist indication. The repair also includes a correction to the owner’s manual so that its description of the truck’s equipment accurately reflects the electric model.
Both corrections will be performed free of charge.
Owner notification letters are scheduled to be mailed beginning December 28, 2026. However, affected vehicle information is already available through NHTSA’s recall lookup system, allowing owners and fleet maintenance departments to identify trucks included in the campaign before the letters arrive.
Mack has assigned the recall number SC0502. Owners can contact Mack Trucks customer service at 1-800-866-1177 for additional information.
The recall is also listed under NHTSA campaign number 26V-719000. Vehicle-specific recall information is available at NHTSA.gov/recalls.
What the Recall Means for Drivers and Fleets
The correction addresses a misleading indication of equipment that the MD Electric does not have. Until the software is updated, operators of affected trucks should not assume that hill start assist is available based on the dashboard message or the existing owner’s manual.
For fleets operating multiple MD Electric trucks, checking VINs can help identify which vehicles require the software correction. The recall applies to the electric model specifically, rather than the conventional diesel-powered MD trucks equipped with hill start assist.
Owners do not need to wait for the December notification letters to confirm whether their vehicles are affected. Mack’s customer service department and NHTSA’s recall database provide the information needed to identify the campaign and arrange the free correction.
The TDUSA editorial team creates practical, driver-focused content covering trucking news, industry updates, safety, regulations, and career information for professional truck drivers across the United States. Each article is built to reflect real-world experience, industry developments, and information drivers can use on and off the road.
Last Updated: November 13, 2026
Source: Commercial Carrier Journal
