General Motors, LLC: Safety Recalls in 1978

THE TRANSMISSIONS HAVE BEEN ASSEMBLED WITH A HIGHER THAN NORMAL RETURN SPRING LOAD ON THE TRANSMISSION LOCKING PAWL. WHEN THE PARK POSITION IS SELECTED WITH THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER, THE PARKING PAWL MAY NOT ENGAGE.

THE FUEL SYSTEM MAY NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 301, "FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITY". IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE COLLISION FROM THE REAR, EXCESSIVE FUEL SPILLAGE MAY OCCUR.

A GASKET WAS MISTAKENLY PLACED BETWEEN THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER AND THE POWER BOOST WHICH PREVENTED THE TWO PARTS FROM FITTING TOGETHER PROPERLY. DAMAGE MAY HAVE RESULTED TO THE MOUNTING EARS OF THE MASTER CYLINDER AND THE HYDRO-BOOST. THIS CONDITION COULD LEAD TO BRAKE FAILURE.

THE INVOLVED VEHICLES CONTAIN SPLIT FRONT BENCH SEATS THAT MAY NOT HAVE THE CORRECT OUTBOARD PORTIONS OF THE LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT SEAT BELTS INSTALLED. THIS CONDITION WILL NOT ALLOW THE SEAT BELTS TO BE BUCKLED AND THEREFORE CONSTITUTES A NON-COMPLIANCE TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 209, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES".

THE STEERING WHEEL MAY HAVE BEEN ASSEMBLED WITH STEERING WHEEL RETENTION FASTENERS THAT WERE NOT SUFFICIENTLY TIGHTENED. THE STEERING WHEEL COULD BECOME LOOSE AND SEPARATE FROM THE STEERING WHEEL HUB.

THE INVOLVED ENGINE FAN ASSEMBLIES MAY BE OF INADEQUATE DURABILITY. CONSEQUENTLY, THE FAN SPIDER MAY WEAR OVER A PEROID OF TIME AND BREAK AT THE HUB WITHOUT WARNING, WHILE THE ENGINE IS RUNNING.

UNDER CERTAIN DRIVING CONDITIONS, INCLUDING EXTENDED SEVERE BRAKING, THE WHEEL BEARING AREA MAY ENCOUNTER TEMPERATURES THAT CAN CAUSE THE GREASE TO MIGRATE OUT OF THE BEARING AREA. THIS WILL REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF LUBRICATION AVAILABLE TO THE BEARINGS AND RESULT IN FRONT WHEEL BEARING FAILURE AND SPINDLE DAMAGE.

THE PARKING BRAKE SWITCH CONNECTOR CONTAINS ELECTRICAL WIRES THAT MAY BE REVERSED. AS A RESULT, THE LAMP WILL BE ACTIVATED WHENEVER THE IGNITION IS TURNED ON, EVEN THOUGH THE PARKING BRAKE IS NOT ENGAGED. THIS CONSTITUTES A NON-COMPLIANCE TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 105, "HYDRAULIC BRAKE SYSTEMS". THE STANDARD REQUIRES THAT THE INDICATOR LAMP BE ACTIVATED UPON APPLICATION OF THE PARKING BRAKE.

THE INVOLVED VEHICLES DO NOT HAVE A BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR WARNING WHICH STATES, "WARNING, CLEAN FILLER CAP BEFORE REMOVING. USE ONLY DOT 3 FLUID FROM A SEALED CONTAINER". THIS CONSTITUTES A NON-COMPLIANCE TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 105, "HYDRAULIC BRAKE SYSTEMS".

THE FUEL TANK FUSIBLE BUSHING ELEMENT MAY HAVE MELTED DUE TO EXTREMELY HIGH TEMPERATURES ENCOUNTERED WHEN THE TANKS WERE EXPOSED TO DIRECT SUNLIGHT RAYS DURING CHASSIS STORAGE.

IF PAPER OR OTHER COMBUSTIBLE MATERIALS ARE PLACED IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ASHTRAY RECEPTACLE, THEY COULD BECOME IGNITED AND FLAMES FROM THE FIRE MAY REACH THE INTERIOR OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL.

THE INVOLVED VEHICLES DO NOT CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 207, "ANCHORAGE OF SEATS", IN THAT THE FRONT SEAT ADJUSTER ASSEMBLIES HAVE LOCK BARS WHICH MAY NOT REMAIN ENGAGED WHEN TEST PROCEDURE FORCES ARE APPLIED TO THE SEAT.

THE NUT ON THE CARRIER SUPPORT BOLT ASSEMBLY MAY BREAK WHICH WOULD ALLOW THE ENTIRE WHEEL AND TIRE ASSEMBLY TO SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE.

THE FRONT NUTS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN TIGHTENED TO SPECIFICATIONS. THESE NUTS COULD LOOSEN DURING VEHICLE OPERATION AND CAUSE THE FRONT HUB AND ROTOR ASSEMBLY TO SEPARATE FROM THE WHEEL AND TIRE ASSEMBLY.

THE REAR BRAKE LINE MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY ROUTED TO THE MAIN AIR TANK. SHOULD A MAJOR AIR LEAK DEVELOP IN THE REAR BRAKE SYSTEM, THE VEHICLE WOULD FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 121, "AIR BRAKE SYSTEMS". THIS WOULD CAUSE THE ENTIRE BRAKE SYSTEM TO VENT TO THE ATMOSPHERE AND BRAKING EFFECTIVENESS WOULD BE LOST.

THE INVOLVED VEHICLES DO NOT CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 120, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS FOR VEHICLES OTHER THAN PASSENGER CARS", IN THAT THE TIRE INFLATION PRESSURE LISTED ON THE LABELS IS TOO LOW.

SOME ANTI-LOCK CONTROLLERS CONTAIN ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS WHICH WERE NOT MADE TO SPECIFICATIONS. IN THE EVENT THESE CONTROLLERS DEVELOP A FAILURE OF ANOTHER INTERNAL ELECTRIC COMPONENT, THE COMBINATION OF DEFECTS MAY CAUSE THE ANTI-LOCK VALVE SOLENOID (A COILED CURRENT CONDUCTING WIRE) TO BE CONTINUOUSLY ENERGIZED, PREVENTING APPLICATION OF THE BRAKES ON THE AXLE INVOLVED. HOWEVER, THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM PERFORMANCE ON THE REMAINDER OF THE VEHICLE IS NOT AFFECTED AND THE DRIVER WARNING LIGHT IS NOT ACTUATED.

THE REAR AXLE SHAFTS MAY CONTAIN A FLAW IN THE METAL. THIS FLAW COULD ALLOW THE SHAFT TO BREAK AND THE TIRE AND WHEEL ASSEMBLY TO SEPARATE.

THE HUB PORTION OF THE FAN BLADE ASSEMBLY COULD CRACK DUE TO HIGH STRESS LEVELS GENERATED DURING ENGINE OPERATING CONDITIONS. EVENTUALLY, THE BLADE COULD BREAK APART AT THE HUB AND BLADE PIECES COULD BE PROPELLED INTO THE ENGINE. IF THE HOOD IS OPEN WHILE THE ENGINE IS RUNNING, THE FRAGMENTS WOULD BE FREE TO FLY FROM THE VEHICLE.

THE PITMAN ARM CAN SEPARATE AND FAIL.

THE LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT SUSPENSION CROSSMEMBER STRUT RODS, WHICH GIVE ADDED STRENGTH, MAY HAVE BEEN OMITTED DURING ASSEMBLY. CONSEQUENTLY, A FRAME CROSSMEMBER CRACK COULD EVENTUALLY DEVELOP AT THE FORWARD VERTICAL FRONT SUSPENSION BOLT.

INCORRECT HEAD RESTRAINTS MAY HAVE BEEN INSTALLED ON THE INVOLVED VEHICLES. THIS FAILS TO COMPLY WITH FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 201, "OCCUPANT PROTECTION IN INTERIOR IMPACTS".

ON THE INVOLVED VEHICLES, AN INTERFERENCE CONDITION MAY EXIST BETWEEN THE CARBURETOR FUEL PIPE ASSEMBLY AND THE AIR CONDITIONING BRACKET. THIS COULD EVENTUALLY CAUSE THE PIPE TO WEAR THROUGH DUE TO VIBRATION AND FUEL PRESSURE PULSATION.

THE EXISTING CERTIFICATION LABELS CONTAIN INCORRECT RIM SIZE INFORMATION. THIS IS A NON-COMPLIANCE TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 120, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS FOR VEHICLES OTHER THAN PASSENGER CARS". THE EXISTING LABELS SPECIFY THE USE OF 16.5X6.00 REAR WHEELS INSTEAD OF THE CORRECT 16.5X6.75 WHEELS.

THESE VEHICLES DO NOT CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 121, "AIR BRAKE SYSTEMS". THESE VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH AN INCORRECT RESISTOR BOARD IN THE EATON CONTROLLER ON THE WHEEL LOCK CONTROL VALVE.

THE INVOLVED VEHICLES DO NOT CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 209, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES" IN THAT THE RIGHT HAND SEAT BELT RETRACTORS USED AT BOTH THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER SEAT POSITIONS MAY HAVE BEEN MISASSEMBLED. AS A RESULT, THEY MAY NOT LOCK.

THE INVOLVED VEHICLES DO NOT CONTAIN AN EMERGENCY STOP CONTROL FOR EMERGENCY STOPPING OF THE VEHICLE. THIS EMERGENCY STOP CONTROL IS NECESSARY TO PREVENT ENGINE OVERSPEED AND TO STOP THE ENGINE IN CASE OF A FUEL MALFUNCTION.

THE INVOLVED VEHICLES DO NOT CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 110, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS", IN THAT THE TIRE PLACARD DOES NOT CONTAIN LEGIBLE TIRE SIZE INFORMATION.

THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT COUPLING ON THE INVOLVED VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN MACHINED OVERSIZED IN THE SERRATION AREA WHERE IT ATTACHES TO THE STEERING COLUMN. THIS WOULD PREVENT THE COUPLING FROM PROPERLY TIGHTENING ON THE SHAFT WHEN THE CLAMP AND PINCH BOLT WERE INSTALLED.