General Motors, LLC: Safety Recalls in 1985

DISLOCATION OF A SPRING COVER WILL NOT ALLOW THE SHOULDER BELT TO RETRACT AFTER BEING EXTENDED. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: ALTHOUGH INERTIAL FEATURE THAT LOCKS THE LAP BELT AND SHOULDER BELT IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT ARE NOT AFFECTED, IF SLACK IS MORE THAN RECOMMENDED IN OWNERS MANUAL, INJURIES TO UPPER BODY AND HEAD WOULD BE INCREASED IN AN ACCIDENT.

A PART OF THE STEERING GEAR HOUSING WHICH ATTACHES TO THE FRAME MAY BREAK. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: STEERING DIFFICULTIES WILL OCCUR AND THE STEERING GEAR TO THE FRAME MAY FRACTURE RESULTING IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. THIS COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

THE WHEEL MAY DEVELOP CRACKS BETWEEN THE DISC AND RIM. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: IF THIS OCCURS AND IS NOT NOTICED, THE CRACK COULD INCREASE AROUND THE RIM, RESULTING IN SEPARATION OF THE RIM FROM THE DISC, LOSS OF CONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT MAY OCCUR.

THE POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE MAY CONTACT THE UPPER CONTROL ARM OR EXHAUST MANIFOLD SHIELD AND EVENTUALLY WEAR THROUGH THE INSULATION AND GROUND THE CABLE. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: THIS COULD RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE WHICH COULD CAUSE BURN INJURIES TO OCCUPANTS.

THE FUEL FEED AND FUEL RETURN PIPE ASSEMBLIES INCLUDES A HOSE WHICH MAY CONTACT THE POINTED END OF THE RADIATOR SHROUD ATTACHING SCREW. THIS COULD CAUSE A GASOLINE LEAK. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: IF FUEL LEAK DEVELOPS IT COULD RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE AND BURN INJURIES TO OCCUPANTS.

INCORRECT TAIL LAMP LENS WERE INSTALLED, LENS DO NOT CONFORM TO FMVSS 108, LAMP REFLECTIVE DEVICE AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: IN TIMES OF REDUCED VISIBILITY, AN APPROACHING VEHICLE MAY NOT BE AWARE OF THIS VEHICLE WHICH COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

CLUTCH CABLE IS NOT PROPERLY SECURED CAUSING THE CABLE TO CONTACT THE MASTER CYLINDER BRAKE PIPE. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: OVER A PERIOD OF TIME THIS MAY CAUSE WEAR THROUGH, BRAKE FLUID LEAK AND PARTIAL LOSS OF BRAKING ACTION WHICH COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

THE FAN BLADE, WHEN SUBJECTED TO HIGH STRESS LEVELS, CAN FATIGUE AND BREAK APART AT THE HUB WHILE THE ENGINE IS RUNNING. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: IF BREAKAGE OCCURS WHILE HOOD IS OPEN, A PERSON WORKING UNDER THE HOOD OR NEAR THE TRUCK COULD BE STRUCK BY A BLADE PART AND BE INJURED.

THE REAR BRAKE RELEASE TIME MAY BE GREATER THAN THE TIME SPECIFIED IN FMVSS 121, "AIR BRAKE SYSTEM". IN ADDITION, SOME TRACTORS MAY HAVE WARPED PARKING BRAKE APPLY SPRINGS WHICH ALSO EFFECT THE REAR BRAKE RELEASE TIME. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: TRACTORS FAIL TO MEET THE STOPPING DISTANCE SPECIFIED IN FMVSS 121 WHICH IS REQUIRED TO STOP THE TRUCK SAFELY.

THE GENERATOR "BAT" TERMINAL LOCATED ON THE RECTIFIER END FRAME MAY CONTACT THE CARBURETOR FUEL INLET PIPE. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: THE "BAT" STUD MAY RUB THROUGH THE TERMINAL BOOT AND CONTACT THE FUEL PIPE WHICH COULD RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE AND CAUSE BURN INJURIES TO THE OCCUPANT.

CARS MAY LOSE THE WIRE SNAP RINGS THAT HOLD THE DIFFERENTIAL CROSS SHAFT IN POSITION IN THE REAR AXLE DIFFERENTIAL CASE ASSEMBLY, ALLOWING THE SHAFT TO MOVE. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: THE CROSS SHAFT MOVEMENT COULD CAUSE THE SHAFT TO CONTACT THE CARRIER OR PINION TEETH, POSSIBLY LOCKING UP THE REAR WHEELS AND RESULT IN A CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

THE CERTIFICATION LABEL LOCATED ON THE LEFT FRONT DOOR DID NOT INCLUDE A REQUIRED FEDERAL CERTIFICATION STATEMENT. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH FEDERAL REGULATION 567.

THE FUEL RETURN HOSE BETWEEN THE SWITCHING VALVE AND THE FUEL TANK SENDING UNITS MAY BE INCORRECTLY CONNECTED. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: FUEL SUPPLIED BY ONE TANK IS RETURNED TO THE OTHER TANK WHICH COULD OVERFILL AND LEAK. FUEL COULD IGNITE AND CAUSE A FIRE.

SOME WAGONS WERE ASSEMBLED WITH A JA2 REAR SYSTEM INSTEAD OF THE JA3 BRAKE SYSTEM. THESE STATION WAGONS MAY EXCEED THE MAXIMUM STOPPING DISTANCE REQUIRED BY FMVSS 105. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: A CRASH COULD OCCUR WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING SHOULD A STOPPING DISTANCE CONFORMING WITH FMVSS 105 BE REQUIRED WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION.

THE FRONT AIR BRAKE HOSE MAY CONTACT THE INNER FENDER ON THE LEFT AND/OR RIGHT SIDES OF SOME TRUCKS. IN SOME INSTANCES, THE BRAKE HOSE MAY RUB THROUGH, RESULTING IN A LOSS OF AIR PRESSURE UPON BRAKE APPLICATION. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: BRAKE HOSE MAY RUB THROUGH CAUSING AIR PRESSURE LOSS WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED AND REDUCED BRAKING ABILITY. A REDUCTION OF BRAKING ABILITY AT A TIME WHEN MINIMUM STOPPING DISTANCE IS REQUIRED COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

THE CAB ENTRY STEP MOUNTING STRAP MAY FAIL IN THE AREA OF THE STEP SUPPORT BRACKET TO STRAP WELD INTERFACE. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: IF THE STEP MOUNTING STRAP FAILS WHILE A PERSON IS ATTEMPTING TO ENTER OR EXIT THE CAB, PERSONAL INJURY COULD RESULT.

RIM INFORMATION MAY HAVE BEEN OMITTED ON CERTIFICATION LABEL INSTALLED ON THE LEFT FRONT DOOR. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: THESE TRUCKS DO NOT CONFORM WITH FMVSS 120, TIRE SELECTIONS AND RIMS FOR VEHICLES OTHER THAN PASSENGER CARS.

EXCESSIVE ENLARGEMENT OF THE WHEEL CYLINDER PILOT HOLE IN THE REAR BRAKE BACKING PLATE COULD ALLOW THE WHEEL CYLINDER TO ROTATE AND CAUSE LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: A LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID LEADS TO LOSS OF REAR BRAKE ACTION, CREATING THE POTENTIAL FOR AN ACCIDENT. FRONT BRAKES WOULD REMAIN OPERATIONAL.

THE REAR BUMPER MAY FRACTURE DURING A REAR END COLLISION, PUNCTURE THE FUEL TANK, AND CAUSE A FUEL LEAK. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: A FUEL LEAK CREATES THE POTENTIAL FOR A FIRE WHICH COULD RESULT IN BURN INJURIES TO PERSONS IN OR NEAR THE CAR.

A LOSS OF BONDING ADHESION BETWEEN THE PAINT AND THE WINDSHIELD OPENING AREA COULD ALLOW THE WINDSHIELD TO SEPARATE DURING A 30 MILE PER HOUR FRONTAL BARRIER TEST REQUIRED BY FMVSS 212, WINDSHIELD RETENTION. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: WINDSHIELD SEPARATION DURING AN ACCIDENT COULD RESULT IN AN UNBELTED OCCUPANT BEING EJECTED FROM THE CAR AND SEVERLY INJURED.

THE ENGINE AIR CLEANER PLASTIC TRIM COVER COULD DETACH FROM THE AIR CLEANER ASSEMBLY AND FALL FORWARD ON THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: IF THE CAR IS BEING OPERATED AT THE TIME OF DETACHMENT, AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE COULD OCCUR WITHOUT WARNING.

THE FUEL SYSTEM MAY LEAK AT THE THROTTLE BODY INJECTION FUEL FEED PIPE CONNECTION. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: THIS LEAKAGE COULD RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE WHICH COULD SPREAD TO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT AND CAUSE BURN INJURIES TO OCCUPANTS.

THE CRUISE CONTROL VACUUM SOLENOID VALVES MAY MALFUNCTION AT ANY TIME THE ENGINE IS RUNNING AND THE CRUISE CONTROL IS ENGAGED AND CAUSE UNEXPECTED ENGINE ACCELERATION. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: LOSS OF ACCELERATOR CONTROL COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

THE TIRE PLACARD LABEL ON THE LEFT FRONT DOOR MAY HAVE BEEN PRINTED WITH AN ERROR WHICH SPECIFIES A HIGHER MAXIMUM LOADING THAN IS ALLOWED. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: EXCESSIVE VEHICLE LOADING COULD CAUSE A TIRE BLOWOUT AND RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.

ONE OF THE THREE STEERING GEAR TO FRAME BOLTS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN TIGHTENED TO THE REQUIRED SPECIFICATION. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: THE STEERING GEAR COULD COME LOOSE FROM THE FRAME CAUSING A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND A POSSIBLE VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

CERTAIN TRUCKS DO NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THE TRUCKS WERE ASSEMBLED WITHOUT THE ROOF MARKER LAMPS. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: SAFE OPERATION OF THE TRUCKS DURING DARKNESS OR REDUCED VISIBILITY WOULD BE IMPAIRED.

THE HUB AREA OF THE WHEELS MAY NOT BE STRUCTURALLY SOUND AND THUS SUBJECT TO FRACTURE. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: THE WHEELS COULD SEPARATE FROM THE CAR CAUSING A LOSS OF CONTROL. THIS COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.