REAR AXLE ASSEMBLY MAY HAVE AXLES THAT WERE IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED. THIS CONDITION MAY RESULT IN SEPARATION OF THE AXLE SHAFT AND WHEEL ASSEMBLY FROM THE VEHICLE.
Manufacturer remedy
THE DEALER WILL INSPECT THE REAR AXLE TO DETERMINE WHETHER IT WAS MANUFACTURED AT THE BUFFALO PLANT. IF SO, THEY WILL MAKE AXLE MEASUREMENTS AND IF NECESSARY REPLACE OR MODIFY AFFECTED AXLE COMPONENTS WITHOUT CHARGE.
THE BOLTS THAT ATTACH THE LOWER REAR CONTROL ARM TO THE FRAME MAY FRACTURE. THE REAR CONTROL ARM SUPPORTS AND POSITIONS THE REAR AXLE. FRACTURE OF THE BOLTS WOULD ALLOW THE CONTROL ARM TO DROP FREE.
Manufacturer remedy
BOTH REAR CONTROL ARM ATTACHMENT BOLTS WILL BE REPLACED WITHOUT CHARGE.
Power train: automatic transmission: lever and linkage: floor shift
Manufacturer
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Vehicles affected
55
Reported to NHTSA
1979-09-18
Owners notified
1979-09-21
Defect description
THE SHIFT CABLE RETAINING CLIP MAY HAVE BEEN INSTALLED BACKWARDS OR NOT AT ALL. THE PURPOSE OF THIS SPRING CLIP IS TO SECURE THE LOWER END OF THE SHIFT CABLE HOUSING TO THE TRANSMISSION. IF THE CLIP IS BACKWARD OR MISSING, THE CONSOLE SHIFT LEVER MAY NOT SHIFT THE TRANSMISSION AND/OR THE TRANSMISSION RANGE INDICATOR MAY INDICATE THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS IN THE "PARK" OR "P" POSITION WHEN IT IS NOT.
Manufacturer remedy
THE DEALER WILL INSPECT AND IF NECESSARY CORRECT THE SHIFT CABLE RETAINING CLIP INSTALLATION AT NO CHARGE.
ON THE INVOLVED VEHICLES THE BRAKE STOPLIGHT AND CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH WHICH IS OPERATED BY THE BRAKE PEDAL MAY HAVE BEEN ASSEMBLED WITH AN INCORRECT LUBRICANT ON THE ACTUATING PLUNGER. THIS CAN CAUSE THE REAR BRAKE STOPLIGHTS TO BECOME INOPERATIVE AND THE CRUISE CONTROL, IF ACTIVATED, TO STAY ELECTRICALLY ENGAGED.
Manufacturer remedy
DEALER WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE BRAKE STOPLIGHT AND CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH AT NO COST TO OWNER.
Owner complaints
A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.
Component
Complaints
Median mileage
Tires: tread/belt
3
84,009 mi
The 1978 model has 3 times as many complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.
Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.