1980 Buick Skylark Recalls

1. Recall Description

   UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, THE REAR BRAKES COULD LOCK UP WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING DURING HIGH DECELERATION BRAKING. THE PROBLEM MAY BE CAUSED BY DEFECTIVE PROPORTIONER VALVES IN THE BRAKING SYSTEM.

   Possible Effects

   Action

   THE DEALER WILL INSPECT THE BRAKE SYSTEM PROPORTIONER VALVES AND IF NECESSARY INSTALL NEW VALVES.

   Notes

   VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS.SYSTEM: SERVICE BRAKES; REAR BRAKES.CONSEQUENCES OF DEFECT: REAR BRAKE LOCKUP COULD CAUSE A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROLAND AN ACCIDENT.

   Recall Manufacture Dates

   1978-08-01 - 1979-08-01

   Vehicles Affected

   47371

2. Recall Description

   THE AUTOMATIC COOLER LINE HOSES ON SOME OF THE SUSPECT VEHICLES MAY CONTAIN MATERIAL VOIDS, WHICH COMBINED WITH A HIGH THERMAL EXPANSION AT ELEVATED TEMPERATURES, COULD RESULT IN HOSE FAILURE AND TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKAGE.

   Possible Effects

   Action

   THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THE COOLER LINE HOSES USING HOSES WITH KEVLAR BRAIDED REINFORCEMENT.

   Notes

   VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES.SYSTEM: POWER TRAIN; TRANSMISSION HOSES.CONSEQUENCES OF DEFECT: A VEHICLE FIRE MAY RESULT WHICH COULD CAUSE SERIOUSPERSONAL INJURY.

   Recall Manufacture Dates

   1979-01-01 - 1979-08-01

   Vehicles Affected

   224892

3. Recall Description

   THE STEERING GEAR MOUNTING PLATE ON THE INVOLVED VEHICLES MAY DEVELOP FATIGUE CRACKS AT HIGH MILEAGE WHICH WOULD ALLOW THE STEERING GEAR ATTACHMENT TO BECOME LOOSE. IF THIS CONDITION EXISTS, THE DRIVER MAY NOTICE CONSIDERABLE "FREE PLAY" IN THE STEERING WHEEL.

   Possible Effects

   Action

   THE DEALER WILL INSTALL AN IMPROVED TYPE OF STEERING GEAR MOUNTING BRACKET WITHOUT CHARGE TO OWNER.

   Notes

   VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES.SYSTEM: STEERING; GEAR MOUNTING BRACKET.CONSEQUENCES OF DEFECT: THIS CONDITION MAY RESULT IN DEGRADATION OF STEERINGCONTROL, WHICH COULD LEAD TO LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT.

   Recall Manufacture Dates

   1979-01-01 - 1979-06-01

   Vehicles Affected

   161225

4. Recall Description

   THE TURN SIGNAL FLASHER UNIT INSTALLED ON THE INVOLVED VEHICLES FAILS TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT". THIS INCORRECT UNIT CAUSES THE FLASH RATE TO BE TOO FAST OR RENDERS INOPERATIVE THE FEATURE WHICH CAUSES THE TURN SIGNAL INDICATOR LIGHT(S) IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL TO REMAIN LIT IF ONE OF ONE OR MORE OF THE TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS HAS FAILED.

   Possible Effects

   Action

   DEALER WILL INSTALL THE CORRECT FLASHER UNIT WITHOUT CHARGE TO OWNER.

   Notes

   VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES.SYSTEM: LIGHTING AND COMMUNICATIONS; FLASHER, TURN SIGNALS.CONSEQUENCES OF DEFECT: INOPERATIVE OR MALFUNCTIONING TURN SIGNAL CREATES ANUNSAFE CONDITION THAT COULD LEAD TO A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

   Recall Manufacture Dates

   1979-01-01 - 1979-05-01

   Vehicles Affected

   236

5. Recall Description

   THE FRONT SUSPENSION COIL SPRING MAY HAVE A LARGER THAN DESIRED INSIDE DIAMETER OF THE LOWER COIL WHERE IT RESTS ON THE SPRING SEAT. THIS COULD ALLOW THE SPRING TO BE FORCED OVER THE LOWER SPRING SEAT DUE TO SUSPENSION FORCES.

   Possible Effects

   Action

   DEALER WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE INCORRECT FRONT SUSPENSION COIL SPRINGS WITHOUT CHARGE.

   Notes

   VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES.SYSTEM: SUSPENSION; FRONT COIL.CONSEQUENCES OF DEFECT: THIS CONDITION WOULD CAUSE BRAKE HOSE AND SUSPENSIONDAMAGE. TIRE DAMAGE MAY ALSO OCCUR WITH CONTINUED VEHICLE OPERATION. DAMAGE TOANY OF THESE COMPONENTS COULD CAUSE LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT.

   Recall Manufacture Dates

   1978-08-01 - 1979-03-01

   Vehicles Affected

   23725

6. Recall Description

   THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR INTERFERENCE BETWEEN THE CLUTCH CONTROL CABLE AND BRAKE PIPE IN THE MASTER CYLINDER. THIS CAN RESULT IN RUBBING CONTACT WHEN THE CLUTCH PEDAL IS OPERATED. ALSO, THE BRAKE PIPE CLEARANCE TO THE TRANSMISSION CASE MAY BE INADEQUATE. IF THIS CONDITION EXISTS, IT COULD EVENTUALLY RESULT IN A FAILURE IN THE BRAKE PIPE, CAUSING LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID AND PARTIAL LOSS OF BRAKING ACTION.

   Possible Effects

   Action

   THE CLUTCH CABLE ROUTING WILL BE REVISED TO PREVENT CONTACT WITH THE MASTER CYLINDER, WITHOUT CHARGE.

   Notes

   VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES.SYSTEM: POWER TRAIN; CLUTCH ASSEMBLY.CONSEQUENCES OF DEFECT: SHOULD A PARTIAL LOSS OF BRAKING ACTION OCCUR WHILE THEVEHICLE IS IN MOTION AT A TIME WHEN MINIMUM STOPING DISTANCE IS REQUIRED, ANACCIDENT WOULD RESULT.

   Recall Manufacture Dates

   1978-08-01 - 1979-03-01

   Vehicles Affected

   4382

7. Recall Description

   VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 207, "ANCHORAGE OF SEATS". THE LOCK BAR IN THE FRONT SEAT ADJUSTER ASSEMBLIES MAY NOT ENGAGE PROPERLY AND THE ABILITY OF THE SEAT ADJUSTER TO MAINTAIN THE SEAT IN A LATCHED POSITION DURING AN ACCIDENT MAY BE REDUCED.

   Possible Effects

   Action

   BOTH FRONT SEAT ADJUSTER ASSEMBLIES WILL BE REPLACED AT NO CHARGE TO OWNER.

   Notes

   VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES.SYSTEM: INTERIOR; FRONT SEAT ADJUSTER ASSEMBLY.CONSEQUENCES OF DEFECT: IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT, THE RISK OF INJURY TOPASSENGERS WILL BE INCREASED.

   Recall Manufacture Dates

   1979-01-01 - 1979-02-01

   Vehicles Affected

   35

8. Recall Description

   FUEL HOSES MAY BE INCORRECTLY POSITIONED AND CONTACT THE RIGHT FRONT DRIVE AXLE BOOT DURING VEHICLE OPERATION. AFTER A PERIOD OF TIME, THE ROTATING BOOT COULD WEAR A HOLE IN THE FUEL HOSE, RESULTING IN FULE LEAKAGE.

   Possible Effects

   Action

   IF PROPER CLEARANCE IS NOT PRESENT, THE METAL FUEL PIPE WILL BE REFORMED UPWARDS TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, WITHOUT CHARGE TO OWNER.

   Notes

   VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES.SYSTEM: FUEL; FUEL HOSE.CONSEQUENCES OF DEFECT: LEAKING FUEL COULD LEAD TO A FIRE IN THE ENGINECOMPARTMENT, VEHICLE DAMAGE, AND PERSONAL INJURY TO PASSENGERS.

   Recall Manufacture Dates

   1978-08-01 - 1979-03-01

   Vehicles Affected

   4626

9. Recall Description

   UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE PREMATURE REAR WHEEL SKID DURING BRAKING. REAR WHEEL SKIDDING IS MOST LIKELY TO OCCUR ON A WET OR SLICK SURFACE.

   Possible Effects

   Action

   DEPENDING ON THE TRANSMISSION TYPE AND THE BRAKE COMPONENTS THAT HAVE BEEN INSTALLED, DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE OR REPAIR, AS NECESSARY, CERTAIN FRONT BRAKE COMPONENTS, AND THE PARKING BRAKE CABLES. THE REAR BRAKE SHOES AND LININGS WILL BE REPLACED WITH PARTS THAT USE A MATERIAL WHICH GREATLY REDUCES THE LIKELIHOOD OF REAR WHEEL SKID. ACTIONS TAKEN TO THE FRONT BRAKES ARE TO ENSURE UNIFORMITY OF THE ENTIRE BRAKE SYSTEM. ACTIONS TAKEN TO THE PARKING BRAKE COMPONENTS WILL ENSURE THAT THE PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS, FOR KEEPING THE VEHICLE STATIONARY WHILE MANUAL TRANSMISSION EQUIPPED UNITS ARE IN NEUTRAL AND AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION EQUIPPED UNITS ARE IN PARK, ARE MET.

   Notes

   VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES.SYSTEM: SERVICE BRAKES; REAR BRAKES.CONSEQUENCES OF DEFECT: IF THE DRIVER IS UNABLE TO COMPLETE CORRECTIVE STEERINGOR BRAKING ACTIONS, THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE MAY SKID OUT OF ITS LANE OFTRAVEL, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT.NOTE: UNTIL THE PROBLEM IS CORRECTED, THE DRIVER SHOULD USE CAUTION IN MAKINGHARD BRAKING STOPS.

   Recall Manufacture Dates

   1979-01-01 - 1980-07-01

   Vehicles Affected

   239799