1979 Oldsmobile Cutlass Recalls

1. Recall Description

   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.

   Possible Effects

   Action

   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.

   Notes

   VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES AND LIGHT TRUCKS.SYSTEM: POWER TRAIN; REAR AXLE.CONSEQUENCES OF DEFECT: LOSS OF THE WHEEL ASSEMBLY COULD LEAD TO LOSS OFVEHICLE CONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT.

   Recall Manufacture Dates

   1977-08-01 - 1980-07-01

   Vehicles Affected

   3100000

2. Recall Description

   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.

   Possible Effects

   Action

   ADD A PART TO PREVENT WHEEL CYLINDER FROM ROTATING.

   Notes

   NOTE: OWNER NOTIFICATION WILL BEGIN AFTER SEPTEMBER 1, 1985 AND SHOULD BE COMPLETED BY SEPTEMBER 30, 1985.VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MIDSIZE PASSENGER CARS AND SMALL TRUCKS. SYSTEM: REAR BRAKES.

   Recall Manufacture Dates

   -

   Vehicles Affected

   1810000

3. Recall Description

   THE ELECTRO-CLEAR REAR WINDOW DEFOGGERS CONTAIN A DEFECT WHICH CAUSES THE GLASS TO SHATTER WITHOUT IMPACT DURING OR SOME TIME AFTER USE OF THE DEFOGGER. VERTICAL ELECTRICAL STRIPS MAY DETERIORATE AND CAUSE HOT SPOTS THAT CAN RESULT IN BREAKAGE OF THE REAR GLASS.

   Possible Effects

   Action

   VEHICLES WILL BE INSPECTED FOR PRESENCE OF A PARTICULAR WEATHERSTRIP. IF PRESENT, A LAYER OF A SPECIAL CONDUCTIVE EPOXY WILL BE ADDED TO THE VERTICAL BAR ON THE REAR WINDOW GLASS. THIS EPOXY IS A NEW CONDUCTIVE MATERIAL WHICH WILL NOT REACT WITH THE WEATHERSTRIP.

   Notes

   VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ELECTRO-CLEAR REAR WINDOWDEFOGGERS.SYSTEM: DEFOGGER; REAR WINDOW.CONSEQUENCES OF DEFECT: DRIVER DISTRACTION FROM THE EXPLOSION COULD RESULT IN AVEHICLE ACCIDENT. BROKEN OR HOT GLASS COULD CAUSE PERSONAL INJURY TO VEHICLEPASSENGERS, OTHER DRIVERS, AND NEARBY PEDESTRIANS.NOTE: OWNERS ARE ADVISED NOT TO USE REAR WINDOW DEFOGGER UNTIL VEHICLE ISINSPECTED.

   Recall Manufacture Dates

   1979-01-01 - 1979-12-01

   Vehicles Affected

   67350

4. Recall Description

   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.

   Possible Effects

   Action

   BOTH REAR CONTROL ARM ATTACHMENT BOLTS WILL BE REPLACED WITHOUT CHARGE.

   Notes

   SYSTEM: SUSPENSION; REAR CONTROL ARM ATTACHING BOLTS.VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES AND LIGHT TRUCKS.CONSEQUENCES OF DEFECT: IF THE FRACTURE OCCURS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION,IT COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT.

   Recall Manufacture Dates

   1977-08-01 - 1980-12-01

   Vehicles Affected

   5821160

5. Recall Description

   AN INCORRECT FLUID WAS USED AS AN ASSEMBLY AID (LUBRICATION) DURING INSTALLATION OF THE PISTON SEAL IN FRONT BRAKE CALIPERS WHICH WERE INSTALLED IN 10.5" X 1" DISC BRAKE ASSEMBLIES USED ON "A" SERIES CARS. THE INCORRECT FLUID ATTACKS THE PISTON SEAL AND CAUSES THEM TO SWELL AND DETERIORATE.

   Possible Effects

   Action

   DEALER WILL REPLACE THE BRAKE CALIPER PISTON SEALS.

   Notes

   VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES.SYSTEM: SERVICE BRAKES; HYDRAULIC DISC CALIPER.CONSEQUENCES OF DEFECT: THIS CONDITION MAY DEVELOP FLUID LEAKS WHICH COULDRESULT IN LOSS OF FRONT BRAKE ACTION. LOSS OF BRAKING ACTION MAY LEAD TO LOSSOF VEHICLE CONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT.

   Recall Manufacture Dates

   1978-11-01 - 1978-11-01

   Vehicles Affected

   46

6. Recall Description

   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.

   Possible Effects

   Action

   DEALER WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE BRAKE STOPLIGHT AND CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH AT NO COST TO OWNER.

   Notes

   VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES.SYSTEM: LIGHTING AND COMMUNICATIONS; SWITCH BUTTON RING, BRAKE LIGHTS.CONSEQUENCES OF DEFECT: WITH INOPERATIVE BRAKE LIGHTS, A VEHICLE APPROACHINGFROM THE REAR WOULD NOT BE AWARE THAT BRAKES WERE BEING APPLIED. ALSO, IF THECRUISE CONTROL FAILS TO AUTOMATICALLY DISENGAGE THROUGH BRAKE PEDAL OPERATION,VEHICLE MAY ACCELERATE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS RELEASED. EITHER CONDITION COULDRESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT.NOTE: OWNER IS ADVISED NOT TO ENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL UNTIL IT HAS BEENINSPECTED BY DEALER.

   Recall Manufacture Dates

   1978-12-01 - 1979-01-01

   Vehicles Affected

   15328

7. Recall Description

   THE INVOVLED VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 201, "OCCUPANT PROTECTION IN INTERIOR IMPACTS". INCORRECT HEAD RESTRAINTS MAY HAVE BEEN INSTALLED.

   Possible Effects

   Action

   DEALER WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, INSTALL NEW HEAD RESTRAINTS AT NO COST TO OWNER.

   Notes

   VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH BENCH SEATS.SYSTEM: INTERIOR; HEAD RESTRAINTS.CONSEQUENCES OF DEFECT: IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT IN WHICH A REAR SEATPASSENGER"S HEAD IMPACTS WITH THE FRONT SEAT HEAD RESTRAINT, THE POSSIBILITY OFHEAD INJURY TO THE REAR SEAT PASSENGER MAY BE INCREASED.

   Recall Manufacture Dates

   1979-04-01 - 1979-04-01

   Vehicles Affected

   491

8. Recall Description

   CERTAIN HONEYWELL FRAM RACING BRAND HP4 AND HP8 OIL FILTERS THAT WERE MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 25, 2006, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 14, 2007, AND SOLD FOR USE AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR VEHICLES LIST ABOVE. THE AFFECTED FILTERS ARE MARKED WITH A DATE CODE A61451 THROUGH A72571 SEQUENTIALLY. THE DATE CODE AND PART NUMBER APPEAR ON THE FILTER HOUSING. FRAM RACING HP4 AND HP8 OIL FILTERS NOT BEARING A DATE CODE IN THIS RANGE ARE NOT AFFECTED BY THIS RECALL. THE GASKET OF THE OIL FILTER BECOMES MORE PLIABLE UNDER HIGH TEMPERATURES AND PRESSURES.

   Possible Effects

   THIS CONDITION MAY CAUSE INADEQUATE SEALING AND LOSS OF ENGINE OIL, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE.

   Action

   HONEYWELL WILL REPLACE THE AFFECTED OIL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN DURING NOVEMBER 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-890-2075.

   Notes

   CUSTOMERS MAY CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION''S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153); OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

   Recall Manufacture Dates

   -

   Vehicles Affected

   121680