The defect
THE GROUND WIRE FROM THE BATTERY GROUND ON THE ENGINE TO THE FRAME RAIL WAS OMITTED. THIS CONSTITUTES A NON-COMPLIANCE TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT" AND NO. 121, "AIR BRAKES". AN INTERMITTENT LOSS OF ELECTRICAL GROUND AND SUBSEQUENT DIMMING OF THE LIGHTING SYSTEM COMPONENTS OR A POSSIBLE FALSE INDICATION OF ANTI-LOCK SYSTEM FUNCTION IS THE CAUSE FOR THE NON-COMPLIANCE.
The remedy
THE DEALER WILL INSTALL TWO GROUND CABLES FREE OF CHARGE ON ALL AFFECTED VEHICLES.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES
Other electrical system recalls in 1978
15 of the 272 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 1978 concerned the electrical system; WHITE MOTOR CORPORATION filed 143 campaigns in all.
| 78V264000 13 Dec 1978 | PORSCHE CARS N.A. INC. |
| 78V240000 25 Oct 1978 | WHITE MOTOR CORPORATION |
| 78V239000 24 Oct 1978 | AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO. |
| 78V222000 11 Oct 1978 | MACK TRUCKS, INCORPORATED |
| 78V198000 11 Sept 1978 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
| 78V164000 2 Aug 1978 | JAGUAR CARS |
| 78V147000 21 Jun 1978 | AM GENERAL CORPORATION |
| 78V111000 17 May 1978 | SHASTA INDUSTRIES |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 1978