The defect
THE LOWER STEERING SHAFT ASSEMBLIES CONTAIN COUPLING RIVET PINS WHICH WERE NOT RIVETED SECURELY ENOUGH DURING MANUFACTURE. CONSEQUENTLY ONE OR BOTH OF THE PINS COULD LOOSEN FROM THE FLANGE OF THE FLEXIBLE COUPLING DURING VEHICLE OPERATION. IF ONE PIN IS LOOSE, FREE PLAY WOULD RESULT. IF BOTH PINS WORK LOOSE, LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL WOULD OCCUR. ALSO, THE SHAFT ASSEMBLY MAY NOT CONTAIN A METAL REINFORCEMENT BETWEEN ONE OR BOTH OF THE RIVET PINS AND THE RUBBER FLEXIBLE COUPLING. AS A RESULT, THE RUBBER FLEXIBLE COUPLING COULD TEAR AND PRODUCE A NOISE OR LOOSE FEELING IN THE STEERING SYSTEM.
The remedy
THE DEALER WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE STEERING SHAFT ASSEMBLY, WITHOUT CHARGE TO OWNER.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|
Components: STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
Other steering recalls in 1978
26 of the 272 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 1978 concerned the steering; FORD MOTOR COMPANY filed 963 campaigns in all.
| 78V269000 21 Dec 1978 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
| 78V267000 20 Dec 1978 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
| 78V244000 7 Nov 1978 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 78V243000 6 Nov 1978 | CHRYSLER CORPORATION |
| 78V186000 24 Aug 1978 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
| 78V171000 8 Aug 1978 | MACK TRUCKS, INCORPORATED |
| 78V172000 8 Aug 1978 | MACK TRUCKS, INCORPORATED |
| 78V166000 7 Aug 1978 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 1978