The defect
THE INVOLVED VEHICLES WERE EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS IN WHICH THE PARKING PAWL WAS NOT HEAT-TREATED. DURING NORMAL VEHICLE OPERATION, A PARKING PAWL THAT HAS NOT BEEN HEAT-TREATED COULD BECOME DEFORMED OR WORN TO THE POINT THAT THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT LOCK IN "PARK". AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE COULD ROLL FREE IF THE DRIVER DOES NOT SET THE PARKING BRAKE WHEN PARKING OR LEAVING VEHICLE UNATTENDED.
The remedy
DEALER WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE PARKING PAWL WITH ONE THAT HAS BEEN HEAT-TREATED.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|
Components: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
Other power train recalls in 1978
14 of the 272 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 1978 concerned the power train; FORD MOTOR COMPANY filed 963 campaigns in all.
| 78V252000 20 Nov 1978 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 78V236000 23 Oct 1978 | FIAT MOTORS OF N.A., INC. |
| 78V201000 15 Sept 1978 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
| 78V174000 9 Aug 1978 | JAGUAR CARS |
| 78V144000 19 Jun 1978 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
| 78V138000 13 Jun 1978 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 78V096000 28 Apr 1978 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
| 78V062000 24 Mar 1978 | VOLVO OF AMERICA CORP. |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 1978