NHTSA safety recall

Recall 73V013000

Structure › Frame And Members › Underbody Shields — Buick, Chevrolet, Oldsmobile and others · reported 24 Jan 1973 · 3,707,064 vehicles potentially affected

What's wrong

THE POSSIBILITY EXISTS THAT DRIVING ON UNPAVED ROAD SURFACES, PARTICULARLY ROADS WHICH ARE HEAVILY GRAVELED AND WHICH ARE EXTREMELY WAVY OR FILLED WITH CHUCKHOLES, AT SPEEDS WHICH CAUSE THE CAR TO PITCH EXCESSIVELY, THE FRONT CROSSMEMBER MAY SCOOP UP LOOSE STONES OR GRAVEL AND COULD BE THROWN INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. IT IS POSSIBLE FOR ONE OF THESE STONES TO LODGE BETWEEN THE STEERING COUPLING AND THE FRAME AND CAUSE INCREASED STEERING EFFORT OR INTERFERENCE WITH STEERING CONTROL OF THE CAR WHEN STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED TO THE LEFT.

The risk

INCREASED STEERING EFFORT OR INTERFERENCE WITH STEERINGCONTROL MAY LEAD TO LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT.

The fix

INSPECT AND INSTALL SHIELD ON AFFECTED VEHICLES.

SYSTEM: STEERING.VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER CARS.

NHTSA campaign
73V013000
Filed by
General Motors Corp.
Report received
24 Jan 1973
Owners notified
6 Feb 1973
Potentially affected
3,707,064

Vehicles covered by this recall

Whether a particular car is affected and still unrepaired depends on its VIN — a model year being listed does not mean every car of that year is included. Check any VIN free on CarLogs, or at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

1971 Buick Centurion 1972 Buick Centurion 1971 Buick Electra 1972 Buick Electra 1971 Buick Estate Wagon 1972 Buick Estate Wagon 1971 Buick Lesabre 1972 Buick Lesabre 1971 Buick Riviera 1972 Buick Riviera 1971 Chevrolet Belair 1972 Chevrolet Belair 1971 Chevrolet Biscayne 1972 Chevrolet Biscayne 1971 Chevrolet Brookwood 1972 Chevrolet Brookwood 1971 Chevrolet Caprice 1972 Chevrolet Caprice 1971 Chevrolet Impala 1972 Chevrolet Impala 1971 Chevrolet Kingswood 1972 Chevrolet Kingswood 1971 Chevrolet Kingswood Estate 1972 Chevrolet Kingswood Estate 1971 Chevrolet Townsman 1972 Chevrolet Townsman 1971 Oldsmobile 88 1972 Oldsmobile 88 1971 Oldsmobile 98 1972 Oldsmobile 98 1971 Pontiac Bonneville 1972 Pontiac Bonneville 1971 Pontiac Catalina 1972 Pontiac Catalina 1971 Pontiac Grand Ville 1972 Pontiac Grand Ville

Is this car's recall fixed?

Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer, for the life of the vehicle. A CarLogs report shows the recall status for a specific VIN as reported by the manufacturer — whether it's open or repaired, and whether the fix is available yet.

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation recall database. Look up another campaign →