Chevrolet Impala 1979

Model Impala made in 1979 by Chevrolet got 3 consumer complains as well as 3 recalls. Consumer complaints with reference, among others things, to fuel system, gasoline and service brakes, hydraulic. There were some recalls concerningexterior lighting and latches/locks/linkages.

Impala year 1979

Recalls
Consumer Complaints

Model 1979

Recalls

Campaign	Manufacturer	Manufacturing date	Type	# of units affected	Date Owner notified Mfg	Recall Initiated by	Manufacturers of recalled vehicles/products	Report Recieved Date	Record Creation Date
EXTERIOR LIGHTING - BRAKE LIGHTS - SWITCH
79V142000	GENERAL MOTORS CORP.	from 12/01/1978 to 01/01/1979	V (Vehicle)	15328		MFR	GENERAL MOTORS CORP.	06/06/1979	10/12/1979
Defect Summary	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.
Consequence Summary
Corrective Summary	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.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES - DOORS - LATCH
79V161000	GENERAL MOTORS CORP.	from 08/01/1977 to 02/01/1979	V (Vehicle)	476245	07/03/1979	MFR	GENERAL MOTORS CORP.	07/02/1979	10/12/1979
Defect Summary	A child could open the rear side compartment door and enter this compartment. the child could become entrapped if the door were to close, as it cannot be unlatched from the inside.
Consequence Summary
Corrective Summary	Dealer will replace the original compartment door latch, which can be latched without a key, with a new assembly that requires a key to latch as well as lock the door.
Notes	Vehicle description: passenger vehicles.system: structure; storage compartment.consequences of defect: in the absence of outside help, the child wouldsuffocate.note: the owner is advised to keep this compartment locked except while eitherloading or unloading it.
SEAT BELTS - FRONT - ANCHORAGE
79V247000	GENERAL MOTORS CORP.	from 09/01/1978 to 10/01/1979	V (Vehicle)	1326404	11/12/1979	MFR	GENERAL MOTORS CORP.	11/13/1979	02/05/1980
Defect Summary	The heads may break off the front outboard seat belt anchor bolts during normal vehicle operation even under no load conditions. this is due to the combination of bolts used, high installation torque and arrangement of the body anchorage.
Consequence Summary
Corrective Summary	Dealer will replace all original equipment front outboard seat belt anchor bolts on the affected vehicles at no cost to owner.
Notes	Vehicle description: passenger vehicles.system: interior; seat belt anchors.consequences of defect: in the event of an accident, failure of a seat beltanchorage will increase the risk of injury to the wearer.

Consumer Complaints

Fail date	miles	occurences
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE - CARBURETOR SYSTEM
05/04/1997		1
	Carburetor leaked gas on manifold causing vehicle fire.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC - FOUNDATION COMPONENTS - MASTER CYLINDER
05/01/1993		1
	Brake master cylinder failed twice. (other vehicle on 479650) *skd
SUSPENSION - FRONT - SPRINGS - LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLY - U-BOLT, LEAF SPRING TO AXLE

	The problem is in a new hitch i just purchased manufactured by valley industries, of lodi, california. kit came with two 7/16 square u-bolts, which required drilling holes into the frame to install. the instructions called for the nuts on the square u-bolts to be tighten to a force of 55 ft.lbs. the bolts provided, will not hold that force. instead they necked and broke at slightly over 40 ft. lbs. i feel they have provided a mild steel bolt instead of a grade #0, 1, or 2. instead of the grade of a #5 which would have held this kind of force. i called the manufacter a couple of times about this today 11/4/02 and finially talked to engineering, who told me that all the u-bolts are mild steel, you can't get u-bolts in a harden steel, in automotive applications. they (the company), didn't understand how the bolts would break, but they would send me out some new ones. it is my contention that they knew all along that the grade of bolts they were providing can not be torqued down to the 55 ft lbs. since most people do not follow the instructions completely, and just tighted until they feel its tight enough. they get away with suppling a lower quality u-bolts they maybe tell govenment and saftey boards. they may save $ .70-1.00 on a installation kit supplying lower grades of bolts. this alone is not much money, but if they did this to 100,000 hitches thats now a lot of saving. is this a saftey problem? it maybe, due to a couple of things. 1. if the hitch was rated and tested for use with a higher grade bolt, that is what should be used in the installation kit. (would it meet a class ll rating with mild steel bolts?) 2. some one may follow direction such as i did by necking and snaping the bolts, or worst stop tighten when they felt it necking leaving the u-bolt in a weaked and damaged condition. dt