RoadVitals

1984 Am General FJ8C

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
0
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
3
Latest Aug 8, 1988
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
2
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0

Overview

Our database contains no NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1984 Am General FJ8C. 3 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 2 NHTSA investigations name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Safety recalls

3 campaigns cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
88V132000

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

Aug 8, 1988
5,645 units potentially affected
The defect: PLASTIC PRODUCTION ENGINE VALVE ROCKER COVER MAY LEAK OIL DUE TO WARPING OR IMPROPER SEALING.
The risk: OIL COULD IGNITE AND CREATE AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE.
The remedy: REPLACE ENGINE VALVE ROCKER COVER.
AM GENERAL CORPORATIONView on NHTSA.gov
87V041000

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

Apr 7, 1987
5,645 units potentially affected
The defect: VACUUM HARNESS ASSEMBLY HOSES BECOME LOOSE AND CAN CONTACT ENGINE EXHAUST PORTS. CONTACT WITH EXHAUST EXPOSES HOSES TO HIGH TEMPERATURE WHICH CAUSES CARBONIZATION OF THE HOSES MATERIAL.
The risk: AS A RESULT, COMBUSTION OR AUTO IGNITION CAN TAKE PLACEAND THE HOSE IGNITES WHICH CAN CAUSE SEVERE ENGINE COMPARTMENT DAMAGE ANDPOSSIBLE LOSS OF VEHICLE DUE TO FIRE.
The remedy: REROUTE VACUUM HOSES TO PRECLUDE CONTACT WITH EXHAUST SYSTEM.
AM GENERAL CORPORATIONView on NHTSA.gov
84V087000

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

Aug 1, 1984
497 units potentially affected
The defect: WHEN TESTED ACCORDING TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD 301, "FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITY". RUPTURES IN THE FUEL SYSTEM OCCURRED IN A 30 MPH FRONTAL COLLISION, ALLOWING FUEL TO LEAK. THE HARDWARE USED TO ATTACH THE BODY TO THE CHASSIS FAILED IN THE TEST. MOVEMENT OF THE VEHICLE"S BODY DURING THE COLLISION RESULTED IN RUPTURES IN FUEL SYSTEM.
The remedy: ADDITIONAL HARDWARE WILL BE INSTALLED TO TIE THE REAR BODY TO THE REAR BUMPER, A SPACER WILL BE PLACED IN FRONT OF THE FUEL TANK, AND THE FUEL LINES WILL BE REROUTED TO PREVENT SHEARING. WORK WILL BE COMPLETED WITHOUT CHARGE.
AM GENERAL CORPORATIONView on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

EA88009ClosedEngineering Analysis

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES

Opened Nov 16, 1987
Closed Jan 9, 1990

ANALYSIS:MANY OF THE REPORTS INDICATE THAT THE PLASTIC VALVE COVER OR THE\TV GASKETING MATERIAL LOSES ITS STRUCTURAL AND/OR SEALING INTEGRITY DUE TOTHE HIGH ENGINE TEMPERATURES ASSOCIATED WITH THE AMC 258 ENGINE.TESTINGPERFORMED BY A LOCAL FLEET CLEARLY DEMONSTRATED THAT UNDER NORMAL DRIVINGCONDITIONS, MOTOR OIL LEAKS IN THE VICINITY OF THE #3 OR #4 CYLINDERS (OVERTHE EXHAUST MANIFOLD) CAN RESULT IN A FIRE SERIOUS ENOUGH TO DESTROY AVEHICLE.AMC HAS ISSUED NUMEROUS TSB'S REGARDING THE PROPER/IMPROPER METHOD OF SEAL-ING THE VALVE COVER-HEAD INTERFACE.1981-84 AMC 6-CYLINDER ENGINES AREEQUIPPED WITH A PLASTIC VALVE COVER WHICH HAS 5 GUIDE PINS AND 2 FASTENERS.THE COVER USED IN LATER MODELS WAS RE-DESIGNED TO HAVE 5 ATTACHING POINTS,AND THIS NEW VALVE COVER CAN BE USED ON OLDER ENGINES BY MEANS OF AMODIFICATION KIT.AS EXPECTED, COMPLAINTS OF ENGINE FIRES IN 1985 MODELSDROPPED SIGNIFICANTLY, INDICATING THAT THE ADDITION OF THE NEW VALVE COVERMAY HAVE SOLVED THE PROBLEM.STATUS: IR TO THE MANUFACTURER SENT 12/1/87.PROPOSED ACTION: OPEN AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS.===

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINELed to recall 88V132000
PE87024ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES

Opened Mar 24, 1987
Closed May 1, 1987

ANALYSIS: SUBJECT VEHICLES USE AN AMC 6-CYLINDER ENGINE WHICH, FOR EARLIERMODEL YEARS, WAS WITHIN THE SCOPE OF EA84-015: ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES IN1981-83 AMC VEHICLES USING AMC 6-CYLINDER ENGINES.THIS EA WAS CLOSED INJUNE OF 1986.ALTHOUGH AM GENERAL IS THE FINAL STAGE MANUFACTURER, AN IRWAS ALSO FORWARDED TO AMC.THE POST OFFICE FLEET IS PRESENTLY EVALUATINGTHE VEHICLES UNDER A VARIETY OF TEST CONDITIONS, IN AN EFFORT TO SIMULATEAN ENGINE FIRE UNDER CONDITIONS WHICH ARE BOTH VERIFIABLE AND REPRODUCIBLE.SUMMARY OF INFORMATION FROM MANUFACTURER:ON MARCH 30, 1987, AM GENERALISSUED A SAFETY RECALL (87V-041) CONCERNING ALLEGED ENGINE COMPARTMENTFIRES IN THE SUBJECT FLEET.THE RECALL WILL INVOLVE MODIFICATIONS TO THEVACUUM SYSTEM IN AN EFFORT TO ELIMINATE FURTHER FIRE OCCURRENCES.STATUS:CLOSE THIS PRELIMINARY ANALYSIS.===

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGLed to recall 87V041000

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

No owner complaints recorded for this model year

Either none have been filed with NHTSA, or this vehicle is too new for reports to have accumulated.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Am General FJ8C by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
1987001—
1986001—
1985001—
1984Viewing032—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.