RoadVitals

1981 American Motors Eagle Recalls

Safety recall campaigns filed with NHTSA that 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
Recall campaignsA 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.
4
Newest Apr 30, 2009
Carrying an NHTSA advisoryCampaigns where NHTSA told owners not to drive the vehicle, or to park it outside, until the repair is done.
0
Open 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.
0
2 investigations on file

Recall campaigns

4 campaigns cover this model year — what the defect is, what it could cause, and what the remedy is

09E021000

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

Apr 30, 2009
2,790 units potentially affected
The defect: FEDERAL-MOGUL CORPORATION IS RECALLING 2,790 MECHANICAL FUEL PUMPS, P/NO. M6737 SOLD UNDER CARTER AND NAPA BRANDS AND P/NO. 2M6737 SOLD UNDER ACCU-FLOW AND TRU-FLOW BRANDS SHIPPED BETWEEN AUGUST 2008 AND MARCH 2009 FOR USE AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE FUEL PUMP DIAPHRAGM ROD IN CERTAIN PRODUCTION RUNS MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED. IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED PUMP DIAPHRAGM RODS MAY CAUSE THE PUMP TO PRODUCE EXCESS PRESSURE.
The risk: EXCESS FUEL PUMP PRESSURE COULD CAUSE A VEHICLE FIRE.
The remedy: FEDERAL-MOGUL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 12, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FEDERAL-MOGUL AT 1-877-489-6659.
FEDERAL-MOGUL CORPORATIONView on NHTSA.gov
81V081000

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

Jul 6, 1981
11,162 units potentially affected
The defect: THE CRUISE COMMAND ACTUATION CHAIN MAY CATCH ON THE THROTTLE LINKAGE, CAUSING THE THROTTLE TO REMAIN IN A PARTIALLY OPEN POSITION.
The remedy: DEALER WILL REPLACE THE CRUISE COMMAND ACTUATION CHAIN ASSEMBLY, AND A SHIELD WILL BE MOUNTED ON THE THROTTLE LINKAGE AT NO CHARGE TO OWNER.
CHRYSLER CORPORATIONView on NHTSA.gov
81V007000

POWER TRAIN:AXLE HUBS

Jan 9, 1981
505 units potentially affected
The defect: THE FRONT AXLE HUB SPACER MAY HAVE BEEN OMITTED FROM THE FRONT HUB AND BEARING CARRIER ASSEMBLIES. THIS CONDITION COULD ALLOW EXCESSIVE FRONT WHEEL BEARING MOVEMENT RESULTING IN WHEEL BEARING DAMAGE.
The remedy: DEALER WILL REPLACE FRONT SPACER AND WHEEL BEARING AT NO CHARGE TO OWNERS.
CHRYSLER CORPORATIONView on NHTSA.gov
81V016000

SEAT BELTS

Jan 4, 1981
742 units potentially affected
The defect: THE LEFT OR RIGHT FRONT SAFETY BELT ASSEMBLY MAY HAVE BEEN INSTALLED ON THE INCORRECT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE SHOULDER BELT LOCKING MECHANISM MAY NOT FUNCTION UNDER RAPID DECELERATION. UNDER HARD BRAKING APPLICATIONS OR IN A COLLISION, THE SHOULDER PORTION OF THE SEAT BELT SYSTEM MAY FAIL TO PROPERLY RESTRAIN THE PASSENGER. THERE IS INCREASED RISK OF INJURY TO PASSENGERS WHO MAY CONTACT OTHER OBJECTS UNDER THESE CIRCUMSTANCES.
The remedy: SEAT BELTS WILL BE INSPECTED FOR PROPER INSTALLATION AND, IF NECESSARY, SEAT BELTS WILL BE EITHER REPLACED OR RELOCATED IN CORRECT POSITION. WORK WILL BE COMPLETED WITHOUT CHARGE TO OWNERS.
CHRYSLER CORPORATIONView on NHTSA.gov

What a recall is

Safety recall
A 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.
Safety investigation
NHTSA 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.
Manufacturer communication
Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and it is not a recall.

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
EA86024ClosedEngineering Analysis

REAR AXLE FAILURE

Opened Aug 7, 1986
Closed Nov 3, 1987

SUMMARY OF INFORMATION FROM MANUFACTURER:AMC STATES THAT THE REAR AXLEASSEMBLIES FOR THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE THE SAME FOR ALL 1980-1986MODELS WITH NO SIGNIFICANT MODIFICATIONS.AMC DOES NOT CONSIDER THEALLEGED DEFECT TO BE ANY PROBLEM.ANALYSIS: A REVIEW OF THE REPORTS INDICATES THAT MOST OF THE FAILURES APPEAR TO OCCUR IN CANADIAN PRODUCED EAGLE STATION WAGONS WITH 20,000 TO 50,000 MILES AND AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS.STATUS:CLOSED 11/3/87===

SUSPENSION

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources