RoadVitals

1983 American Motors Eagle

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

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.
1
Latest Jun 3, 1999
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.
2
Latest Apr 30, 2009
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.
1

Overview

Our database contains 1 NHTSA owner-reported complaint for the 1983 American Motors Eagle, most frequently naming the electrical category. 2 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.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Electrical1100.0%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

2 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
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
07E064000

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

Aug 27, 2007
34,000 units potentially affected
The defect: CERTAIN FEDERAL-MOGUL AFTERMARKET FUEL PUMPS SOLD UNDER THE BRAND NAMES OF CARTER, ACCUFLOW, NAPA, TRUFLOW, PARTS DEPO, AND PARTS MASTER, SHIPPED BETWEEN AUGUST 2006 AND JULY 2007 FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE FUEL PUMP DIAPHRAGM IN CERTAIN PRODUCTION RUNS MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY INSTALLED OR INADEQUATELY TESTED WHICH MAY CAUSE THE FUEL PUMP TO LEAK.
The risk: A LEAKING FUEL PUMP COULD CREATE A VEHICLE FIRE HAZARD.
The remedy: FEDERAL-MOGUL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 15, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FEDERAL-MOGUL AT 248-354-7700.
FEDERAL-MOGUL 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
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

Recent owner complaints

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

Electrical
Filed Jun 3, 1999
Fire reported

VEHICLE FIRE; 10 MINUTES AFTER BEING PARKED VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. DEALER/MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. *AK

NHTSA ID
838824
Incident
May 31, 1999

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

American Motors Eagle by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
1988010—
1987110—
1985211—
1984231—
1983Viewing122—
1982242—
1981042—
1980042—

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.