v>EPA
Unrtsd States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Mobile Source Enforcement
~•vision
Wasnmgtcn,D.G 2C460
April 1979
Emission
Recall
Report
OO
O

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Introduct ion
Section 207(c) of the Clean Air Act (Act) provides
that if a substantial number of any class of vehicles or
engines, although properly maintained and used, do not
conform to the emission standards when in actual use, the
Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (SPA)
shall order the manufacturer to submit a remedial plan to
remedy the nonconformity.
In many cases the Office of Enforcement, through its
Mobile Source Enforcement Division, is either directly or
indirectly responsible for the recall of nonconforming
vehicles, although the manufacturers often declare recalls
without EPA intervention. This report is a cumulative
listing of all recalls announced during the calendar year
1978 .
The auto-related emission standards were established by
the Act to protect and enhance the quality of the Nation's
air so as to promote the public health and welfare. Hydro-
carbon (HC) and oxides of nitrogen (NOx) emissions contained
in the exhaust of motor vehicles form photochemical oxidants
when exposed to sunlight. Photochemical oxidants may cause
irritation to the respiratory system, eyes, and mucous
membranes. It is particularly hazardous to the health of
the elderly and very young. Carbon monoxide (CO), another
component of the vehicle exhaust emissions, combines with

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hemoglobin in the blood stream reducing the amount of
oxygen distributed throughout the body. Carbon monoxide is
harmful to persons who have heart ailments, lung disease,
anemia, or cardiovascular diseases. Those in-use vehicle
classes found to be in noncompliance with the emission
standards established in the Act are subject to recall.
Informal recall investigations are continually being
initiated by the Office of Enforcement. These often
come to EPA's attention through in-use testing programs,
or citizen reports. All reports of possible emission
control system failures are reviewed. If a widespread
problem appears to exist, a formal investigation is initiated.
This investigation may indicate that a substantial number
of vehicles are not complying with Federal standards. In
this case, a recall of these vehicles would be considered.
If a manufacturer determines that a specific emission-
related defect exists in twenty-five or more vehicles
within a model year, a defect report (DR) must be submitted
to the EPA not more than 15 working days after the defect
is found. Defect reports give a description of the possible
defect, the number and type of vehicles estimated to have
the problem, the emissions impact of the defect, and any
indication of manufacturer follow-up. These reports are
available for review at the Public Information Center at
the Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M Street, S.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20460.

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Recalls are classified as either ordered (0), influenced
(I), or voluntary (V). If the results of a formal EPA
investigation indicate that a class of cars does not comply
with the provisions of the Clean Air Act, a recall is
ordered. When the manufacturer voluntarily recalls the
defective cars after EPA has initiated an investigation, the
recall is considered influenced. Those recalls conducted
prior to an EPA investigation are considered voluntary.
After a recall is ordered, the manufacturer has
45 days to submit a remedial plan to the EPA for approval,
or request a hearing to contest the decision. The remedial
plan describes the proposed repair, the recall implementation
procedures, and the proposed owner and dealer notification
letters. After the remedial plan has been approved,
the manufacturer notifies the affected owners that the
emissions nonconformity in their vehicles will be repaired
free of charge.
The first section of this report lists the number
of foreign and domestic recall campaigns announced in
1978. These include ordered, influenced, and voluntary
recalls that have already been initiated by the manufacturer
as well as recalls in which the remedial plan has not yet
been approved by the EPA. The second section is a more
comprehensive listing of the facts concerning each specific
case.

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EPA invites the public to report potential emission
control component failures. Persons with emission problems
or inquiries about other recalls should write to:
Director, Mobile Source Enforcement Division
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
401 M Street, S.W. (EN-340)
Washington, D.C. 20460
Reports should indicate the make, model, year, engine
size and serial number (VIN) of the vehicle, if known,
and all pertinent facts relating to the suspected problem.
E „	_ 	on
Deputy Assistant Administrator for
Mobile Source and Noise Enforcement
(EN-3 37 )

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-5-
SUMMAEY TABULATIONS
(January 1, 1978 - December 31, 1978)
Motor Vehicle Emission Recall Campaigns
Manufacturer
Number of	Numoer of
Recall Campaigns Vehicles Recalled
I.
Domestic
American Motors Corporation
Chrysler Corporation
Ford Motor Company
General Motors Corporation
2
5
11
3
452,707
265,215
3,388,740
114,000
Total
21
4,220,662
II. Foreign
American Honda Motor Company,	Inc. 1	422,610
British Leyland Motors, Inc.	2	55,330
Fiat Motors of North America,	Inc. 2	11,043
Nissan Motor Company (Datsun)	1	147,490
Volvo of America Corporation	_1	2,826
Total	7	639,299
Total Domestic and Foreign	4,859,961

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DOMESTIC EMISSION RECALL CAMPAIGNS
Case/Defect
Nunber
Status
Date of Owner
Notification
Vehicle Class
Bnission Problem
Nunit)er of
Vehicles Recalled
77-5
(has not started)
77-5
(has not started)
American Motors Corporation
All Federal 1976 cars;
Federal Post Office
Dispatchers built
between 9/1/74 and
7/30/77; Federal 1976
CJ5/7 Jeep with
232 CID engine
All 1974, 1975 and
1976 California cars;
all 1974-78 California
Jeep vehicles; all 1976
Canadian cars; all 1976
Federal Jeeps with
engines other than
the 232 CID
Defective BGR
backpressure
transducer
resulting in
excessive NQx
emi ssions
Defective BGR
backpressure
transducer
resulting in
excessive NOx
emissions
330,330
122,377
i
CT\
I
Chrysler Corporation
78-3/DR-43
V
9/22/78
1976 and 1977 bodge Colts,
and Plymouth Arrows
passsenger cars equipped
with 1.6 or 2.0 liter
engines
Defective reed
valve in the
air injection
system resulting
in excessive CO
and IIC emissions
198,454

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Case/Defect
Number	Status
78-1	0
DR-35	V
DR-44	V
Date of Owner
Notification
(has not started)
4/24/78
6/6/78
DU-47
V
3/14/78
Vehicle Class
Number of
hMssion Problem	Vehicles Recalled
1978 318 CID	Excessive CO	66,000
engines: Plymouth	emissions
Fury, Dodge Monaco
Charger, Magnun, and
Chrysler Cordoba
1978 Plymouth and
Dodge Light Duty
Trucks with 318,
360 or 440 CID
engines and dual
Evaporative Control
System canisters
1978 Dodge D100
Trucks equipped
with Federal Light
Duty Cycle 318 or
360 CID Engines
Defect in evap-
orative control
system canister
resulting in
excessive 11C
emissions
emission of a feed
wire harness causing
the choke heater
circuit to be in-
operative and
resulting in
excessive 00 and
HC emissions
695
18
1978 Light Duty D100
Dodge Trucks with
California 318 or 360
CID Engines
Incorrect emission
control label
48

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Case/Defect	Date of Owner
Number	Status	Notification
77-3A	0	(has not started)
77-3	I	(has not started)
DR-33	V
DK-40	V
1/30/78
i/30/78
Vehicle Class
Ford Motor Corporation
1975 and 1976
351M and 400 CID
engines and 2 bbl
carburetors:
Fords, Torinos,
Rancheros, Elites,
Montegos, Marquis,
Cougars
1975 and 1976 302
CID, 351W, and
460 CID engines;
Granada, Maverick,
Monarch, Cornet,
Mustang, Lincoln,
'P-Bird, Mark IV,
Ford, Marquis,
Torino, Elite
Montego, Cougar,
F-100, E-100, Bronco
1977 Pinto with
2.3L engines,
A/C ai\d manual
tr ansmission
J 977 F-series truck
with dual fuel tanks
Number of
Qnission Problem Vehicles Recalled
Defective EGR	640,000
backpressure
transducer
resulting in
excessive NOx
emissions
Defective EGR	1,000,000
backpressure
transducer
resulting in
excessive NOx
emissions
Missing catalytic	4,017
converter grass
shield
Kink in fuel vapor	16,140
inlet hose resulting
in increased I1C
emissions

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Case/Defect
Hunter	Status
DH-65	V
Date of Owner
Notification
5/12/78
76-15B
l/l7/7a
Dit-38
B/78
78-4/DK-46
V
10/31/78
IK-2 3
'4/2/1 a
DH-10
DK-31
8/21/78
f!/l»/78
Vehicle Cluss
Number of
Emission Problem Vehicles Recalled
1977 California
F-100 trucks
W/300 CID i, Manual
Transmission
1977	E-100 vans
w/300 CID and Auto,
transnission.
1975 351W(1CFF) CID
er»j ines: Granada,
Monarch, ami 13—10U
trucks
All 11)78 LDV models
under 6000 iMV
{except Fiestas arxi
Couriers) and sowe
1978	California Trucks
over 6000 G\M.
1978 Fairmonts aivi
Zephyrs equipixid
with 3.3L {200 CID)
engines , antototic
transmission, built
prior to April 12,
1973 with pulse type
seconlary air supply
sys teas
1978 2.3L, Eayines:
Faimiont, Zephyr
1978 460 CID tlujinus:
F-150/250/350 trucks
1978 Lincoln 0 CID uifjincs
Defective carburetor	533
aivi FC'.k vdlve resulting
in excessive (Jt) emissions
Defective ECU ported	7,155
vacuum switch
Defective canister	1,500,000
purye valve resulting	^
in increased I1C emissions	i
Defective valve in	218,500
the air injection
systea
lwpta|X.'r assembly	775
of tlierinactor air
jxjnp vacuum lines
umission of enjine	320
sjxied sensor nudule
luiproper instril lut ion	liuu
ol wiiissioii control
o |taiiiioiit

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Case/Defect
Number
Status
Date of Owner
Notification
DR-70	V	6/78
DR-85	V	10/4/78
75-5	I	(has not started)
Number of
Vehicle Class	linission Problem Vehicles Recalled
General Motors Corporation
Some 1978 Chevrolet
and OlC CK 10/20 Trucks
1977 Chevrolets and
GMC vehicles equipped
with the L-6 250 CID
California engines
1975 500 CID Cadillac
engine with 4 bbl carb:
Eldorado, Brougham
Calais, Deville and
Fleetwood
Incorrect hose routing	Chevy-2378
resulting in excessive	GM-519
emissions
Clogged BGR passages	16,103
Defective carburetor	95,000 o
design. (Part No.	'
7045193)

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FOREIGN EMISSION lUiCALI, CAMPAIGNS
Case/Defect
Number
Status
Date of Owner
Notification
Vehicle Class
Emission Problem
Number of
Vehicles Recalled
American Honda Motor Company, Incorporated
77-0
9/5/78	1975, 76, 77
Civic CVCC
Sedans and
wagons? 76
and 77 Accords;
73 and 77 Civics
British Leyland Motors, Incorporated
77-10
10/78
UR-bU
12/22/70
All 1976, 77 and
some 78 MSB's
and 1975 Calif-
ornia MGB's
with 110 CID
engines
1978 Jaguar XJ6:
4.2 fuel injection
engine
Defective ther-
mosensor in
vacuum advance
system resulting
in excessive NOx
and HC emissions
422,610
53,095
Defective catalytic
converter and car-
buretor metering rod
failure resulting
in excessive CO and
HC emissions
Delay in the initiation 2,235
of the feedback circuit
of the Electronic Control
unit causing the fuel mixture
to be 15% richer
Fiat
DR-57
V
DR-5B
V
6/26/78
6/26/78
1977 & 78 Calif. 128
Sedans t» 1978 Calif.
X l/9s.
1978 128 Sedans,
128 Hatchbacks,
124 Spyders, &
131 Station Wagon
Improper operating of
the diverter by-pass
relay in the air
injection system.
Separation of the seam
of the vapor-liquid
separator in the
evpaorative emission
control system
820
10,223

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Case/Defect
Number
Status
Date o£ Owner	Number of
Notification	Vehicle Class	Bnission Problem Vehicles Recalled
Nissan Motor Company (Datsun)

6/78
All 1977 models
except the pick-
up truck built
between 2/1/77
and 6/27/77
Defective BGR
backpressure
transducer
resulting in
excessive NOx
amissions
147,490
DR-14
V
1/13/78
Volvo of America Corporation
1977 California
B27F Engine 260
Series
Failed California
Air Resource Board
(CARD) Audit
2,826
to
I

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