THE ELECTRO-CLEAR REAR WINDOW DEFOGGERS CONTAIN A DEFECT WHICH CAUSES THE GLASS TO SHATTER WITHOUT IMPACT

Feb 11, 1981 — Recall Campaign #81V022000

THE ELECTRO-CLEAR REAR WINDOW DEFOGGERS CONTAIN A DEFECT WHICH CAUSES THE GLASS TO SHATTER WITHOUT IMPACT DURING OR SOME TIME AFTER USE OF THE DEFOGGER. VERTICAL ELECTRICAL STRIPS MAY DETERIORATE AND CAUSE HOT SPOTS THAT CAN RESULT IN BREAKAGE OF THE REAR GLASS.

The recall was influenced by the Office of Defects Investigation with about 67,350 units affected.

See recall notice

NHTSA Safety Recall Notice

81V022000

Manufacturer:	General Motors, LLC
Recall date:	February 11, 1981
NHTSA Campaign #:	81V022000
Units affected:	67,350

Description:: THE ELECTRO-CLEAR REAR WINDOW DEFOGGERS CONTAIN A DEFECT WHICH CAUSES THE GLASS TO SHATTER WITHOUT IMPACT DURING OR SOME TIME AFTER USE OF THE DEFOGGER. VERTICAL ELECTRICAL STRIPS MAY DETERIORATE AND CAUSE HOT SPOTS THAT CAN RESULT IN BREAKAGE OF THE REAR GLASS.
Consequeces:
Corrective action:: VEHICLES WILL BE INSPECTED FOR PRESENCE OF A PARTICULAR WEATHERSTRIP. IF PRESENT, A LAYER OF A SPECIAL CONDUCTIVE EPOXY WILL BE ADDED TO THE VERTICAL BAR ON THE REAR WINDOW GLASS. THIS EPOXY IS A NEW CONDUCTIVE MATERIAL WHICH WILL NOT REACT WITH THE WEATHERSTRIP.
Notes:: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ELECTRO-CLEAR REAR WINDOWDEFOGGERS.SYSTEM: DEFOGGER; REAR WINDOW.CONSEQUENCES OF DEFECT: DRIVER DISTRACTION FROM THE EXPLOSION COULD RESULT IN AVEHICLE ACCIDENT. BROKEN OR HOT GLASS COULD CAUSE PERSONAL INJURY TO VEHICLEPASSENGERS, OTHER DRIVERS, AND NEARBY PEDESTRIANS.NOTE: OWNERS ARE ADVISED NOT TO USE REAR WINDOW DEFOGGER UNTIL VEHICLE ISINSPECTED.

Affects the following:

1980 CHEVROLET MALIBU Complaints
U.S. ROYAL, STEEL BELTED RADIAL 195R75-14 TIRE SIDEWALL FAILED CAUSING BLOW OUT.;
1980 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS Complaints
ABOUT A 1.5 TO 2 YEARS AGO I PURCHASE A FIRESTONE 721 PASSENGER CAR TIRE. I ALMOST IMMEDIATELY BEGAN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR RIDING RUFF. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE FIRESTONE DEALER WHERE I BOUGHT THE TIRE AND TOLD THEM THAT MY TIRE WERE OUT OF BALANCE AND THAT THEY NEEDED REBALANCING. THEY SAID THAT MY RIMS WERE BENT, THEY REPLACED THEM AND IT STILL DIDN'T STOP THE VIBRATION. NEXT, THEY SAID MY REAR AXLE WAS BENT AND THAT WAS THE CAUSE OF THE VIBRATION. I DIDN'T HAVE THE FUNDS AT THE TIME TO REPLACE MY REAR ALXE I WOULD HAVE TO PUT UP WITH THE ROUGH RIDE. SHORTLY THERE AFTER, ON A TRIP TN THE VIBRATION GOT ALOT WORSE, UNTIL I HEARD WHAT SOUNDED SOMEONE HITTING THE SIDE OF MY CAR WITH A BASEBALL BAT I PULLED OFF THE HIGHWAY AND FOUND THAT THE NEW 721 THAT I BOUGHT THREADS CAME OFF AND HIT THE SIDE OF MY CAR KNOCKING THE TRIM OFF OF IT. I DROVE THE REST OF THE WAY TO MEMPHIS ON THE DONUT, ALSO, I NOTICE AS SOON AS I PUT THE SPARE ON AND WAS ON THE HIGHWAY THE VIBRATION I HAD PUT UP WITH FOR THE LAST YEAR COMPLETELY DISAPPEARED. IN MEMPHIS THEY GAVE ME ANOTHER 721 FIRESTONE TIRE THAT I CURRENTLY HAVE NOW, THAT WAS OVER A YEAR AGO. IN THE LAST WEEK, I HAVE NOTICED ANOTHER VIBRATION CROPPING UP IN MY CAR. I HAVE 3 NEW MICHELINS AND THE 721 THAT I GOT IN MEMPHIS ON MY CAR. WHEN I GET UP TO ABOUT 55MILES/HR THE VIBRATION GETS ALOT WORSE. I AFRAID THE 721'S BELTS ARE ABOUT TO SPLIT AGAIN. ALTOUGH THE 721 HAS OVER 60 TO 70 PERCENT OF IT'S THREAD LEFT. WHAT WOULD YOU RECOMMEND IN MY CASE?( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 195R14 );