Hearth Record

Power train: axle assembly: axle shaft (Pontiac, Oldsmobile and CHEVROLET and 1 more)

Vehicle recall 78V-138. NHTSA received GENERAL MOTORS CORP.’s report on Jun 13, 1978.

NHTSA’s own record, on nhtsa.gov

Watch and the shortlist are kept with a free account, on every device. Your watch list. NHTSA’s own record is on nhtsa.gov.

The short answer

NHTSA received GENERAL MOTORS CORP.’s report on Jun 13, 1978. Copied from NHTSA on Oct 28, 2026.

Every line below is in NHTSA’s own words, with its source beside it.

What’s wrong with it?

The notice gives no hazard in a field of its own.

THE REAR AXLE SHAFTS MAY CONTAIN A FLAW IN THE METAL.

THIS FLAW COULD ALLOW THE SHAFT TO BREAK AND THE TIRE AND WHEEL ASSEMBLY TO SEPARATE.

Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 28, 2026. Updated daily.

  • NHTSA’s part: Power train: axle assembly: axle shaft.

What should you do?

THE DEALER WILL REPLACE ONE OR BOTH REAR AXLE SHAFTS, IF NECESSARY, FREE OF CHARGE.

Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 28, 2026. Updated daily.

  • How to reach the firm: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES.SYSTEM: SUSPENSION; AXLE/SHAFT.CONSEQUENCES OF DEFECT: SHOULD SEPARATION OCCUR WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION,LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING AND AN ACCIDENT COULD RESULT.NOTE: DRIVER SHOULD AVOID FAST CORNERING, RAPID ACCELERATION, OR ANY TYPE OFDRIVING WHICH MAY PRODUCE ABNORMALLY HEAVY LOADS ON THE REAR AXLE SHAFTS UNTILTHE VEHICLE CAN BE INSPECTED.
  • Check a vehicle by its VIN at NHTSA: the recalls still open on it are listed there.

Which ones are recalled?

NHTSA counts 265,068 vehicles potentially involved, across everything this recall names.

Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 28, 2026. Updated daily.

  • Pontiac Lemansand 1977, before the model years listed here
  • Oldsmobile Cutlassand 1977, before the model years listed here
  • Pontiac Grand Prixand 1977, before the model years listed here
  • Chevrolet Monte Carloand 1977, before the model years listed here
  • Buick Regaland 1977, before the model years listed here
  • Chevrolet Malibuand 1977, before the model years listed here
  • Buick Centuryand 1977, before the model years listed here

Who is recalling it?

  • Made by GENERAL MOTORS CORP..
Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 28, 2026. Updated daily.

What the record doesn’t say

  • NHTSA’s recall file doesn’t say whether anyone was hurt.
  • Whether one vehicle or seat has been fixed: only its maker, or NHTSA’s lookup with a VIN, can say.
  • This recall names only model years before 2015, which have no pages here. Your VIN, at NHTSA, says which recalls are open on a vehicle.
  • How many have been returned or fixed isn’t in the notice.
Source:

Hearth Record wrote these lines.

Sources

Source:

Vehicle, car seat, tire and vehicle equipment recalls, owner complaints and crash ratings are from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Copied on Oct 28, 2026.

How to read a record

Four things every record does, shown on an example record made up for this guide.

An example record, made up for this guide

An example nursing home

Made up for this guide: no real place is shown

Not fully inspected in over two years (CMS flag)

11 health citations at the latest inspection cycle

The state average is 14.3.

Source:

CMS, State and US Averages and Health Deficiencies. Released Oct 28, 2026. Updated monthly.

From the homeNone yet. Replies and paid listings aren’t open, and when they open they will sit here, below the record.

1 of 4

Every fact names its source.

Who published it, when, and how often it changes sit beside each fact, with a link to the agency’s own file.

Sign in

A free account keeps your watch list, shortlists, comparisons and saved searches on every device, and can email you when something you watch changes. Browsing never needs one.