Hearth Record

Seats: front assembly: recliner (American Motors)

Vehicle recall 78V-229. NHTSA received CHRYSLER CORPORATION’s report on Oct 18, 1978.

NHTSA’s own record, on nhtsa.gov

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The short answer

NHTSA received CHRYSLER CORPORATION’s report on Oct 18, 1978. Copied from NHTSA on Oct 20, 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 MANUAL LOCK RELEASE LEVER ON THE SPLIT-BACK BENCH ASSEMBLIES MAY HAVE BEEN BENT DURING ASSEMBLY.

THIS BENT CONDITION COULD PREVENT THE INERTIA SEAT LOCK ASSEMBLY FROM FUNCTIONING AUTOMATICALLY.

AS A RESULT, THE FRONT SEAT BACK MAY NOT LOCK IN THE UPRIGHT POSITION IF THE CAR IS MOVING FORWARD AND BROUGHT TO AN ABRUPT STOP.

Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 20, 2026. Updated daily.

  • NHTSA’s part: Seats: front assembly: recliner.

What should you do?

THE DEALER WILL REPOSITION THE MANUAL RELEASE LEVER IF FOUND NECESSARY, IN ORDER TO ELIMINATE ANY INTERFERENCE ON THE INERTIA LOCK PENDULUM.

Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 20, 2026. Updated daily.

  • How to reach the firm: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A SPLIT-BACK SEATASSEMBLY.SYSTEM: INTERIOR; SEAT BELT INERTIA LOCK.CONSEQUENCES OF DEFECT: A TILTED FRONT SEAT BACK IN THE CASE OF A SUDDEN STOPCOULD CAUSE SERIOUS PERSONAL INJURY TO SEAT OCCUPANT.
  • Check a vehicle by its VIN at NHTSA: the recalls still open on it are listed there.

Which ones are recalled?

NHTSA counts 122 vehicles potentially involved, across everything this recall names.

Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 20, 2026. Updated daily.

  • American Motors Concordand 1979, before the model years listed here

Who is recalling it?

  • Made by CHRYSLER CORPORATION.
Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 20, 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 20, 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.

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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.

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