Suspension: front: wheel bearing (Buick, Oldsmobile and Chevrolet)
Vehicle recall 78V-242. NHTSA received GENERAL MOTORS CORP.’s report on Nov 6, 1978.
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 Nov 6, 1978. Copied from NHTSA on Oct 27, 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.
UNDER CERTAIN DRIVING CONDITIONS, INCLUDING EXTENDED SEVERE BRAKING, THE WHEEL BEARING AREA MAY ENCOUNTER TEMPERATURES THAT CAN CAUSE THE GREASE TO MIGRATE OUT OF THE BEARING AREA.
THIS WILL REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF LUBRICATION AVAILABLE TO THE BEARINGS AND RESULT IN FRONT WHEEL BEARING FAILURE AND SPINDLE DAMAGE.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 27, 2026. Updated daily.
- NHTSA’s part: Suspension: front: wheel bearing.
What should you do?
THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THE FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS AND ASSOCIATED PARTS ON ALL INVOLVED VEHICLES FREE OF CHARGE.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 27, 2026. Updated daily.
- How to reach the firm: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES.SYSTEM: SUSPENSION; FRONT WHEEL BEARING AND SPINDLE.CONSEQUENCES OF DEFECT: COMPLETE BEARING FAILURE AND SPINDLE DAMAGE COULD CAUSELOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT.NOTE: COMPLETE WHEEL BEARING FAILURE IS USUALLY PRECEDED BY A NOTICEABLE FRONTEND VIBRATION OR NOISE.
- Check a vehicle by its VIN at NHTSA: the recalls still open on it are listed there.
Which ones are recalled?
NHTSA counts 130,965 vehicles potentially involved, across everything this recall names.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 27, 2026. Updated daily.
- Buick Skyhawkand 1975, before the model years listed here
- Oldsmobile Starfireand 1975, before the model years listed here
- Chevrolet Monzaand 1975, before the model years listed here
Who is recalling it?
- Made by GENERAL MOTORS CORP..
NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 27, 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.
Hearth Record wrote these lines.
Sources
-
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Recalls flat file before 2010 (FLAT_RCL_PRE_2010).
Released Oct 27, 2026 and checked Oct 27, 2026. Updated daily. Public domain (U.S. Government work).
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 27, 2026.