Hearth Record

Power train: automatic transmission: lever and linkage: column shift (Oldsmobile and Cadillac)

Vehicle recall 78V-252. NHTSA received GENERAL MOTORS CORP.’s report on Nov 20, 1978.

NHTSA’s own record, on nhtsa.gov

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The short answer

NHTSA received GENERAL MOTORS CORP.’s report on Nov 20, 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 TRANSMISSIONS HAVE BEEN ASSEMBLED WITH A HIGHER THAN NORMAL RETURN SPRING LOAD ON THE TRANSMISSION LOCKING PAWL.

WHEN THE PARK POSITION IS SELECTED WITH THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER, THE PARKING PAWL MAY NOT ENGAGE.

Source:

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

  • NHTSA’s part: Power train: automatic transmission: lever and linkage: column shift.

What should you do?

DEALER WILL REPLACE THE PARKING PAWL ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY WITH AN IMPROVED TYPE AT NO COST TO OWNER.

Source:

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

  • How to reach the firm: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES.SYSTEM: POWER TRAIN; TRANSMISSION, AUTOMATIC.CONSEQUENCES OF DEFECT: IF THE PARKING GEAR IS NOT PROPERLY ENGAGED AND VEHICLEIS PARKED ON AN INCLINE WITHOUT SETTING THE PARKING BRAKE, THE VEHICLE COULDROLL FREE AND CAUSE INJURY AND DAMAGE TO PERSONS AND PROPERTY.
  • Check a vehicle by its VIN at NHTSA: the recalls still open on it are listed there.

Which ones are recalled?

NHTSA counts 6,155 vehicles potentially involved, across everything this recall names.

Source:

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

  • Oldsmobile Toronadoand 1977, before the model years listed here
  • Cadillac Eldoradoand 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 8, 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.

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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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