Suspension: front: control arm: lower ball joint (Austin Healey)
Vehicle recall 78V-258. NHTSA received JAGUAR CARS’s report on Dec 1, 1978.
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The short answer
NHTSA received JAGUAR CARS’s report on Dec 1, 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.
BALL JOINTS INSTALLED ON THE INVOLVED VEHICLES AS REPLACEMENT PARTS MAY HAVE BEEN INCORRECTLY HEAT-TREATED DURING MANUFACTURE.
THESE REPLACEMENT BALL JOINTS MAY BREAK WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, CAUSING THE SUSPENSION TO COLLAPSE.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 28, 2026. Updated daily.
- NHTSA’s part: Suspension: front: control arm: lower ball joint.
What should you do?
DEALER WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE SUSPECT BALL JOINTS AT NO COST TO OWNER.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 28, 2026. Updated daily.
- How to reach the firm: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES.SYSTEM: SUSPENSION; BALL JOINTS.CONSEQUENCES OF DEFECT: FAILURE OF THE FRONT SUSPENSION COULD CAUSE LOSS OFVEHICLE CONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT.
- Check a vehicle by its VIN at NHTSA: the recalls still open on it are listed there.
Which ones are recalled?
NHTSA counts 22,714 vehicles potentially involved, across everything this recall names.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 28, 2026. Updated daily.
- Austin Healey Marinaand 1973, 1974 and 1975, before the model years listed here
Who is recalling it?
- Made by JAGUAR CARS.
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.
Hearth Record wrote these lines.
Sources
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National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Recalls flat file before 2010 (FLAT_RCL_PRE_2010).
Released Oct 28, 2026 and checked Oct 28, 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 28, 2026.