Hearth Record

Service brakes, hydraulic (JC Penney and Sears)

Vehicle recall 79V-034. NHTSA received KROMAG, A.G. OF AUSTRIA’s report on Jan 24, 1979.

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 KROMAG, A.G. OF AUSTRIA’s report on Jan 24, 1979. 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.

UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, THE FRONT WHEEL MAY GRAB WHEN THE FRONT SERVICE BRAKE IS ACTUATED.

THIS COULD RESULT IN A WEDGE TYPE ACTION OF ONE SHOE BETWEEN THE BRAKE DRUM AND THE TWIST KEY, WHICH IN TURN COULD PRODUCE AN IRREVERSIBLE BRAKING EFFECT.

Source:

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

  • NHTSA’s part: Service brakes, hydraulic.

What should you do?

DEALER WILL INSTALL A MODIFIED FRONT BRAKE ASSEMBLY WITHOUT CHARGE TO OWNER.

Source:

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

  • How to reach the firm: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOPEDS EQUIPPED WITH FRONT “MAG” WHEELS.SYSTEM: SERVICE BRAKES; FRONT BRAKE SHOE.CONSEQUENCES OF DEFECT: SUDDEN GRABBING WHEN THE FRONT BRAKE IS ENGAGED COULDCAUSE LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT.NOTE: THE OWNER IS ADVISED TO CHECK THE FRONT WHEEL BEARING FOR EXCESSIVE PLAY.OPERATOR SHOULD USE THE REAR BRAKE EXCLUSIVELY, PRIOR TO VEHICLE REPAIR. ASLIGHT DRAGGING ACTION OR AN ABRUPT RESPONSE WHEN APPLYING THE FRONT BRAKE MAYINDICATE THE CONDITION IS PRESENT.
  • Check a vehicle by its VIN at NHTSA: the recalls still open on it are listed there.

Which ones are recalled?

NHTSA counts 15,998 vehicles potentially involved, across everything this recall names.

Source:

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

  • JC Penney Pinto IIand 1978, before the model years listed here
  • JC Penney Free Spirit IIand 1978, before the model years listed here
  • Sears Free Spirit IIand 1978, before the model years listed here
  • Sears Pinto IIand 1978, before the model years listed here

Who is recalling it?

  • Made by KROMAG, A.G. OF AUSTRIA.
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.