Hearth Record

Electrical system: starter assembly: relay (Volkswagen)

Vehicle recall 79V-120. NHTSA received VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC’s report on May 17, 1979.

NHTSA’s own record, on nhtsa.gov

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The short answer

NHTSA received VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC’s report on May 17, 1979. 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.

DUE TO AN IMPROPERLY SEALED ANTENNA MOUNTING HOLE, WATER COULD SEAP INTO THE FUSE RELAY BOARD.

THE WATER ENTERING THE FUSE RELAY BOARD ACTS AS A CONDUCTOR OF CURRENT, THEREBY CHARGING THE STARTER.

Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 27, 2026. Updated daily.

  • NHTSA’s part: Electrical system: starter assembly: relay.

What should you do?

THE DEALER WILL SEAL ALL RADIO ANTENNA CABLE HOLES. IN ADDITION, ELECTRICAL PARTS OF THE RELAY/FUSE BOARD WILL BE CHECKED AND REPLACED IN THE CASE OF CORROSION.

Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 27, 2026. Updated daily.

  • How to reach the firm: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH STANDARD TRANSMISSIONS.SYSTEM: ELECTRICAL; STARTER RELAY.CONSEQUENCES OF DEFECT: THE STARTER COULD BE ACTIVATED AND THE VEHICLE COULDMOVE IF THE TRANSMISSION IS IN GEAR AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE IS NOT APPLIED.THIS COULD CAUSE INJURY TO PERSONS STANDING IN THE PATH OF THE MOVING VEHICLE.
  • Check a vehicle by its VIN at NHTSA: the recalls still open on it are listed there.

Which ones are recalled?

NHTSA counts 540,000 vehicles potentially involved, across everything this recall names.

Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 27, 2026. Updated daily.

  • Volkswagen Rabbitand 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978 and 1979, before the model years listed here
  • Volkswagen Sciroccoand 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978 and 1979, before the model years listed here

Who is recalling it?

  • Made by VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC.
Source:

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.
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 27, 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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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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