Hearth Record

Seats: front assembly: head restraint (Oldsmobile and Chevrolet)

Vehicle recall 79V-196. NHTSA received GENERAL MOTORS CORP.’s report on Aug 28, 1979.

NHTSA’s own record, on nhtsa.gov

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The short answer

NHTSA received GENERAL MOTORS CORP.’s report on Aug 28, 1979. Copied from NHTSA on Oct 23, 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 INVOVLED VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 201, “OCCUPANT PROTECTION IN INTERIOR IMPACTS”.

INCORRECT HEAD RESTRAINTS MAY HAVE BEEN INSTALLED.

Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 23, 2026. Updated daily.

  • NHTSA’s part: Seats: front assembly: head restraint.

What should you do?

DEALER WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, INSTALL NEW HEAD RESTRAINTS AT NO COST TO OWNER.

Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 23, 2026. Updated daily.

  • How to reach the firm: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH BENCH SEATS.SYSTEM: INTERIOR; HEAD RESTRAINTS.CONSEQUENCES OF DEFECT: IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT IN WHICH A REAR SEATPASSENGER”S HEAD IMPACTS WITH THE FRONT SEAT HEAD RESTRAINT, THE POSSIBILITY OFHEAD INJURY TO THE REAR SEAT PASSENGER MAY BE INCREASED.
  • Check a vehicle by its VIN at NHTSA: the recalls still open on it are listed there.

Which ones are recalled?

NHTSA counts 491 vehicles potentially involved, across everything this recall names.

Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 23, 2026. Updated daily.

  • Oldsmobile Cutlassand 1979, before the model years listed here
  • Chevrolet Malibuand 1979, before the model years listed here

Who is recalling it?

  • Made by GENERAL MOTORS CORP..
Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 23, 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 23, 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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