Suspension: front: control arm: upper ball joint (Volkswagen)
Vehicle recall 79V-270. NHTSA received VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC’s report on Dec 27, 1979.
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 VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC’s report on Dec 27, 1979. Copied from NHTSA on Oct 20, 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 BOLTS WHICH ATTACH EACH LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE FRONT BALL JOINT TO THE UPPER WISHBONE, MAY NOT HAVE BEEN SUFFICIENTLY TIGHTENED DURING ASSEMBLY.
THIS COULD CAUSE THE BALL JOINT TO SEPARATE FROM THE WISHBONE.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 20, 2026. Updated daily.
- NHTSA’s part: Suspension: front: control arm: upper ball joint.
What should you do?
THE DEALER WILL TIGHTEN THE BALL JOINT BOLTS TO THE CORRECT SPECIFICATIONS AT NO COST TO OWNER.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 20, 2026. Updated daily.
- How to reach the firm: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: VANS.SYSTEM: SUSPENSION; FRONT BALL JOINT BOLTS.CONSEQUENCES OF DEFECT: SEPARATION OF THE BALL JOINT FROM THE WISHBONE COULDCAUSE LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
- Check a vehicle by its VIN at NHTSA: the recalls still open on it are listed there.
Which ones are recalled?
NHTSA counts 2,572 vehicles potentially involved, across everything this recall names.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 20, 2026. Updated daily.
- Volkswagen Vanagonand 1980, before the model years listed here
Who is recalling it?
- Made by VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 20, 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
-
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Recalls flat file before 2010 (FLAT_RCL_PRE_2010).
Released Oct 20, 2026 and checked Oct 20, 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 20, 2026.