Hearth Record

Steering: linkages: drag: link: connection (Dana)

Vehicle equipment recall 81E-006. NHTSA received DANA CORPORATION’s report on Jun 15, 1981.

NHTSA’s own record, on nhtsa.gov

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The short answer

NHTSA received DANA CORPORATION’s report on Jun 15, 1981. 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.

BALL STUDS WERE IMPROPERLY HEAT-TREATED AND CONSTRUCTED FROM AN ALTERNATE MATERIAL.

CRACKS CAN DEVELOP AND BALL STUDS MAY BREAK.

Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 20, 2026. Updated daily.

  • NHTSA’s part: Steering: linkages: drag: link: connection.

What should you do?

VEHICLES WITH DEFECTIVE BALL STUDS SHOULD BE RETURNED TO DEALERSHIP FOR REPLACEMENT OF BALL STUDS.

Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 20, 2026. Updated daily.

  • How to reach the firm: VEHICLE CATEGORY: HEAVY TRUCKS.SYSTEM: STEERING; DRAG LINK 1-3/4 INCH BALL STUDS, PART NO. 235 AND POWERSTEERING VALVE AND DRAG LINK ASSEMBLY, SERIES G-21 (WITH 235 BALL STUD), PARTNO. 40361.CONSEQUENCES OF DEFECT: THIS FAILURE COULD CAUSE LOSS OF STEERING CONTROLWITHOUT WARNING AND, POSSIBLY, AN ACCIDENT.NOTE: VEHICLES WITH DEFECTIVE BALL STUDS SHOULD NOT BE DRIVEN ON ROUGH ROADS,SUBJECTED TO UNNECESSARY STOPS, DRIVEN AT HIGH SPEEDS OR IMPACTED WITH CURBS.THE OWNER SHOULD INSPECT HIS VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY FOR THE PRESENCE OF THEDEFECTIVE BALL STUD. THE POTENTIALLY DEFECTIVE BALL STUDS MAY BE IDENTIFIED BYINSPECTING THE FACE OF THE THREAD END. THEY WILL HAVE A CENTER DRILL HOLE THATINTERSECTS THE COTTER PIN HOLES. NON-DEFECTIVE STUDS HAVE A DIMPLE ON THE FACETHAT DOES NOT INTERSECT THE COTTER PIN HOLES.

Which ones are recalled?

NHTSA counts 80 items potentially involved, across everything this recall names.

Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 20, 2026. Updated daily.

  • Dana DanaBuilt from Jan 1, 1981 to Mar 1, 1981

Who is recalling it?

  • Made by DANA CORPORATION.
Source:

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.
  • Which ones, by part or lot: the recall’s report on NHTSA’s site gives them where the maker did; this file gives part numbers only where its maker listed them.
  • 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 20, 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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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.

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