Equipment: appliance: air conditioner (American Motors)
Vehicle equipment recall 81E-013. NHTSA received AMERICAN’s report on Sep 1, 1981.
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The short answer
NHTSA received AMERICAN’s report on Sep 1, 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.
DUE TO A DEFECT IN THE WIRING SYSTEM, DEALER-INSTALLED AIR CONDITIONING KITS MAY CAUSE THE ENGINE TO CONTINUE RUNNING WHEN THE IGNITION KEY IS TURNED TO THE “OFF” POSITION AND THE AIR CONDITIONER IS IN OPERATION.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 20, 2026. Updated daily.
- NHTSA’s part: Equipment: appliance: air conditioner.
What should you do?
UPON INSPECTION, THE AIR CONDITIONING WIRING SYSTEM WILL BE MODIFIED AND A CIRCUIT BREAKER WILL BE INSTALLED.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 20, 2026. Updated daily.
- How to reach the firm: VEHICLE CATEGORY: PASSENGER VEHICLES.SYSTEM: EQUIPMENT; AIR CONDITIONING WIRING.CONSEQUENCES OF DEFECT: IF THE ENGINE DOES NOT SHUT OFF, THE VEHICLE COULD MOVEUNEXPECTEDLY AND AN ACCIDENT COULD RESULT.NOTE: MANUFACTURER ADVISES THAT THE AIR CONDITIONER SHOULD NOT BE USED UNTILTHE DEFECT IS CORRECTED.
Which ones are recalled?
NHTSA counts 366 items potentially involved, across everything this recall names.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 20, 2026. Updated daily.
- American Motors American MotorsBuilt from May 1, 1980 to Aug 1, 1980
Who is recalling it?
- Made by AMERICAN.
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.
Hearth Record wrote these lines.
Sources
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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.