Suspension: front: control arm: upper arm (Cadillac, Oldsmobile and Buick)
Vehicle recall 81V-073. NHTSA received GENERAL MOTORS CORP.’s report on Jun 16, 1981.
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The short answer
NHTSA received GENERAL MOTORS CORP.’s report on Jun 16, 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.
THE FRONT LEFT UPPER CONTROL ARM NUTS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN SECURELY TIGHTENED.
THE NUTS MAY LOOSEN AND COME OFF AND WITH CONTINUED DRIVING THE CONTROL ARM FRONT BOLT MAY WORK ITS WAY OUT OF POSITION OR BECOME DISPLACED.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 20, 2026. Updated daily.
- NHTSA’s part: Suspension: front: control arm: upper arm.
What should you do?
The notice gives no remedy in a field of its own.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 20, 2026. Updated daily.
- How to reach the firm: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES.SYSTEM: STEERING; FRONT LEFT UPPER CONTROL ARM NUTS.CONSEQUENCES OF DEFECT: THIS MAY CAUSE SIGNIFICANT CHANGES IN STEERING CONTROLDURING ACCELERATION AND CORNERING. THOUGH STEERING WILL NOT BE TOTALLY LOST,DEGRADED VEHICLE CONTROL COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.THE FRONT LEFT SIDE UPPER CONTROL ARM NUTS ON ALL INVOLVED VEHICLES WILL BERETIGHTENED TO SPECIFICATIONS AT NO CHARGE TO OWNER.
- Check a vehicle by its VIN at NHTSA: the recalls still open on it are listed there.
Which ones are recalled?
NHTSA counts 9,070 vehicles potentially involved, across everything this recall names.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 20, 2026. Updated daily.
- Cadillac Eldoradoand 1981, before the model years listed here
- Cadillac Sevilleand 1981, before the model years listed here
- Oldsmobile Toronadoand 1981, before the model years listed here
- Buick Rivieraand 1981, before the model years listed here
Who is recalling it?
- Made by GENERAL MOTORS CORP..
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
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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.