Hearth Record

Steering: steering wheel/handle bar (GMC and Chevrolet)

Vehicle recall 81V-104. NHTSA received GENERAL MOTORS CORP.’s report on Sep 9, 1981.

NHTSA’s own record, on nhtsa.gov

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The short answer

NHTSA received GENERAL MOTORS CORP.’s report on Sep 9, 1981. Copied from NHTSA on Oct 28, 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.

DURING ASSEMBLY THE UPPER STEERING COLUMN SHAFT PINCH BOLT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN SUFFICIENTLY TIGHTENED.

MOVEMENT MAY OCCUR BETWEEN THE UPPER STEERING SHAFT AND THE YOKE, CAUSING ACCELERATED PINCH BOLT WEAR AT THE “WHISTLE SLOT” IN THE SHAFT.

PINCH BOLT WEAR COULD CAUSE THE YOKE TO SLIP FROM THE SHAFT.

Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 28, 2026. Updated daily.

  • NHTSA’s part: Steering: steering wheel/handle bar.

What should you do?

THE DEALER WILL INSPECT THE UPPER STEERING COLUMN SHAFT TO ENSURE PROPER TIGHTENING OF THE NUT AND BOLT. IF NECESSARY, A NEW NUT AND BOLT WILL BE INSTALLED AND PROPERLY TIGHTENED AT NO CHARGE TO OWNER.

Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 28, 2026. Updated daily.

  • How to reach the firm: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: HEAVY TRUCKS.SYSTEM: STEERING; UPPER STEERING COLUMN SHAFT YOKE PINCH BOLT.CONSEQUENCES OF DEFECT: IF THIS OCCURS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, THEDRIVER MAY EXPERIENCE LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING AND ANACCIDENT MAY RESULT.
  • Check a vehicle by its VIN at NHTSA: the recalls still open on it are listed there.

Which ones are recalled?

NHTSA counts 44,059 vehicles potentially involved, across everything this recall names.

Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 28, 2026. Updated daily.

  • GMC Brigadierand 1978, 1979, 1980 and 1981, before the model years listed here
  • Chevrolet Bruinand 1978, 1979, 1980 and 1981, before the model years listed here

Who is recalling it?

  • Made by GENERAL MOTORS CORP..
Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 28, 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 28, 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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