Suspension: front: stabilizer bar (Delorean)
Vehicle recall 81V-138. NHTSA received DE LOREAN MOTOR COMPANY’s report on Nov 10, 1981.
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 DE LOREAN MOTOR COMPANY’s report on Nov 10, 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 NUTS FASTENING THE STABILIZER BAR AND THE LOWER BALL JOINTS TO THE LOWER LINK MAY BECOME LOOSE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN DETACHMENT OF THE STABILIZER BAR OR LOWER BALL JOINTS.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 20, 2026. Updated daily.
- NHTSA’s part: Suspension: front: stabilizer bar.
What should you do?
STABILIZER BAR NUTS WILL BE REPLACED WITH LOCKING NUTS, SUPPORTING BRACKETS WILL BE STRENGTHENED, AND THE BALL JOINT NUTS WILL BE SECURED BY INSTALLING A PIN THROUGH THE BALL JOINT SHAFT. THIS SERVICE IS PROVIDED AT NO CHARGE.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 20, 2026. Updated daily.
- How to reach the firm: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES.SYSTEM: SUSPENSION; STABILIZER BAR NUTS AND BALL JOINT NUTS.CONSEQUENCES OF DEFECT: DETACHMENT OF THE STABILIZER BAR OR LOWER BALL JOINTSMAY RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT.NOTE: PULSATION IN THE FRONT OF THE CAR WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED OR CLUNKINGNOISES FROM THE SUSPENSION MAY INDICATE NUTS ARE LOOSE. IF THESE WARNING SIGNSEXIST, STOP THE VEHICLE OR PROCEED WITH EXTREME CAUTION TO THE NEAREST DELOREANFACILITY.
- Check a vehicle by its VIN at NHTSA: the recalls still open on it are listed there.
Which ones are recalled?
NHTSA counts 2,920 vehicles potentially involved, across everything this recall names.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 20, 2026. Updated daily.
- Delorean Deloreanand 1981, before the model years listed here
Who is recalling it?
- Made by DE LOREAN MOTOR COMPANY.
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.