1978 Chevrolet Monte Carlo: recalls and complaints

NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns for the 1978 Chevrolet Monte Carlo. The newest campaign is 85V048000. NHTSA received the report on 29 Apr 1985. The NHTSA record gives the component Service Brakes, Hydraulic / Foundation Components / Drum / Wheel Cylinders. NHTSA has no complaint on file for this model year. 1 NHTSA investigation names this model year.

The NHTSA recall file shows no do-not-drive advisory and no park-outside advisory on these campaigns.

This page cannot show if a recall applies to one vehicle. The NHTSA VIN lookup shows the unrepaired recalls of one vehicle.

Remedy of the newest campaign, 85V048000, in the NHTSA record

Add a part to prevent wheel cylinder from rotating.

NHTSA VIN lookup

Complaint information entered into NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation vehicle owner's complaint database is used with other data sources to identify safety issues that warrant investigation and to determine if a safety-related defect trend exists.
NHTSA publishes these words. Source: NHTSA Datasets and APIs, section Complaints, read on 1 Oct 2026. Complaint file through 30 Sep 2026. Recall file through 30 Sep 2026.

Since the last update

No tracked figure of this page changed in a data update. What the log tracks

All updates to the register

Recall campaigns

7 campaigns, newest first. 12,963,280 units in total.

85V04800029 Apr 1985Service Brakes, Hydraulic / Foundation Components / Drum / Wheel Cylinders
84V14900024 Nov 1984Power Train / Axle Assembly / Axle Shaft
81V02500025 Feb 1981Suspension / Rear
79V17500023 Jul 1979Suspension / Front / Wheel Bearing
78V13900013 Jun 1978Engine and Engine Cooling / Cooling System / Fan
78V11500024 May 1978Seats / Front Assembly / Head Restraint
77V18100017 Oct 1977Service Brakes, Hydraulic / Foundation Components / Drum / Wheel Cylinders

85V048000Received 29 Apr 1985. 1,810,000 units.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic / Foundation Components / Drum / Wheel Cylinders
Defect, in the NHTSA record
Excessive enlargement of the wheel cylinder pilot hole in the rear brake backing plate could allow the wheel cylinder to rotate and cause loss of brake fluid. Consequence of defect: a loss of brake fluid leads to loss of rear brake action, creating the potential for an accident. Front brakes would remain operational.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
Add a part to prevent wheel cylinder from rotating.
Report filed by GENERAL MOTORS CORP..
84V149000Received 24 Nov 1984. 3,100,000 units.
Power Train / Axle Assembly / Axle Shaft
Defect, in the NHTSA record
Rear axle assembly may have axles that were improperly manufactured. This condition may result in separation of the axle shaft and wheel assembly from the vehicle.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
The dealer will inspect the rear axle to determine whether it was manufactured at the buffalo plant. If so, they will make axle measurements and if necessary replace or modify affected axle components without charge.
Report filed by GENERAL MOTORS CORP.. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 28 Dec 1984.
81V025000Received 25 Feb 1981. 5,821,160 units.
Suspension / Rear
Defect, in the NHTSA record
The bolts that attach the lower rear control arm to the frame may fracture. The rear control arm supports and positions the rear axle. Fracture of the bolts would allow the control arm to drop free.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
Both rear control arm attachment bolts will be replaced without charge.
Report filed by GENERAL MOTORS CORP.. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 9 Mar 1981.
79V175000Received 23 Jul 1979. 1,896,222 units.
Suspension / Front / Wheel Bearing
Defect, in the NHTSA record
Under certain driving conditions, these vehicles can experience temperatures in the front wheel outer bearing area which can affect the wheel bearing grease. This can result in inadequate lubrication of the bearing. This condition may be further aggravated by improper adjustment of the front wheel spindle nut.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
The dealer will install new front wheel outer bearings packed with grease and the spindle will be coated with lubricant. New grease retainer caps will also be installed to maintain grease in outer bearing. This will be done free of charge.
Report filed by GENERAL MOTORS CORP.. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 24 Aug 1979.
78V139000Received 13 Jun 1978. 333,619 units.
Engine and Engine Cooling / Cooling System / Fan
Defect, in the NHTSA record
The hub portion of the fan blade assembly could crack due to high stress levels generated during engine operating conditions. Eventually, the blade could break apart at the hub and blade pieces could be propelled into the engine. If the hood is open while the engine is running, the fragments would be free to fly from the vehicle.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
Dealer will replace the fan blade assembly without charge to owner.
Report filed by GENERAL MOTORS CORP.. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 19 Jun 1978.
78V115000Received 24 May 1978. 1,643 units.
Seats / Front Assembly / Head Restraint
Defect, in the NHTSA record
Incorrect head restraints may have been installed on the involved vehicles. This fails to comply with federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 201, "occupant protection in interior impacts".
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
Dealer will replace incorrect head restraints with improved head restraints.
Report filed by GENERAL MOTORS CORP.. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 26 May 1978.
77V181000Received 17 Oct 1977. 636 units.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic / Foundation Components / Drum / Wheel Cylinders
Defect, in the NHTSA record
The rear brake wheel cylinder retainer on the involved vehicles may not have been properly installed. Should the wheel cylinder retainer become completely disengaged, the wheel cylinder could move outboard causing a loss of brake fluid and a loss of rear braking action.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
The dealer will reposition the rear wheel brake cylinder retainers, free of charge, on all affected vehicles.
Report filed by GENERAL MOTORS CORP..

The campaign number opens the NHTSA record. Each quotation is the text of the NHTSA recall file.

Recall campaign: One recall in the NHTSA recall file, with one campaign number. A campaign can name many makes, models and model years.

Units: The number of vehicles or products that a recall can include. The manufacturer or the firm reports the number to the agency.

Complaints by component

The NHTSA complaint file has no complaint for this model year.

Investigations

NHTSA investigations that name the 1978 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
Number	Type	Subject	Component	Opened	Closed	Campaign
EA86006	Engineering analysis	BRAKE BACKING PLATE	Service Brakes, Hydraulic	27 Nov 1985	28 Nov 1988

Investigation: A study of a possible safety defect by the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. An investigation with no closing date in the NHTSA file is open.

Other model years

The number under each year is the number of recall campaigns.

19701
19731
19742
19751
19763
19772
19787
19794
19803
19811
19821
19831
19842
19850
19862
19871
19880
19901
19911
19953
19961
19971
19983
19993
20005
20015
20024
20036
20044
20051
20061
20071
20080
20100

A year without a link has fewer than 2 campaigns and fewer than 25 complaints. It has no page.

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Official channels

NHTSA VIN lookupNHTSA shows the unrepaired recalls of one vehicle from its VIN or its license plate.
NHTSA: report a safety problemThe NHTSA form for a complaint about a vehicle, a tire, a child seat or equipment.
NHTSA page of the 1978 Chevrolet Monte CarloThe recalls, the complaints and the investigations that NHTSA shows for this model year.

Cite this page

Recall Register. 1978 Chevrolet Monte Carlo: recalls and complaints. https://recallregister.com/vehicle/chevrolet/monte-carlo/1978/. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, recall, complaint and investigation files. Data through 30 Sep 2026.

Sources

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation
Licence: US government work, public domain
Recall file through: 30 Sep 2026
Complaint file through: 30 Sep 2026
First complaint in the file: 1 Jan 1995
Manufacturer in the recall file: GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

The NHTSA record is the authority. A complaint count is the number of different complaint numbers for the make, the model and the model year. How the register is made. Report an error.

Questions

How many units are in the recall campaigns for the 1978 Chevrolet Monte Carlo?: 12,963,280 units in 7 campaigns. A campaign can name other models and model years, and its units include them.
How many recall campaigns does the Chevrolet Monte Carlo have for all model years?: NHTSA lists 44 recall campaigns for the Chevrolet Monte Carlo, model years 1970 to 2010. 7 of them name the 1978 model year.
Is an NHTSA investigation of the 1978 Chevrolet Monte Carlo open?: No. The 1 investigation that names this model year has a closing date in the NHTSA file.