Vehicle recall 78V139000 · June 13, 1978
Oldsmobile 88, Pontiac Bonneville and 18 more models
The hub portion of the fan blade assembly could crack due to high stress levels generated during engine operating conditions.
Source: NHTSA data as of September 22, 2026. Last refreshed Sep 23, 2026, 2:43 AM UTC.
- Summary
- 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
- Dealer will replace the fan blade assembly without charge to owner.
- Notes
- Vehicle description: passenger vehicles.system: engine cooling; fan blade assembly.consequences of defect: fan failure could result in damage to components in theengine area, or personal injury to bystanders if the hood is open at the time.note: the vehicle should not be serviced with the hood open and the enginerunning until the defect is corrected.
Recall details
- NHTSA campaign
- 78V139000
- Reported to NHTSA
- June 13, 1978
- Filed by
- GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
- Owner notification
- June 19, 1978
- Vehicles potentially affected
- 333,619
- Initiated by
- the manufacturer
- Components
- Engine and engine cooling › Cooling system › Fan
Vehicles covered
As listed by NHTSA. A recall usually covers only some vehicles of each model and year, often a production date range.
- Buick Century (1978): 1978
- Buick Electra (1978): 1978
- Buick Estate Wagon (1978): 1978
- Buick LeSabre (1978): 1978
- Buick Regal (1978): 1978
- Buick Riviera (1978): 1978
- Buick Skylark (1978): 1978
- Chevrolet El Camino (1978): 1978
- Chevrolet Malibu (1978): 1978
- Chevrolet Monte Carlo (1978): 1978
- Oldsmobile 88 (1978): 1978
- Oldsmobile Cutlass (1978): 1978
- Oldsmobile Omega (1978): 1978
- Pontiac Bonneville (1978): 1978
- Pontiac Catalina (1978): 1978
- Pontiac Firebird (1978): 1978
- Pontiac Grand AM (1978): 1978
- Pontiac Grand Prix (1978): 1978
- Pontiac Lemans (1978): 1978
- Pontiac Phoenix (1978): 1978
Has your Buick been repaired?
Recalls here come from NHTSA’s records for the model and year. Not every vehicle of a model is included in every recall, and this site can’t see whether a repair has been done. Only a VIN lookup can tell you that.
NHTSA’s VIN search doesn’t show recalls that were already repaired, recalls more than 15 years old, or some small manufacturers’ recalls. A Buick dealer can also check your VIN. Recall repairs are free.