Vehicle recall 79V161000 · July 2, 1979
Chevrolet Caprice, Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser and 5 more models
A child could open the rear side compartment door and enter this compartment.
Source: NHTSA data as of September 22, 2026. Last refreshed Sep 23, 2026, 2:43 AM UTC.
- Summary
- A child could open the rear side compartment door and enter this compartment. The child could become entrapped if the door were to close, as it cannot be unlatched from the inside.
- Remedy
- Dealer will replace the original compartment door latch, which can be latched without a key, with a new assembly that requires a key to latch as well as lock the door.
- Notes
- Vehicle description: passenger vehicles.system: structure; storage compartment.consequences of defect: in the absence of outside help, the child wouldsuffocate.note: the owner is advised to keep this compartment locked except while eitherloading or unloading it.
Recall details
- NHTSA campaign
- 79V161000
- Reported to NHTSA
- July 2, 1979
- Filed by
- GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
- Owner notification
- July 3, 1979
- Vehicles potentially affected
- 476,245
- Initiated by
- the manufacturer
- Components
- Latches/locks/linkages › Doors › Latch
Vehicles covered
As listed by NHTSA. A recall usually covers only some vehicles of each model and year, often a production date range.
- Buick Estate (1977-1979): 1979, 1978, 1977
- Buick Estate Wagon (1977-1979): 1979, 1978, 1977
- Chevrolet Caprice (1977-1979): 1979, 1978, 1977
- Chevrolet Impala (1977-1979): 1979, 1978, 1977
- Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser (1977-1979): 1979, 1978, 1977
- Pontiac Grand Safari (1977-1979): 1979, 1978, 1977
- Pontiac Safari (1977-1979): 1979, 1978, 1977
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.