1978 Autocar K Recalls, Complaints & Specs
5 safety recalls list the 1978 Autocar K. Check your own VIN below.
5 safety recalls for the 1978 Autocar K
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Engine (engine and engine cooling)
The bypass oil filter mounting brackets may be insufficiently welded to the radiator frame. This could allow the filter mounting bracket and oil filter to come loose, fall, and wedge themselves within the steering geometry.
Remedy: Dealer will inspect and, if necessary, reweld the bracket without charge.
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Steering wheel/handle bar (steering)
Some of the involved vehicles were not inspected for adequate clearance between the steering shaft and its firewall opening. Inadequate clearance could result in the steering column becoming scored or severed by the firewall sheet metal.
Remedy: Dealer will inspect vehicles and, if necessary, enlarge the firewall opening to provide the minimum 3/8 inch clearance for the steering shaft. Any scored or cut shafts will be replaced without charge to owner.
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Fan (engine and engine cooling)
Lockwashers, used to retain the engine"s fan mounting bolts, may have been omitted during assembly, causing the bolts to loosen and allowing the fan to separate from its mounting hub.
Remedy: Dealer will install lockwashers on the bolts.
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Windshield wiper/washer (visibility)
The windshield wiper may over-travel its designed sweep angle during its initial stroke with the possibility of temporary wiper immobilization.
Remedy: Dealer will install a restriction fitting in the control valve at no cost to owner.
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Steering wheel/handle bar (steering)
The hose clamp, which was installed around the steering column boot seat to keep noise and dirt from entering the cab, may loosen.
Remedy: Dealer will replace the metal hose clamp without charge.
No owner complaints on file
NHTSA has no owner complaints on file for the 1978 Autocar K. For context, the average model year in NHTSA's database has dozens; a zero can mean a reliable vehicle, a rare one, or both.
Compare Autocar K model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Autocar K model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 Autocar K | 1 | 0 |
| 1976 Autocar K | 2 | 0 |
| 1977 Autocar K | 4 | 0 |
| 1978 Autocar K | 5 | 0 |
| 1979 Autocar K | 2 | 0 |
Checking a specific 1978 Autocar K
How do I know if my 1978 Autocar K has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 5 campaigns currently list the 1978 Autocar K; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Autocar dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 79V008000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Autocar models
- Xpeditor5 complaints
- Autocar2 complaints
- Acx1 complaints
- Wx1 complaints
- Wxll1 complaints
- 103640 complaints
- 103660 complaints
- 73660 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.