1980 Oldsmobile OMEGA: complaints, problems and recalls

REAR BRAKES LOCKED, CAUSING ACCIDENT. *AW

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 481833 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 1979-03-22 (March 22, 1979)

VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 207, "ANCHORAGE OF SEATS". THE LOCK BAR IN THE FRONT SEAT ADJUSTER ASSEMBLIES MAY NOT ENGAGE PROPERLY AND THE ABILITY OF THE SEAT ADJUSTER TO MAINTAIN THE SEAT IN A LATCHED POSITION DURING AN ACCIDENT MAY BE REDUCED.

Remedy: BOTH FRONT SEAT ADJUSTER ASSEMBLIES WILL BE REPLACED AT NO CHARGE TO OWNER.

Reported: 1979-04-05 (April 5, 1979)

THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR INTERFERENCE BETWEEN THE CLUTCH CONTROL CABLE AND BRAKE PIPE IN THE MASTER CYLINDER. THIS CAN RESULT IN RUBBING CONTACT WHEN THE CLUTCH PEDAL IS OPERATED. ALSO, THE BRAKE PIPE CLEARANCE TO THE TRANSMISSION CASE MAY BE INADEQUATE. IF THIS CONDITION EXISTS, IT COULD EVENTUALLY RESULT IN A FAILURE IN THE BRAKE PIPE, CAUSING LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID AND PARTIAL LOSS OF BRAKING ACTION.

Remedy: THE CLUTCH CABLE ROUTING WILL BE REVISED TO PREVENT CONTACT WITH THE MASTER CYLINDER, WITHOUT CHARGE.

Reported: 1979-04-05 (April 5, 1979)

FUEL HOSES MAY BE INCORRECTLY POSITIONED AND CONTACT THE RIGHT FRONT DRIVE AXLE BOOT DURING VEHICLE OPERATION. AFTER A PERIOD OF TIME, THE ROTATING BOOT COULD WEAR A HOLE IN THE FUEL HOSE, RESULTING IN FULE LEAKAGE.

Remedy: IF PROPER CLEARANCE IS NOT PRESENT, THE METAL FUEL PIPE WILL BE REFORMED UPWARDS TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, WITHOUT CHARGE TO OWNER.

Reported: 1979-04-17 (April 17, 1979)

THE FRONT SUSPENSION COIL SPRING MAY HAVE A LARGER THAN DESIRED INSIDE DIAMETER OF THE LOWER COIL WHERE IT RESTS ON THE SPRING SEAT. THIS COULD ALLOW THE SPRING TO BE FORCED OVER THE LOWER SPRING SEAT DUE TO SUSPENSION FORCES.

Remedy: DEALER WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE INCORRECT FRONT SUSPENSION COIL SPRINGS WITHOUT CHARGE.

Reported: 1979-09-25 (September 25, 1979)

THE AUTOMATIC COOLER LINE HOSES ON SOME OF THE SUSPECT VEHICLES MAY CONTAIN MATERIAL VOIDS, WHICH COMBINED WITH A HIGH THERMAL EXPANSION AT ELEVATED TEMPERATURES, COULD RESULT IN HOSE FAILURE AND TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKAGE.

Remedy: THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THE COOLER LINE HOSES USING HOSES WITH KEVLAR BRAIDED REINFORCEMENT.

Reported: 1979-10-17 (October 17, 1979)

THE STEERING GEAR MOUNTING PLATE ON THE INVOLVED VEHICLES MAY DEVELOP FATIGUE CRACKS AT HIGH MILEAGE WHICH WOULD ALLOW THE STEERING GEAR ATTACHMENT TO BECOME LOOSE. IF THIS CONDITION EXISTS, THE DRIVER MAY NOTICE CONSIDERABLE "FREE PLAY" IN THE STEERING WHEEL.

Remedy: THE DEALER WILL INSTALL AN IMPROVED TYPE OF STEERING GEAR MOUNTING BRACKET WITHOUT CHARGE TO OWNER.

Reported: 1981-08-10 (August 10, 1981)

UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, THE REAR BRAKES COULD LOCK UP WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING DURING HIGH DECELERATION BRAKING. THE PROBLEM MAY BE CAUSED BY DEFECTIVE PROPORTIONER VALVES IN THE BRAKING SYSTEM.

Remedy: THE DEALER WILL INSPECT THE BRAKE SYSTEM PROPORTIONER VALVES AND IF NECESSARY INSTALL NEW VALVES.

Reported: 1983-02-24 (February 24, 1983)

UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE PREMATURE REAR WHEEL SKID DURING BRAKING. REAR WHEEL SKIDDING IS MOST LIKELY TO OCCUR ON A WET OR SLICK SURFACE.

Remedy: DEPENDING ON THE TRANSMISSION TYPE AND THE BRAKE COMPONENTS THAT HAVE BEEN INSTALLED, DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE OR REPAIR, AS NECESSARY, CERTAIN FRONT BRAKE COMPONENTS, AND THE PARKING BRAKE CABLES. THE REAR BRAKE SHOES AND LININGS WILL BE REPLACED WITH PARTS THAT USE A MATERIAL WHICH GREATLY REDUCES THE LIKELIHOOD OF REAR WHEEL SKID. ACTIONS TAKEN TO THE FRONT BRAKES ARE TO ENSURE UNIFORMITY OF THE ENTIRE BRAKE SYSTEM. ACTIONS TAKEN TO THE PARKING BRAKE COMPONENTS WILL ENSURE THAT THE PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS, FOR KEEPING THE VEHICLE STATIONARY WHILE MANUAL TRANSMISSION EQUIPPED UNITS ARE IN NEUTRAL AND AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION EQUIPPED UNITS ARE IN PARK, ARE MET.