The Largest Recall

Skimming through the voluminous stacks of mail that reach him in Washington, Ralph Nader last summer began picking up an unusual pattern of complaints about some products made by his old antagonist, G.M.'s Chevrolet Motor Division. Scores of engines on Chevies made from 1965 to 1969, the letters indicated, were twisting loose from car frames, sometimes with the frightening result that the auto's accelerator pedal was pulled all the way down to the floor and the brakes failed. At roughly the same time, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration was looking into similar complaints. Last week that combined scrutiny led G.M. to announce the largest auto recall ever: in the next few months, its dealers will make repairs on the engine mounts of nearly 6.7 million cars and light trucks.

The problem is that on many cars equipped with V-8 engines during that period, a rubberized layer between two pieces of metal on the mounts has deteriorated, loosening the entire assembly. G.M. engineers recognized the trouble more than two years ago and designed a replacement part with a T-shaped metal bar that prevents any slipping, even if the rubber has worn away. But only a few Chevy owners notified under the recall will actually get that part, which costs $30. Unless the design of the engine will not permit it, the rest will have to settle for brace-like "restraints" that will reportedly cost G.M. about $5 each, including installation.

G.M. officials maintained that the rubber section "obviously cannot be expected to have the life of the metal parts that it connects." Thus, they said, engine mounts should be regarded as items, like fan belts, that must be regularly checked and serviced when necessary--although they rarely are on most cars. Yet the company apparently did not want to test that claim in court. Federal officials last week were preparing to issue a formal notification of defect. By announcing the recall, G.M. clearly hopes to avoid any legal entanglement resulting from problems with the engine mounts.

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