4 recalls across 4 model years
The Pontiac Phoenix has 4 recalls spanning the 1978-1982 production run, with the most serious being a 1982 defect where the clutch cable can rub against the brake line until the line fails, causing fluid loss and partial brake failure without warning.
The 1980 model year, on manual transmission vehicles, has a brake proportioner valve that can cause the rear brakes to lock up prematurely under hard braking, making the vehicle difficult to control. On 1981 models, a ground cable terminal connecting the engine to the body can fracture, reducing voltage to electrical components and causing them to behave erratically. Going back to the earliest production year, 1978 models equipped with air conditioning or heavy-duty cooling have an engine cooling fan prone to resonance that can fatigue and break apart, sending fragments toward anyone standing near an open hood with the engine running.
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