AMC Recall Check by VIN: Concord and Eagle Recalls on Record

To check an American Motors car for recalls, enter its 17-character VIN at NHTSA if it is a 1981 or later model, or search NHTSA by year and model under the make "AMERICAN MOTORS" for older cars. NHTSA's records include campaigns for the AMC Eagle and an aftermarket fuel pump recall that names the 1978 Concord. AMC was bought by Chrysler in 1987, so treat any open recall as a repair list rather than a free fix.

What NHTSA lists under American Motors

When I queried NHTSA's recall data on Nov. 5, 2026 for make AMERICAN MOTORS, the models with records were the Eagle (1982-1987) and the 1978 Concord. The factory campaigns for the Eagle:

• 81V110000 (1982): the underhood wiring harness and a ventilating hose may have been misrouted at assembly, and chafing could cause short circuits.
• 82V053000 (1982): the windshield may not have been bonded properly, failing the federal windshield retention standard.
• 82V126000 (1982): the original manual transmission lubricant may not protect first gear well enough.
• 83V119000 (1984): a wheel bearing cup may have been left out at assembly, which can make the front wheels wobble.

Two aftermarket campaigns also show up: 07E064000 and 09E021000, both Federal-Mogul replacement mechanical fuel pumps sold under brands like Carter and NAPA. Those apply only if one of those pumps was installed, which on a 40-year-old car is entirely possible. Check the pump part number against the recall notice.

VIN or year search

The 17-character VIN format took effect for 1981 models, so a 1978 Concord has a shorter serial number that NHTSA's VIN tool will not read. For those cars, search by year, make and model. For Eagles, decode the VIN with the NHTSA vPIC decoder first, then run the recall lookup. Our NHTSA recall check by VIN explains what each result means.

AMC Eagle or Eagle the brand

This trips people up. The AMC Eagle was an all-wheel-drive car sold by American Motors from the 1980 model year. After Chrysler bought AMC, it created a separate Eagle brand that sold the Premier, Talon, Vision and others. NHTSA files them under different makes. If your car is a Talon or Vision, use our Eagle recall check by VIN instead. Renault-badged cars built by AMC, like the Alliance and Encore, are filed under make RENAULT, and the Jeep models AMC built are under JEEP. Chrysler-era records are covered in our Chrysler recall check by VIN.

What "open" means for a car with no dealers

Recall responsibility passed to Chrysler with the purchase of AMC, but don't expect a free remedy on a car this old; dealer support is long gone. Open status may also just mean the record of a decades-old fix never made it into a database. So, use the list as a checklist. On an Eagle, look for chafed wiring and melted insulation under the hood, check the windshield seal for leaks and lifting, listen for first-gear whine on manual cars, and check the front wheel bearings for play by rocking the wheel at the top and bottom.

What the history report adds

Most AMC cars predate electronic history reporting, so a CARFAX or AutoCheck report will be short. It still has value: it can show title brands, recent auction sales, odometer readings from recent registrations, and any recent insurance losses. Cross-check the title in NMVTIS. Read our CARFAX for classic cars before you assume a two-line report means anything bad.

Before you buy an Eagle or Concord

Match the VIN or serial on the dash, door and title. Run NHTSA, save a dated screenshot, and pull a history report. Then have a mechanic look at rust in the floors and rockers, the 4WD system on Eagles, the fuel pump and lines, and the brakes. Parts support is mostly from enthusiasts and reproduction suppliers now, so price the parts you would need before you agree on a price.

Common mistakes

The most common one is searching the wrong make, then deciding a car has no recalls. Try AMERICAN MOTORS first, then RENAULT or JEEP if the car is one of those badges. The second is trusting a seller who says "all recalls were done in the 80s" with no paper to show. On a car this old you rarely get proof, so price the risk and inspect the parts the campaigns name. The third is assuming a clean result means a safe car. Recalls cover specific defects; four decades of wear are a separate question that only an inspection answers. If you are buying an Eagle to drive in winter, put the brakes, steering and rust first, ahead of everything else.

Report cost

In early November 2026 a CARFAX bought direct costs about $44.99. We are a licensed CARFAX and AutoCheck reseller, not affiliated with CARFAX, AutoCheck or Experian; guest pricing has been about $5.50 a report, lower for members and bundles. Confirm at checkout.

Sources

• NHTSA recallsByVehicle results for make AMERICAN MOTORS, queried Nov. 5, 2026; VIN decoding via NHTSA vPIC
• National Motor Vehicle Title Information System
• Insurance Institute for Highway Safety