Ford Motor Company: Safety Recalls in 1995

THE VEHICLE STOPPING DISTANCES CAN BE INCREASED POSSIBLY RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT.

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE AIR INTAKE DUCT AND VALVE ASSEMBLY WITH REVISED UNITS.

FUEL LEAKAGE CAN RESULT IN A FIRE.

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL TANK ASSEMBLIES WITH UNITS CONTAINING ONE-PIECE MOLDED REINFORCEMENTS.

CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: A FRACTURE OR SEPARATION IN THIS AREA WOULD REDUCE THE LOAD THAT THE ANCHOR AND THE FRONT SAFETY BELT ANCHORAGES COULD SUSTAIN, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY IN A VEHICLE COLLISOIN.

DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND INSTALL AN ANCHOR TAB REINFORCEMENT OR REPLACEMENT OF THE COMPLETE FRONT SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY IF AN ANCHOR TAB IS FOUND TO HAVE FRACTURED.

A VEHICLE FIRE COULD OCCUR.

DEALERS WILL INSTALL AN ADDITIONAL HEATER/AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM INTAKE SCREEN.

IF THE DRIVER'S SIDE BRACKET FRACTURED AT BOTH BOLT HOLES, THE STEERING CONTROL ARM CAN CONTACT THE STEERING COLUMN SHAFT AND RESULT IN A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR AN ACCIDENT.

DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE TORQUE LEVELS OF THE FOUR UPPER CONTROL ARM MOUNTING BOLTS, AND IF ANY ARE LOOSE, THE BRACKETS WILL BE INSPECTED FOR DAMAGE. IF DAMAGE IS PRESENT, IT WILL BE REPAIRED.

IN THE EVENT OF A SHORT OR OVERLOAD IN THE HEADLAMPCIRCUIT, BOTH HEADLAMPS CAN GO OUT WITHOUT WARNING, RATHER THAN FLASHING AS INTENDED WITH THE CYCLING CIRCUIT BREAKER. THIS COULD LEAD TO REDUCED NIGHT TIME DRIVER VISIBILITY, INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

DEALERS WILL INSPECT THESE VEHICLES, REMOVE THE CIRCUIT BREAKER AND REINSTALL THE BREAKER IN THE CORRECT LOCATIONS.

WITH A BROKEN BRACKET WELD, THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR THE LIFTGATE BRACKET TO GRADUALLY BEND INWARD ALLOWING THE LIFT CYLINDERBALL STUD TO DISENGAGE.

DEALERS WILL INSTALL REINFORCEMENT BRACKETS.

IN THE EVENT THE PRIMARY HOOD LATCH RELEASES OR IS NOT PROPERLY LATCHED WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, THE HOOD COULD FLY UP OBSTRUCTING THE OPERATOR'S VISION, AND INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HOOD LATCH ASSEMBLY.

THIS WEAR CAN RESULT IN THE GOVERNOR JAMMING IN THEDAMAGED SWIVEL AND COULD PREVENT THE GOVERNOR LEVER FROM RETURNING TO THE IDLE POSITION.

DEALERS WILL INSTALL A REVISED GOVERNOR LEVER WITH A STAINLESS STEEL SWIVEL. ALSO LETTERS WILL BE SENT TO VEHICLE OWNERS THAT HAVE THE SAME VEHICLES BUT DO NOT HAVE A FORD INSTALLED HAND THROTTLE ADVISING THEM THAT THEY MAY REQUIRE SERVICE IF THEY HAVE HAD AN AFTER MARKET HAND THROTTLE INSTALLED.

A FRACTURED BALL STUD CAN RESULT IN A NOTICEABLE SHAKE OR SHIMMY AND COULD CAUSE THE AFFECTED WHEEL TO TUCK INWARD OR OUTWARD, INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE OUTER TIE ROD ENDS AND REPLACE THE INCORRECTLY TAPERED BALL STUDS.

THE SAFETY BELTS WOULD NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION TO AN OCCUPANT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

OWNERS SHOULD PROMPTLY CHECK THE CONDITION AND OPERATION OF BOTH FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLES AND CAREFULLY INSPECT THE RED RELEASE BUTTON FOR ANY BREAKS OR CRACKS. THEY SHOULD ENSURE THAT BOTH BUCKLES ARE OPERATING PROPERLY BY INSERTING EACH LATCH PLATE INTO ITS BUCKLE, TUGGING ON THE BELT TO MAKE SURE THAT LATCH IS SECURELY LOCKED, AND THEN PRESSING THE RELEASE BUTTON. THE LATCH PLATE SHOULD POP OUT OF THE BUCKLE WHEN THE BUTTON IS PRESSED. IF EITHER RELEASE BUTTON SHOWS A SIGN OF BREAKING OR CRACKING OR IF EITHER BUCKLE FAILS TO OPERATE PROPERLY, OWNERS SHOULD PROMPTLY CONTACT THEIR AUTHORIZED DEALER TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE BUCKLE REPLACED OR REPAIRED, FREE OF CHARGE. THE MANUFACTURER IS DEVELOPING A REMEDY DESIGNED TO PREVENT FAILURE OF THE BUTTONS THAT ARE NOT CURRENTLY BROKEN.

IF THE AIR DRYER SEPARATES FROM THE BASE, THE CARTRIDGE CAN SEPARATE SUFFICIENTLY ENOUGH TO CAUSE PERSONAL INJURY OR PROPERTY DAMAGE.

DEALERS WILL EQUIP AIR SYSTEMS WITH A PRESSURE RELIEF VALVE TO BE LOCATED BETWEEN THE COMPRESSOR AND THE AIR DRYER. THIS PRESSURE RELIEF VALVE IS INTENDED TO VENT IF EXCESSIVE PRESSURE DEVELOPS IN THE AIR DRYER.

THIS CONDITION CAN REDUCE THE DRIVER'S VIEW OF THE ROAD INCREASING THE POTENTIAL OF A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW HOOD INNER PANEL REINFORCEMENT AND A NEW, GALVANIZED HOOD LATCH STRIKER PLATE.

THIS INTERFERENCE CAN PREVENT THE ENGINE FROM FULLY RETURNING TO IDLE AND COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT.

DEALERS WILL INSTALL A REVISED MODULATOR LEVER ON THE INVOLVED VEHICLES.

THE HEADLAMPS OR OTHER FRONT-END LIGHTING SYSTEMS CAN MALFUNCTION AS A RESULT OF THIS CONDITION INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE CONNECTOR AND INSTALL SEALING PLUGS IN THE OPEN CAVITIES. IF THE INSPECTION REVEALS CORROSION, A NEW CONNECTOR WILL BE INSTALLED.

OVERHEATING CAN RESULT, AND MELTING, SMOKE AND POSSIBLE IGNITION OF THE SURROUNDING MATERIALS CAN OCCUR.

DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE TIE STRAP FROM EACH OF THE FRONT SEATS.

FUEL LEAKAGE COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE IF AN IGNITION SOURCE WERE PRESENT.

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL FILLER PIPE-TO-FUEL TANK SEAL WITH A NEW SEAL OF DIFFERENT MATERIAL.

CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM ON A SEVERE GRADE MAY BE DIMINISHED.

DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM ON THE AFFECTED VEHICLES.

CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: STOPPING DISTANCES COULD BE LONGER THAN INTENDED RESULTING IN INCREASED POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

DEALERS WILL REROUTE THE BRAKE TUBES.

THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE THE WHEEL ON THE SIDE WITH THE BROKEN TIE ROD TO TUCK INWARD OR OUTWARD AND SLIDE RESULTING IN AN INCREASED POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE INNER TIE RODS AND REPLACE THE SUSPECT TIE RODS.

CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: THE INCORRECTLY SIZED REAR TIRE WOULD NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT LOAD CAPACITY FOR THE VEHICLE'S SPECIFIED GROSS AXLE WEIGHT RATING, INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR PREMATURE TIRE FAILURE.

OWNERS WILL BE MAILED A SUPPLEMENTARY LABEL CONTAINING THE CORRECT REAR TIRE INFORMATION AND INSTRUCTIONS FOR INSTALLING THE LABEL ON THEIR VEHICLES. IF OWNERS PREFER, THEIR DEALER CAN INSTALL THE LABEL FOR THEM.

THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG MAY NOT INFLATE PROPERLY RESULTING IN REDUCED OCCUPANT PROTECTION IN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT. IF THE IGNITER END CAP SEPARATES IN A FRONTAL COLLISION, HOT GASES CAN BE RELEASED AND IGNITE FLAMMABLE MATERIAL OR CAUSE BURN INJURIES.

DEALERS WILL REMOVE AND REPLACE THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG MODULE.

CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: IF THE WINDOW BREAKS, THE GLASS FRAGMENTS OF THE REAR WINDOWS EXCEED THE SIZE SPECIFICATIONS OF FMVSS NO. 205.

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE RIGHT REAR DOOR GLASS.