Mercury LYNX recalls by model year

Reported: 1980-10-15 (October 15, 1980) · Model years: 1981

SOME OF THE INVOLVED VEHICLES WERE PRODUCED WITH AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT WIRE ASSEMBLY THAT MAY HAVE BEEN ROUTED ABOVE THE AIR CONDITIONING SUCTION HOSE. THIS HOSE MAY PUSH UP ON THE WIRING HARNESS CAUSING IT TO CONTACT THE HOOD PROP ROD BRACKET ATTACHING BOLT. THIS COULD LEAD TO PENETRATION OR CHAFING OF THE WIRING INSULATION.

Remedy: DEALER WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, CORRECT THE WIRING HARNESS ROUTING AT NO CHARGE TO OWNER.

Reported: 1980-10-03 (October 3, 1980) · Model years: 1981

ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, THE RIGHT AND LEFT HAND REAR BRAKE BACKING PLATE ATTACHMENT BOLTS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN TIGHTENED TO THE CORRECT SPECIFICATIONS. BACKING PLATE BOLTS MAY NOT BE ABLE TO WITHSTAND THE LOADS EXPERIENCED DURING TRUCK SHIPMENT. IF THE BOLTS LOOSEN FROM THE SPINDLE DURING OPERATION, BACKING PLATE MOVEMENT MAY RESULT IN WEAKENING OR PREMATURE WEAR OF ONE OR BOTH REAR BRAKE TUBES. THIS COULD LEAD TO LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID.

Remedy: DEALER WILL INSPECT AND TIGHTEN THE BOLTS TO THE PROPER SPECIFICATIONS. REAR BRAKE TUBES WILL BE REPLACED, IF NECESSARY, AT NO CHARGE TO OWNER.

Reported: 1980-11-04 (November 4, 1980) · Model years: 1981

ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, METAL FASTENERS THAT WERE USED TO SECURE THE CARPETING TO THE FLOOR PAN MAY HAVE ACCIDENTALLY PENETRATED THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK. THIS WOULD RESULT IN A SLIGHT FUEL LEAK.

Remedy: DEALER WILL INSPECT VEHICLES FOR PENETRATION OF THE FUEL TANK BY CARPET FASTENERS. ANY LEAKING FUEL TANKS WILL BE REPLACED AND THE FLOOR PAN WILL BE SEALED, WITHOUT CHARGE TO OWNERS.

Reported: 1981-04-06 (April 6, 1981) · Model years: 1981

FUEL MAY POSSIBLY TRAVEL THROUGH THE SPEED CONTROL VACUUM LINES AND INTO THE SPEED CONTROL ACTUATION DEVICE (SERV0). THE FUEL CAN DAMAGE SEALS IN THE ACTUATOR SERVO AND ALLOW VACUUM LEAKS. SUCH A LEAK COULD ACTIVATE THE SPEED CONTROL WITHOUT ANY ACTION ON THE PART OF THE DRIVER. THIS WOULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO GRADUALLY ACCELERATE.

Remedy: THE VACUUM CHECK VALVE AND HOSE ASSEMBLY WILL BE REPLACED AND THE SPEED CONTROL SERVO WILL BE REPLACED IF IT HAS BEEN DAMAGED.

Reported: 1981-07-07 (July 7, 1981) · Model years: 1981

SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH POWER BRAKE BOOSTERS HAVE FRONT AND REAR SHELLS THAT MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY JOINED. IMPROPERLY JOINED BOOSTER SHELLS MAY SEPARATE EITHER PARTIALLY OR COMPLETELY DURING BRAKE APPLICATION.

Remedy: ALL DEFECTIVE BOOSTERS WILL BE REPLACED AT NO CHARGE TO OWNER.

Reported: 1981-07-22 (July 22, 1981) · Model years: 1981

SOME OF THE INVOLVED VEHICLES HAVE AN ELECTRICALLY UNGROUNDED FUEL INLET. THESE VEHICLES ARE SUBJECT TO STATIC CHARGE ACCUMULATION AT THE FUEL FILLER PIPE OPENING, WHICH CAN OCCUR IF THESE VEHICLES ARE REFUELED FROM AN ELECTRICALLY UNGROUNDED DISPENSING NOZZLE.

Remedy: A GROUNDING CONNECTION FROM THE FILLER PIPE INLET TO THE VEHICLE BODY AND A STATIC ELECTRICITY SUPPRESSION ROD INSIDE THE FILLER PIPE WILL BE INSTALLED AT NO CHARGE TO OWNER.

Reported: 1983-02-17 (February 17, 1983) · Model years: 1981, 1982

THE PORTION OF THE ROOF ABOVE FRAME (RAIL) TO WHICH THE SHOULDER BELT IS ANCHORED MAY HAVE A SLOT THAT CAN COMPROMISE THE STRENGTH OF THE SHOULDER BELT ANCHOR UNDER CERTAIN SEVERE LOADS. (THE SUSPECT AREA IS NOT VISIBLE.) CONSEQUENTLY, SOME VEHICLES INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL MAY NOT MEET THE 3000 POUND ANCHORAGE STRENGTH REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD 210, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY ANCHORAGES".

Remedy: THE DEALER WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REINFORCE THE ROOF RAIL INNER PANEL SURROUNDING THE DRAINAGE HOLE AT NO COST TO OWNER.

Reported: 1983-06-22 (June 22, 1983) · Model years: 1981, 1982, 1983

DOOR LOCK PILLARS COULD DEVELOP FATIGUE CRACKS FROM NORMAL USAGE OF DOOR, AT THE POINT WHERE DOOR LATCH STRIKER REINFORCEMENTS ARE ATTACHED.

Remedy: ANY DAMAGED LOCK PILLARS WILL BE REPAIRED AND REINFORCEMENTS WILL BE INSTALLED BETWEEN THE DOOR LATCH STRIKER AND LOCK PILLARS.

Reported: 1984-06-15 (June 15, 1984) · Model years: 1981, 1982, 1983

SEAT FRAME STRUCTURE COULD SEVER FRONT SEAT BELTS IF VEHICLE IS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, DEPENDING ON FORCE OF IMPACT.

Remedy: DEALER WILL INSTALL A MOLDED SPACER BETWEEN REINFORCEMENT PLATES AND LOWER DECORATIVE PLASTIC COVER.

Reported: 1984-07-18 (July 18, 1984) · Model years: 1981

SCREW THAT CONNECTS THE SEAT BACK FRAME TO THE RECLINER MECHANISM MAY BREAK.

Remedy: THE ATTACHMENT SCREW ON THE DRIVER"S SEAT WILL BE REPLACED BY ONE OF A LARGER DIAMETER.

Reported: 1982-05-11 (May 11, 1982) · Model years: 1982

ON THE INVOLVED VEHICLES, A THERMAL LIMITER IN THE BLOWER MOTOR RESISTOR CIRCUIT OF THE AIR CONDITIONER/HEATER ASSEMBLY MAY NOT FUNCTION AS INTENDED. IF THE BLOWER MOTOR BECOMES JAMMED WHEN THE SYSTEM IS OPERATING IN THE MEDIUM-LOW BLOWER SPEED, THE RESISTOR COILS CAN OVERHEAT CAUSING MELTING AND POSSIBLE IGNITION.

Remedy: DEALER WILL REPLACE THE RESISTOR ASSEMBLY WITH AN IMPROVED VERSION WITHOUT CHARGE TO OWNER.

Reported: 1985-05-21 (May 21, 1985) · Model years: 1982, 1983

REAR SEAT BELT RETRACTORS MAY ALLOW TWISTED WEBBING TO ENTER THE RETRACTOR HOUSING AND JAM THE RETRACTOR. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: A JAMMED RETRACTOR WOULD INTERFERE WITH WEBBING RETRACTION AND WITHDRAWAL. THIS WILL DISCOURAGE SEAT BELT USAGE.

Remedy: A CLIP WILL BE INSERTED INTO THE RETRACTOR HOUSING WEBBING TO PREVENT JAMMING.

Reported: 1982-09-16 (September 16, 1982) · Model years: 1983

DURING A CRASH BARRIER TEST, THE RUBBER HOSE CONNECTING THE FUEL TANK AND THE METAL FILLER PIPE VENT TUBE WAS CUT, RESULTING IN FUEL LEAKAGE. THE INVOLVED VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 301, "FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITY".

Remedy: DEALER WILL INSTALL A BRACE BETWEEN THE RIGHT SIDE REAR QUARTER PANEL AND THE BODY SIDE RAIL TO IMPROVE FUEL TANK IMPACT RESISTANCE.

Reported: 1983-12-20 (December 20, 1983) · Model years: 1984

THE BOLTS THAT ATTACH THE D-SHAPED RING FOR THE SHOULDER BELT ARE INADEQUATELY SUPPORTED BY THE MATERIAL IN WHICH THEY ARE MOUNTED. THE ATTACHMENT DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 210, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY ANCHORAGES".

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL NEW ATTACHING HARDWARE TO IMPROVE THE STRENGTH OF THE MOUNTING.

Reported: 1984-10-10 (October 10, 1984) · Model years: 1984

THE BRAKE LINE MAY BE POSITIONED TOO CLOSE TO AN ENGINE BRACKET. NORMAL ENGINE MOVEMENTS MAY CAUSE THE BRACKET TO RUB AGAINST THE BRAKE LINE.

Remedy: THE BRAKE LINE WILL BE INSPECTED AND REROUTED IF NECESSARY.

Reported: 1989-06-12 (June 12, 1989) · Model years: 1984, 1985

EXTERNAL CRACKS ABOVE THE NUMBER 3 CYLINDER (1984 MODELS) OR ROCKER ARM COVER GASKETS SPLITTING (1985 MODELS) COULD ALLOW OIL TO LEAK ONTO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD.

Consequence: ENGINE OIL LEAKING ONTO A HOT EXHAUST MANIFOLD COULDRESULT IN AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE.

Remedy: REPLACE CRACKED CYLINDER HEADS (1984 MODELS); REPLACE ROCKER ARM COVER GASKETS (1985 MODELS).

Reported: 1985-05-01 (May 1, 1985) · Model years: 1985

THE THROTTLE LEVER MAY NOT RETURN TO IDLE POSITION DUE TO MISALIGNMENT OF THE AIR CONDITIONER SHUT OFF SWITCH TO THE THROTTLE LEVER PIN. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: A JAMMED THROTTLE COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF ACCELERATOR CONTROL, WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, AND AN ACCIDENT.

Remedy: ADJUST SHUTOFF SWITCH AND ASSURE PROPER ALIGNMENT TO THROTTLE LEVER PIN.

Reported: 1989-10-13 (October 13, 1989) · Model years: 1985, 1986, 1987

THE FORWARD OUTBOARD PEDESTAL OF THE SEAT TRACK OF DRIVER'S SEAT MAY BE SUSCEPTIBLE TO FATIGUE FRACTURE.

Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN A LIMITED DEGREE OF ROCKING MOTIONOF THE DRIVERS SEAT ASSEMBLY UPON ACCELERATION OR DECELERATION, WHICH COULDCAUSE AN ACCIDENT.

Remedy: INSTALL A REINFORCEMENT ON ALL MODELS AND A NEW SEAT TRACK AS NECESSARY

Reported: 1987-09-04 (September 4, 1987) · Model years: 1986, 1987

SPRING LOCK FUEL LINE COUPLING MAY NOT BE PROPERLY ENGAGED.

Consequence: COUPLING COULD DISENGAGE DUE TO FUEL PRESSURE,VIBRATION, AND ENGINE MOVEMENTS; THIS WOULD CAUSE LOSS OF FUEL WHICH, INPRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, CREATES A FIRE RISK.

Remedy: INSTALL RETAINER CLIPS OVER THE COUPLINGS TO PREVENT COUPLING SEPARATION AND FUEL LEAKAGE.

Reported: 1987-04-27 (April 27, 1987) · Model years: 1987

LUG NUTS COULD GALL AND POSSIBLY SEIZE ON THE WHEEL STUDS WITHOUT PROVIDING ADEQUATE CLAMPING LOAD ON THE WHEELS.

Consequence: WHEEL STUDS COULD FRACTURE CREATING A RISK OF A WHEELSEPARATING WITH LITTLE FOREWARNING.

Remedy: REPLACE WHEEL LUG NUTS AND IF NECESSARY, REPLACE WHEELS AND WHEEL STUDS.