1985 Mercury LYNX: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
5 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
Not available median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1985 model year. Data snapshot: . 0 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System:Wiring is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 5 complaints (40.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 1 | 20.0% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System:Wiring | 2 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 1 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly | 1 |
Electrical System:Wiring: 2; Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 1; Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
No usable failure mileage is recorded. 5 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1996 | 4 |
| 2001 | 1 |
1996: 4; 2001: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System:Wiring leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 504156 · 1996-05-04 (May 4, 1996)
PLASTIC RETAINER THAT HOLDS METAL BAR OF SEAT BELT BUCKLE DETERIORATED, CAUSING BUCKLE TO FAIL. *SD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 504156 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 895518 · 2001-08-30 (August 30, 2001)
VEHICLE WOULD STALL WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. VEHICLE BEEN AT DEALER SHOP ON THREE OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM STILL REOCCURRING. *AK *SLC
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 895518 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 982970 · 1996-04-18 (April 18, 1996)
WK [phone removed]; WHILE DRIVING OWNER NOTICED BURNING SMELL. PARKED VEHICLE AND FLAMES BEGAN FROM DASH BY DOOR. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 982970 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 983837 · 1996-04-30 (April 30, 1996)
UPON PARKING AND WALKING IN HOME, DRIVER HEARD HORN AND SAW WINDSHIELD WIPERS MOTION. VEHICLE BURST INTO FLAMES. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 983837 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 983839 · 1996-04-30 (April 30, 1996)
UPON PARKING AND WALKING IN HOME, DRIVER HEARD HORN AND SAW WINDSHIELD WIPERS MOTION. VEHICLE BURST INTO FLAMES. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 983839 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
3 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
85V054000 · Vehicle Speed Control
Reported: 1985-05-01 (May 1, 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗89V095000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
Reported: 1989-06-12 (June 12, 1989)
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).
NHTSA campaign record ↗89V170000 · Seats
Reported: 1989-10-13 (October 13, 1989)
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
NHTSA campaign record ↗