Front assembly: reclinerRecall 81V-102 · Ford and Mercury vehicles
FORD MOTOR COMPANY recall 81V-102 covers 6,500 Ford and Mercury vehicles for a front assembly: recliner problem, reported to NHTSA on September 8, 1981.
Source: NHTSA recall 81V102000 and manufacturer quarterly reports. Started by the manufacturer.
The problem
THE HOUSING PLATES ON THE DRIVER SEAT BACK LATCH RECLINER ASSEMBLIES WERE MANUFACTURED WITH SUBSTANDARD MATERIAL PRODUCTS. THIS TAINTED STEEL WAS USED TO PRODUCE SEATBACK LATCHES FOR BOTH THE RIGHT AND LEFT SIDE SEAT ASSEMBLIES. UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, THE DEFECTIVE HOUSING PLATES MAY DISTORT, ALLOWING THE LOCKING TEETH TO DISENGAGE AND TEAR OFF. THIS PERMITS THE SEATBACK TO PIVOT BACKWARDS.
The fix
UPON INSPECTION, BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT LATCH/RECLINER ASSEMBLIES, ON VEHICLES EXHIBITING THE SUSPECT DATE CODES, WILL BE REPLACED.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES.SYSTEM: INTERIOR; SEAT BACK LATCH/RECLINER ASSEMBLY HOUSING PLATE.CONSEQUENCES OF DEFECT: A BACKWARD PIVOTING OF THE DRIVER"S SEATBACK WITHOUTPRIOR WARNING MAY CAUSE A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND, POSSIBLY, AN ACCIDENT.
Recall repairs are free. Confirm whether this recall is open on your vehicle by entering its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Vehicles in this recall
Built from July 1, 1981 to August 1, 1981. Not every vehicle in these model years is included; check by VIN.