Recall Information

Description

On certain my 1996-1998 passenger vehicles built at the kansas city, cuautitlan assembly plants or on my 1999 passenger vehcles built at the automotive alliance international assembly plants, the rough surface of the heater blower resistor's stainless steel blades can damage the copper surface of the wiring harness connector. The damage could, over time, cause increased resistance in the connector and, due to subsequent terminal relaxation, result in an open circuit condition.

Safety Risk

The open circuit could lead to electrical arcing that could melt the connector housing material creasing the potential for a fire.

Remedy

Dealers will install a new heater blower resistor and a new wire jumper harness. Owner notification began August 29, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Ford at 1-866-436-7332.

Next Steps

Description

Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The accelerator cable may have been manufactured with a burr on or near the end of the cable sleeve interior. This burr could fray the core wire resulting in the accelerator not returning to idle when the accelerator is released.

Safety Risk

This condition can result in the throttle sticking, binding, or causing high engine rpm.

Remedy

Dealers will install a revised accelerator cable that has a flared conduit sleeve end and molded on end fitting.

Next Steps

Description

Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The air bag sensor wiring pigtail insulation can become brittle and crack over time due to accumulation of water in the pigtail protective convolute in combination with high underhood temperatures related to the routing of the wiring pigtail near the radiator. This can result in environmental stress cracking of the insulation.

Safety Risk

In some cases, the air bag warning light can illuminate and the air bag supplemental restraint system disabled.

Remedy

Dealers will install air bag sensors with revised wiring insulation. In addition, vehicles which have the air bag warning light illuminated will have a new air bag diagnostic monitor installed.

Next Steps

Description

Vehicle description: passenger vehicles built at the kansas city assembly plant and originally sold in or currently registered in the States of connecticut, delaware, illinois, indiana, iowa, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, missouri, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, vermont, west virginia, and wisconsin, and the district of columbia. The front coil springs may fracture as a result of corrosion in high corrosion environments. Depending on the location of the fracture, a broken spring could move past the spring seat and contact a front tire.

Safety Risk

Some tires have deflated due to contact with a broken spring.

Remedy

Dealers will install spring catcher brackets. Owner notification began October 23, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Ford at 1-866-436-7332.

Next Steps

Description

Vehicle description: passenger vehicles not equipped with the anti-lock braking system (ABS). A pressure conscious reducing valve (pcrv) in the rear brakes may be subject to corrosion and result in malfunction, when operated in areas that use salt compounds on the roadway for de-icing or dust control.

Safety Risk

If both pcrv's malfunction, vehicle handling could be adversely affected during braking as a result of the rear wheels locking, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Dealers will install improved pcrv's in the rear brake system. This recall was expanded in September 2000 to include 1999 and 2000 Ford contour, mercury mystique and cougar vehicles.

Next Steps

Description

On certain sport utility vehicles and pickup trucks, the speed control deactivation switch may overheat, smoke, or burn.

Safety Risk

This condition could lead to a fire. Fires have occurred while the vehicles were parked with the ignition 'off.'

Remedy

Ford Motor Company has authorized your dealer to perform the repairs under this program free of charge parts and labor. If you had the interim repair speed control system disconnect performed, the final repair will restore operation of the speed control system.

Next Steps

Description

Vehicle description: bi-fuel vehicles. These vehicles may have a fuel tank filler pipe grommet that could have been damaged during the installation of the bi-fuel system. If the grommet is damaged, fuel could leak. Fuel leakage in the presence of an ignition source could result in a fire. Dealers will replace the fuel tank filler pipe grommet.

Safety Risk

If the grommet is damaged, fuel could leak. Fuel leakage in the presence of an ignition source could result in a fire.

Remedy

Dealers will replace the fuel tank filler pipe grommet.

Next Steps

Campaign:

98S26

Description

Automatic transaxle shift indicator (prndl) bezel

Next Steps