NHTSA safety recall

Recall 81V045000

Vehicle Speed Control — Ford, Mercury · reported 6 Apr 1981 · 21,000 vehicles potentially affected

What's wrong

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.

The fix

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

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH SPEED CONTROL OPTION.SYSTEM: EQUIPMENT; SPEED CONTROL.CONSEQUENCES OF DEFECT: INCREASE IN VEHICLE SPEED CAN BE CONTROLLED BY APPLYINGTHE BRAKES, HOWEVER RELEASING THE BRAKES WILL ALLOW THE PROBLEM TO RECUR. IFTHE DRIVER IS INATTENTIVE TO VEHICLE SPEED, THE CONDITION COULD RESULT IN ANACCIDENT.

NHTSA campaign
81V045000
Filed by
Ford Motor Company
Report received
6 Apr 1981
Owners notified
13 May 1981
Potentially affected
21,000

Vehicles covered by this recall

Whether a particular car is affected and still unrepaired depends on its VIN — a model year being listed does not mean every car of that year is included. Check any VIN free on CarLogs, or at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

1981 Ford Escort 1981 Mercury Lynx

Is this car's recall fixed?

Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer, for the life of the vehicle. A CarLogs report shows the recall status for a specific VIN as reported by the manufacturer — whether it's open or repaired, and whether the fix is available yet.

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation recall database. Look up another campaign →