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Recalls, inspection results and owner complaints for the 1978 Mercury Zephyr, from official sources in the US, Canada and Europe. To check one specific car, enter its VIN or plate.
We checked recall campaigns for this vehicle, or for its model where the register works by model.
Source: NHTSA (US Department of Transportation) · US public domain
CERTAIN FEDERAL-MOGUL AFTERMARKET FUEL PUMPS SOLD UNDER THE BRAND NAMES OF CARTER, ACCUFLOW, NAPA, TRUFLOW, PARTS DEPO, AND PARTS MASTER, SHIPPED BETWEEN AUGUST 2006 AND JULY 2007 FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE FUEL PUMP DIAPHRAGM IN CERTAIN PRODUCTION RUNS MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY INSTALLED OR INADEQUATELY TESTED WHICH MAY CAUSE THE FUEL PUMP TO LEAK. Remedy: FEDERAL-MOGUL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 15, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FEDERAL-MOGUL AT 248-354-7700.
BECAUSE OF ITS POSITION, THE WIRING ASSEMBLY MAY CHAFE AGAINST THE COWL-TO-BRAKE PEDAL SUPPORT BRACE WHICH IS LOCATED UNDER THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. Remedy: THE DEALER WILL INSTALL PROTECTIVE SHIELDS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL SUPPORT BRACE AND PERFORM REPAIRS, IF NECESSARY.
ON SOME OF THE INVOLVED VEHICLES, THE TRANSMISSION PARKING PAWL MAY NOT ENGAGE THE PARKING GEAR WHEN THE TRANSMISSION SELECTOR LEVER IS PLACED IN THE "PARK" POSITION. THIS CONDITION IS ATTRIBUTABLE TO EXCESSIVE FREE PLAY IN THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT LINKAGE ADJUSTMENT. Remedy: DEALER WILL INSPECT AND PROPERLY ADJUST THE SHIFT LINKAGE, AT NO CHARGE.
THE INVOLVED VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN INCORRECTLY EQUIPPED WITH MANUAL BRAKES INSTEAD OF POWER BRAKES. CONSEQUENTLY, A NON-COMPLIANCE TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 105, "HYDRAULIC BRAKE SYSTEMS", MAY EXIST. Remedy: DEALER WILL REMOVE THE MANUAL BRAKE COMPONENTS AND INSTALL POWER BRAKE COMPONENTS ON ALL INVOLVED VEHICLES, WITHOUT CHARGE.
THE INVOLVED VEHICLES MAY BE IN NON-COMPLIANCE TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 105, "HYDRAULIC BRAKE SYSTEMS", DUE TO INSTALLATION OF INCORRECT REAR AXLE ASSEMBLIES. CONSEQUENTLY, EARLY REAR WHEEL LOCK-UP UNDER LIGHT LOADING CONDITIONS COULD RESULT CAUSING VEHICLE DIRECTIONAL INSTABILITY. REAR BRAKING EFFECTIVENESS WOULD ALSO BE REDUCED. Remedy: DEALER WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, INSTALL THE CORRECT REAR AXLE ASSEMBLY WITHOUT CHARGE TO OWNER.
THE FRONT DISC BRAKE ROTORS INSTALLED ON THE INVOLVED VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED SO THAT THEY CONTAIN CRACKS. THESE CRACKED ROTORS COULD FRACTURE DURING VEHICLE BRAKING AND CAUSE BRAKE PULL AND AFFECT VEHICLE DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. Remedy: DEALER WILL REPLACE BOTH FRONT DISC BRAKE ROTORS ON INVOLVED VEHICLES, WITHOUT CHARGE TO OWNERS.
THE INVOLVED VEHICLES CONTAIN EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEMS THAT UTILIZE A PULSE AIR REED VALVE TO PERMIT AIR FLOW FROM THE AIR CLEANER TO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD ON NEGATIVE PRESSURE PULSATIONS. THESE REED VALVES MAY FAIL UNDER COLD WEATHER CONDITIONS, CAUSING A BACKFLOW OF EXHAUST GAS INTO THE AIR CLEANER AND FUEL INDUCTION SYSTEM ON POSITIVE EXHAUST PULSES. THIS CAUSES AN OVERLY RICH AIR/FUEL MIXTURE, REDUCED FUEL ECONOMY AND REDUCED ENGINE PERFORMANCE. CONTINUED VEHICLE OPERATION MAY RESULT IN ENGINE STALLING OR OVERHEATING OF THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. Remedy: THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THE PULSE AIR SYSTEM REED VALVE AND SILENCER WITHOUT CHARGE.
THE WINDSHIELD WIPER DRIVE LINKAGE ON THE AFFECTED VEHICLES MAY FRACTURE DUE TO METAL FATIGUE AS A RESULT OF REPEATED FLEXING OF THE DRIVE ARM ACROSS A STRESS SENSITIVE AREA. THIS CONDITION WILL RENDER THE WINDSHIELD WIPER SYSTEM INOPERATIVE. Remedy: THE DEALER WILL INSTALL AN IMPROVED WINDSHIELD WIPER LINKAGE WITHOUT COST TO OWNER.
TRANSMISSION SHIFT CONTROL RODS WERE INSTALLED THAT WERE INTENDED FOR USE WITH THE STEERING COLUMNS OF A PRIOR DESIGN LEVEL. ATTACHMENT OF THE SHIFT CONTROL ROD WITH THE STEERING COLUMN SHIFT LEVER GROMMET WILL ALLOW RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN THESE PARTS. CONTINUED USAGE COULD RESULT IN GROMMET WEAR AND DETERIORATION OF THE SHIFT CONTROL FUNCTION, WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR STARTING IN GEAR OR AN INABILITY TO ENGAGE THE PARKING GEAR. Remedy: DRIVER WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, INSTALL NEW TRANSMISSION SHIFT LINKAGE PARTS, WITHOUT CHARGE TO OWNER.
THE INVOLVED VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH AIR CONDITIONING UNITS WHICH CONTAIN BLOWER MOTOR RESISTOR WIRES WHICH ARE IMPROPERLY POSITIONED. AS A RESULT, UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS THE POLYPROPYLENE CASE MATERIAL COULD BECOME OVERHEATED AND EVENTUALLY IGNITE, ESPECIALLY IF THE BLOWER MOTOR SWITCH IS IN THE LOW OR MEDIUM POSITION. Remedy: DEALER WILL MODIFY THE INVOLVED UNITS AS FOUND NECESSARY.
AN IMPROPER TRANSMISSION SHIFT BRACKET WAS INSTALLED WHICH, BECAUSE OF ITS DESIGN, COULD CONTACT AND ABRADE THE FUEL HOSE. FUEL LEAKAGE AND POSSIBLE ACCUMULATION OF FUEL ON A SURFACE BENEATH A PARKED VEHICLE COULD RESULT. Remedy: THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT BRACKET AND ITS RELATED PARTS, INCLUDING THE FUEL HOSE IF FOUND NECESSARY, FREE OF CHARGE.
We checked Transport Canada's recall database for this make, model and year.
Source: Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Open Government Licence – Canada
THE EVAPORATIVE EMISSION (CARBON CANISTER) FUEL VAPOUR PURGE VALVE MAY BE DISCONNECTED AND COULD ALLOW A SMALL QUANTITY OF FUEL VAPOUR TO BE RELEASED TO THE ATMOSPHERE.
On certain vehicles, the pulse air reed valve (which permits flow of air from the air cleaner to the exhaust manifold) can fail in cold temperatures, resulting in a backflow of exhaust gas into the air cleaner and fuel induction system that causes a rich air/fuel mixture. This condition could ultimately result in spark plug misfire, or engine stalling.
VEHICLES PRODUCED APRIL 26, 1978. THE WINDSHIELD WIPER DRIVE LINKAGE MAY FRACTURE DUE TO METAL FATIGUE. THIS DEFECT CAN OCCUR WITHOUT WARNING AND WOULD LEAVE THE WINDSHIELD WIPER SYSTEM INOPERATIVE.
VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS AND COLUMN SHIFT CONTROLS. SHIFT CONTROL ROD MOVEMENT WITHIN SHIFT LEVER GROMMET CAN RESULT IN GROMMET WEAR AND ALLOW STARTING IN GEAR OR INABILITY TO ENGAGE "PARK" POSITION.
VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 2.3 LITRE ENGINE, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND COLUMN SHIFT CONTROL. SHIFT CONTROL CAN CONTACT THE INTERMEDIATE FULE HOSE AND MAY CAUSE FUEL LEAKAGE, CREATING A FIRE HAZARD.
THE VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN ASSEMBLED WITH THE MAIN WIRING ASSEMBLY ROUTED AGAINST THE COLW-TO-=BRAKE PEDAL SUPPORT BRACE. THIS ROUTING MAY CAUSE THE WIRING ASSEMBLE TO CHAFE RESULTING IN ONE OR MORE OF ITS WIRES TO BECOME GROUNDED. THIS SITUATION COULD CAUSE A LOSS OF ELECTRICAL POWER CAUSINT THE VEHICLE TO STALL.
Problems owners of this model reported to NHTSA, grouped by component.
Source: NHTSA (US Department of Transportation) · US public domain
VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS AND STEERING COLUMN MOUNTED SHIFT CONTROLS. THE TRANSMISSION PARKING PAWL MAY NOT ENGAGE THE PARKING GEAR WHEN THE TRANSMISSION SELECTOR LEVER IS PLACED IN THE PARK POSITION DUE TO EXCESSIVE FREE PLAY IN THE SHIFT LINKAGE ADJUSTMENT. THIS CONDITION COULD ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO ROLL FREE IF IT IS PARKED WITHOUT THE PARKING BRAKE ENGAGED.
SOME SEDAN TYPE AXLES WERE INSTALLED IN STATION WAGONS AND VICE VERSA. SEDANS MIGHT EXPERIENCE EARLY WHEEL LOCK-UP DURING BRAKING AND STATION WAGONS WOULD EXPERIENCE REDUCED BRAKING EFFECTIVENESS. STATION WAGONS MIGHT ALSO FAIL TO MEET THE BRAKE FADE REQUIREMENTS OF C.M.V.S.S. 105 - HYDRAULIC BRAKES.
VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 302 C.I.D. ENGINES AND MANUAL BRAKES. SOME ZEPHYR VEHICLES WITH 302 C.I.D. ENGINES WERE EQUIPPED WITH MANUAL BRAKES INSTEAD OF THE SPECIFIED POWER BRAKES AND MAY FAIL TO MEET THE BRAKE FADE REQUIREMENTS OF C.M.V.S.S. 105 - HYDRAULIC BRAKES.
VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH FRONT DISC BRAKES. SOME FRONT DISC BRAKE ROTORS MAY CONTAIN CRACKS AND COULD FRACTURE DURING VEHICLE BRAKING RESULTING IN BRAKE PULL AND AFFECTING VEHICLE CONTROL. AT THE DATE OF THE RECALL NONE OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE BEEN SOLD.