Vehicles Involved, Description of Condition, Parts and Tire Placard and Notification of Owner

VEHICLES INVOLVED

1984 Mark VII vehicles built at the Wixom Assembly Plant from Job #1 through December 21, 1983.

DESCRIPTION OF CONDITION

These vehicles may not comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 114, "Theft Protection", and Standard No. 110, "Tire Selection and Rims".

The key release control cable on these vehicles may not function as intended. On some of these vehicles, the steering column locking mechanism can be engaged when the gearshift selector lever is in a gear position other than PARK, if the ignition key is turned from the run position, through the off position, and toward the lock position. The locking mechanism was intended to have a safeguard that would require the driver both to place the gearshift selector lever in PARK and to turn the ignition key to OFF before the lock mechanism could be engaged. It is this safeguard that may not function properly in these vehicles. Drivers are being warned that until their vehicles are repaired, they should take special precautions to not move the ignition keys of their vehicles to the "OFF" position while they are being operated.

In addition, the tire information placards on these vehicles show an incorrect number of designated seating positions (6) and incorrect vehicle weight capacities (1100 lbs. for passengers and cargo). The correct seating capacity is 5 passengers, and the total load capacity is 900 lbs. of passengers and cargo. Persons relying on the incorrect information on this placard could potentially load their vehicles in excess of the weight rating listed on the vehicle safety compliance certification label.
To correct these conditions, the key release control cable is to be inspected and, if necessary, modified, and a new tire information placard is to be installed on all 1984 Mark VII vehicles built through December 21, 1983.

**** IMPORTANT ****

NO VEHICLE INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL THAT IS CURRENTLY IN YOUR POSSESSION IS TO BE DELIVERED UNTIL THE RECALL SERVICE HAS BEEN PERFORMED. SALE OR DELIVERY OF VEHICLES THAT DO NOT CONFORM TO APPLICABLE U.S. FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARDS MAY SUBJECT THE DEALER TO PENALTIES OF UP TO $1,000 PER UNIT UNDER THE U.S. NATIONAL TRAFFIC AND MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY ACT.

ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING THE CONTENTS OF THIS BULLETIN SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO YOUR FORD SUPERVISING LOCATION OR THIS OFFICE.

*** IMPORTANT ***

WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN YOUR DEALERSHIP, CHECK TO BE SURE THE FRONT SEAT SHOULDER RESTRAINT ATTACHMENT MODIFICATION (SERVICE RECALL 477) HAS BEEN PERFORMED.

*** ***

PARTS AND TIRE PLACARDS

One hundred percent of your parts requirements and all of the tire placards are included with this letter and vehicle listing.

NOTIFICATION OF OWNERS

United States law requires that we advise owners in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and certain territories of the procedure to be followed by them in informing the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, if the defect is not corrected without charge within a reasonable time after the vehicle is brought in. This notice is included in the owner letter (copy attached) to be sent to owners in Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Canal Zone, Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands. It is also important, however, that you promptly report (to your supervising location or Wixom) any instances in which an owner will not allow you to complete this recall because of objections to delays in scheduling, or for any other reason.

The enclosed list identifies units delivered to your dealership which are involved in this recall. Other eligible vehicles may be brought to your dealership by their owners for this recall service. Those units also are to be corrected as promptly as possible. If the owner of any eligible vehicle does not have a Customer Notification and Dealer Claim Form (FED-1864), a blank 1864 should be completed by you and sent in for reimbursement.

Vehicle owners whose names and addresses are shown on the enclosed recall listing are being notified by First Class Mail. If you have knowledge that a suspect vehicle has been sold, but the owner's name and address does not appear on the listing, please contact the owner immediately and provide him a copy of the owner letter. If the owner of any vehicle cannot be contacted or
does not make an appointment to have his vehicle corrected, advise your supervising location or Wixom of the owner's name and address so that we can handle further notification.

If no vehicle listing is enclosed, you are not involved at this time, and this Service Recall Bulletin is for information only.

For Dealers in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands - To determine vehicle eligibility, please use "CARE."