Owner Letter Information
SAFETY RECALL 489 - FRONT SEAT BELT PROTECTIVE SPACER INSTALLATION. VEHICLES INVOLVED - CERTAIN 1981-1983 ESCORT AND LYNX 4 DOOR SEDANS
AND WAGONS AND 1984 TEMPO AND TOPAZ 4 DOOR SEDANS
. TIMING - DEALERS HAVE REPAIR INSTRUCTIONS AND PARTS WILL
BE AVAILABLE AFTER SEPTEMBER 17, 1984.
Dear Owner:
This notice is sent to you in accordance with the requirements of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act. Ford Motor Company has determined that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in certain 1981-1983 Escort and Lynx 4 door sedans and wagons and 1984 Tempo and Topaz 4 door sedans with non-reclining front seats. Our records indicate that you own one of the vehicles involved, which is identified on the enclosed Form 1864.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DEFECT:
The front seat belts of your car could be cut if it were involved in a high-speed head-on crash. The decorative plastic covers that are positioned over seat frame reinforcement brackets may bend or break because of the tension of the belts against them during a crash. This may permit the belt webbing to contact the brackets and, in extreme cases, to be severed. The level of protection that the seat belts otherwise provide would be reduced and the risk of injury to occupants would be increased.
You and other occupants of your car are encouraged to wear your seat belts before the recall service is performed - and to continue to wear the belts after the service has been completed. Even prior to the recall modifications, the seat belts will provide substantial protection to occupants in an accident.
SERVICE TO BE PERFORMED:
Your dealer will add, at no cost to you, protective foam spacers between the decorative plastic covers and the seat reinforcement brackets of both front seats.
TO HAVE THIS SERVICE PERFORMED:
Parts will be available after September 17, 1984 to perform this recall on your vehicle. Please contact a Ford or Lincoln-Mercury dealer for an appointment on or after this date. The time needed to perform the installation is approximately one-half hour.
Present the Form 1864 (enclosed with this letter) to your dealership when your car is taken in for the recall service. The form authorizes the dealer to perform this service at no charge to you. After repairing your car, the dealer will return the form to us verifying that the required service has been performed. If you lose the Form 1864, the dealer will still repair your car at no charge to you.
IF YOU NO LONGER OWN THE VEHICLE:
Please remove the postage prepaid card from the Form 1864, complete Section 1, and return it to us if you no longer own the vehicle. Your response is needed to update our records.
IF THE DEALER FAILS TO DO THE REPAIR PROMPTLY AND WITHOUT CHARGE:
Please complete Section 3 of the postcard and mail it to us if you have difficulties in getting this recall service performed. If you still cannot get this repair done promptly and without charge, you may wish to report that fact to the Administrator, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Washington, D.C. 20590. Or, you may call the toll-free Auto Safety Hotline at 800-424-9393.
OTHER FORD MOTOR COMPANY RECALLS (For Owners in Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands Only):
Ford Motor Company maintains records of vehicles involved in service recalls. The records are kept by a computer system called "CARES". (Computer Assisted Recall System). When you call a dealer for an appointment, ask the service representative to check with "CARES". This will tell that person whether your vehicle is involved in other recall(s). If it is, the dealer can advise you about the required inspection or repair.
We regret any inconvenience this recall may cause you. But we urge you to have this service performed for your safety and satisfaction with your vehicle.