The defect
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.
The 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.
The 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.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Ford Contour | 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000 |
| Mercury Cougar | 1999, 2000 |
| Mercury Mystique | 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000 |
Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ford Contour | 1996 | 563 | 8 |
| Ford Contour | 1997 | 218 | 5 |
| Ford Contour | 1998 | 846 | 9 |
| Ford Contour | 1999 | 419 | 3 |
| Ford Contour | 2000 | 199 | 5 |
| Mercury Cougar | 1999 | 454 | 7 |
| Mercury Cougar | 2000 | 211 | 3 |
| Mercury Mystique | 1996 | 185 | 7 |
| Mercury Mystique | 1997 | 71 | 4 |
| Mercury Mystique | 1998 | 231 | 8 |
| Mercury Mystique | 1999 | 128 | 2 |
| Mercury Mystique | 2000 | 63 | 3 |
Other service brakes, hydraulic recalls in 2000
41 of the 541 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2000 concerned the service brakes, hydraulic; FORD MOTOR COMPANY filed 963 campaigns in all.
| 00V357001 20 Dec 2000 | ATHEY PRODUCTS CORP. |
| 00V249004 27 Nov 2000 | RHODES TRAILERS |
| 00V382000 20 Nov 2000 | JAYCO, INC. |
| 00V369000 13 Nov 2000 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 00V345000 30 Oct 2000 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 00V226002 21 Oct 2000 | MITSUBISHI CARIBBEAN |
| 00V294000 4 Oct 2000 | FREIGHTLINER CORPORATION |
| 00V249002 6 Sept 2000 | TRAILSTAR MFR CORP |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2000