The defect
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, LIMOUSINES, AND MINI VANS WERE BUILT WITH A NEWLY DESIGNED RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE (RCM). IN SOME CASES, THE RCM DOES NOT RECOGNIZE CERTAIN SYSTEM FAULTS THAT COULD RESULT IN AN AIR BAG OR SEAT BELT PRE-TENSIONER UNEXPECTEDLY ACTIVATING DURING THE SELF-TEST SEQUENCE AT VEHICLE START-UP.
The risk
THIS CONDITION COULD RESULT IN PERSONAL INJURY.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE RCM IN THESE VEHICLES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN SEPTEMBER 14, 2000. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Ford Crown Victoria | 2001 |
| Ford Windstar | 2001 |
| Lincoln Town Car | 2001 |
| Mercury Grand Marquis | 2001 |
Components: AIR BAGS
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 Crown Victoria | 2001 | 53 | 4 |
| Ford Windstar | 2001 | 1,686 | 15 |
| Lincoln Town Car | 2001 | 161 | 5 |
| Mercury Grand Marquis | 2001 | 157 | 3 |
Other air bags recalls in 2000
15 of the 541 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2000 concerned the air bags; FORD MOTOR COMPANY filed 963 campaigns in all.
| 00V412000 6 Dec 2000 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
| 00V388000 28 Nov 2000 | MERCEDES-BENZ USA, LLC. |
| 00V371000 13 Nov 2000 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 00V332000 17 Oct 2000 | HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY |
| 00V306000 12 Oct 2000 | DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION |
| 00V244000 29 Aug 2000 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 00V235000 23 Aug 2000 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 00V217000 11 Aug 2000 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2000