The defect
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 212, "WINDSHIELD MOUNTING." THE WINDSHIELDS MAY POTENTIALLY EXHIBIT INCREASED WIND NOISE, WATER LEAKAGE, AND SQUEAKS AND RATTLES.
The risk
POTENTIAL LOSS OF WINDSHIELD RETENTION MAY ALSO REDUCE OCCUPANT PROTECTION IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THESE WINDSHIELDS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON MARCH 31, 2003. 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/MERCURY AT 1-800-392-3673.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Ford Taurus | 2002, 2003 |
| Mercury Sable | 2002, 2003 |
Components: VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
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 Taurus | 2002 | 1,426 | 3 |
| Ford Taurus | 2003 | 1,223 | 3 |
| Mercury Sable | 2002 | 440 | 3 |
| Mercury Sable | 2003 | 201 | 3 |
Other visibility recalls in 2003
19 of the 527 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2003 concerned the visibility; FORD MOTOR COMPANY filed 963 campaigns in all.
| 03V497000 23 Dec 2003 | SETRA OF NORTH AMERICA |
| 03V461000 11 Nov 2003 | LIBERTY BUS INCORPORATED |
| 03V429000 3 Nov 2003 | MITSUBISHI MOTORS NORTH AMERICA, INC. |
| 03V223000 16 Jun 2003 | AMERICAN SUZUKI MOTOR CORP. |
| 03V222000 12 Jun 2003 | FORETRAVEL, INC. |
| 03V210000 2 Jun 2003 | ISUZU MOTORS LIMITED |
| 03V191000 5 May 2003 | INDIAN MOTORCYCLE COMPANY |
| 03V160000 29 Apr 2003 | BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2003