The defect
FUEL MAY POSSIBLY TRAVEL THROUGH THE SPEED CONTROL VACUUM LINES AND INTO THE SPEED CONTROL ACTUATION DEVICE (SERV0). THE FUEL CAN DAMAGE SEALS IN THE ACTUATOR SERVO AND ALLOW VACUUM LEAKS. SUCH A LEAK COULD ACTIVATE THE SPEED CONTROL WITHOUT ANY ACTION ON THE PART OF THE DRIVER. THIS WOULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO GRADUALLY ACCELERATE.
The remedy
THE VACUUM CHECK VALVE AND HOSE ASSEMBLY WILL BE REPLACED AND THE SPEED CONTROL SERVO WILL BE REPLACED IF IT HAS BEEN DAMAGED.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Ford Escort | 1981 |
| Mercury Lynx | 1981 |
Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
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 Escort | 1981 | 1 | 10 |
| Mercury Lynx | 1981 | 0 | 10 |
Other vehicle speed control recalls in 1981
10 of the 157 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 1981 concerned the vehicle speed control; FORD MOTOR COMPANY filed 963 campaigns in all.
| 81V156000 29 Dec 1981 | MACK TRUCKS, INCORPORATED |
| 81V111000 22 Sept 1981 | CHRYSLER CORPORATION |
| 81V081000 6 Jul 1981 | CHRYSLER CORPORATION |
| 81V080000 1 Jul 1981 | COACHMEN INDUSTRIES, INC. |
| 81V078000 26 Jun 1981 | COACHMEN INDUSTRIES, INC. |
| 81V029000 5 Mar 1981 | SUBARU OF AMERICA, INC. |
| 81V028000 3 Mar 1981 | WINNEBAGO INDUSTRIES, INC. |
| 81V012000 28 Jan 1981 | VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 1981