The defect
THE PORTION OF THE ROOF ABOVE FRAME (RAIL) TO WHICH THE SHOULDER BELT IS ANCHORED MAY HAVE A SLOT THAT CAN COMPROMISE THE STRENGTH OF THE SHOULDER BELT ANCHOR UNDER CERTAIN SEVERE LOADS. (THE SUSPECT AREA IS NOT VISIBLE.) CONSEQUENTLY, SOME VEHICLES INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL MAY NOT MEET THE 3000 POUND ANCHORAGE STRENGTH REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD 210, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY ANCHORAGES".
The remedy
THE DEALER WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REINFORCE THE ROOF RAIL INNER PANEL SURROUNDING THE DRAINAGE HOLE AT NO COST TO OWNER.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Ford Escort | 1981, 1982 |
| Mercury Lynx | 1981, 1982 |
Components: SEAT BELTS
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 |
| Ford Escort | 1982 | 4 | 5 |
| Mercury Lynx | 1981 | 0 | 10 |
| Mercury Lynx | 1982 | 3 | 5 |
Other seat belts recalls in 1983
8 of the 140 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 1983 concerned the seat belts; FORD MOTOR COMPANY filed 963 campaigns in all.
| 83V134000 20 Dec 1983 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
| 83V111000 26 Oct 1983 | PORSCHE CARS N.A. INC. |
| 83V082000 25 Aug 1983 | MARSHALL VANS, INC. |
| 83V052000 10 May 1983 | MAZDA (NORTH AMERICA),INC |
| 83V015000 23 Feb 1983 | FREIGHTLINER CORP. |
| 83V010000 3 Feb 1983 | TRANSPORTATION PROD., INC |
| 83V008000 1 Jan 1983 | IVECO TRUCK OF N.A., INC. |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 1983