The defect
THE RUBBER THAT ENCASES BALL STUD AND SOCKET JOINT (CONNECTS STEERING DRAG LINK AND PITMAN ARM) MAY DETERIORATE, CAUSING METAL TO METAL CONTACT, AND MAY EVENTUALLY RESULT IN COMPLETE SEPARATION. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: COMPLETE SEPARATION OF THE DRAG LINK TO PITMAN ARM CONNECTION RESULTS IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL WHICH MAY LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT.
The remedy
INSTALL NEW DRAG LINK ASSEMBLIES WITH STEEL BALL AND SOCKET JOINTS AT THE PITMAN ARM CONNECTIONS.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Ford Club Wagon | 1985, 1986 |
| Ford E350 | 1985, 1986 |
| Ford Econoline | 1985, 1986 |
Components: STEERING:LINKAGES:DRAG:LINK:CONNECTION
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 Club Wagon | 1985 | 1 | 2 |
| Ford Club Wagon | 1986 | 2 | 2 |
| Ford E350 | 1985 | 2 | 10 |
| Ford E350 | 1986 | 10 | 11 |
| Ford Econoline | 1985 | 10 | 5 |
| Ford Econoline | 1986 | 7 | 5 |
Other steering recalls in 1986
23 of the 173 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 1986 concerned the steering; FORD MOTOR COMPANY filed 963 campaigns in all.
| 86V173000 30 Dec 1986 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
| 86V171000 23 Dec 1986 | FLXIBLE CORPORATION |
| 86V170000 22 Dec 1986 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 86V159000 9 Dec 1986 | CHRYSLER CORPORATION |
| 86V157000 25 Nov 1986 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 86V145000 3 Nov 1986 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 86V144000 28 Oct 1986 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
| 86V138000 20 Oct 1986 | BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 1986