The defect
IMPROPERLY HEAT TREATED REAR SUSPENSION KNUCKLES COULD EXPERIENCE HIGH MILEAGE FATIGUE CRACKS AND EVENTUAL FRACTURE.
The risk
THIS COULD RESULT IN REAR SUSPENSION FAILURE AT THEAFFECTED WHEEL WITH AN ADVERSE AFFECT ON CONTROL OF THE CAR, WHICH COULDCAUSE AN ACCIDENT.
The remedy
REPLACE KNUCKLES THAT HAVE THE AFFECTED LOT CODES.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Ford Thunderbird | 1989 |
| Mercury Cougar | 1989 |
Components: SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS
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 Thunderbird | 1989 | 124 | 4 |
| Mercury Cougar | 1989 | 81 | 4 |
Other suspension recalls in 1989
19 of the 234 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 1989 concerned the suspension; FORD MOTOR COMPANY filed 963 campaigns in all.
| 89V236000 26 Dec 1989 | GREAT DANE TRAILERS, INC. |
| 89V228000 5 Dec 1989 | PACCAR, INCORPORATED |
| 89V133000 10 Aug 1989 | PORSCHE CARS N.A. INC. |
| 89V132000 8 Aug 1989 | MOTOR COACH IND., INC. |
| 89V120000 24 Jul 1989 | PREVOST CAR, INCORPORATED |
| 89V123000 24 Jul 1989 | COACHMEN INDUSTRIES, INC. |
| 89V119000 24 Jul 1989 | MACK TRUCKS, INCORPORATED |
| 89V117000 18 Jul 1989 | GREAT DANE TRAILERS, INC. |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 1989