The defect
THE BRAKE SYSTEM FLUID LEVEL INDICATOR LAMP SWITCH CAN MALFUNCTION. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS NO. 105, "HYDRAULIC BRAKE SYSTEMS."
The risk
CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: IF THE SWITCH MALFUNTIONS, THE BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING LAMP WILL EITHER REMAIN ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY OR FAIL TO LIGHT AS INTENDED WHEN THE FLUID LEVEL FALLS TO A CERTAIN LEVEL. IN EITHER CASE, THE VEHICLE OPERATOR WOULD NOT BE WARNED OF A LOW BRAKE FLUID LEVEL CONDITION.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BRAKE SYSTEM FLUID LEVEL INDICATOR LAMP SWITCHES.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Ford Taurus | 1996 |
| Mercury Sable | 1996 |
Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:BRAKE FLUID LOW WARNING: LAMP
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 | 1996 | 825 | 6 |
| Mercury Sable | 1996 | 304 | 5 |
Other service brakes, hydraulic recalls in 1996
26 of the 297 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 1996 concerned the service brakes, hydraulic; FORD MOTOR COMPANY filed 963 campaigns in all.
| 96V260000 27 Dec 1996 | CHRYSLER CORPORATION |
| 96V215000 29 Oct 1996 | CHRYSLER CORPORATION |
| 96V202000 16 Oct 1996 | AMERICAN TRANSPORTATION CORP. |
| 96V143003 8 Oct 1996 | CHRYSLER CORPORATION |
| 96V184000 25 Sept 1996 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
| 96V174000 13 Sept 1996 | INTERNATIONAL TRUCK AND ENGINE |
| 96V157000 27 Aug 1996 | VOLVO TRUCKS NORTH AMERICA INC |
| 96V152000 15 Aug 1996 | RANSOMES CORPORATION |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 1996