The defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AX4S AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLES. THE LOW/INTERMEDIATE SERVO COVER CAN SEPARATE FROM THE TRANSAXLE WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN. IF THIS OCCURS, TRANSMISSION FLUID WILL LEAK CONTACTING THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER.
The risk
THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER TEMPERATURE MAY BE HOT ENOUGH TO IGNITE THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AND CAUSE A VEHICLE FIRE.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE TRANSMISSION AND REPLACE THESE SERVO COVERS.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Ford Taurus | 1997 |
| Ford Windstar | 1997, 1998 |
| Mercury Sable | 1997 |
Components: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
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 | 1997 | 770 | 3 |
| Ford Windstar | 1997 | 192 | 5 |
| Ford Windstar | 1998 | 1,433 | 11 |
| Mercury Sable | 1997 | 228 | 3 |
Other power train recalls in 1997
13 of the 268 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 1997 concerned the power train; FORD MOTOR COMPANY filed 963 campaigns in all.
| 97V233000 16 Dec 1997 | KAWASAKI MOTORS CORP. |
| 97V204000 13 Nov 1997 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
| 97V171000 7 Oct 1997 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
| 97V147000 9 Sept 1997 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
| 97V090002 2 Sept 1997 | FREIGHTLINER CORPORATION |
| 97V091000 28 May 1997 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
| 97V090001 28 May 1997 | INTERNATIONAL TRUCK AND ENGINE |
| 97V084000 5 May 1997 | CHRYSLER CORPORATION |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 1997