The defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES BUILT WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS WHICH UTILIZE A PARK/LOCK SOLENOID. IT IS POSSIBLE TO ROTATE THE IGNITION KEY TO THE LOCK POSITION AND REMOVE THE KEY WITHOUT THE SHIFT LEVER AND TRANSMISSION BEING IN PARK. THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 114, "THEFT PROTECTION."
The risk
THIS COULD RESULT IN A CRASH AND POSSIBLE PERSONAL INJURY.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THESE VEHICLES. VEHICLES THAT HAVE UNITS WITH IGNITION KEYS REMOVABLE IN GEAR POSITIONS OTHER THAN PARK, WILL HAVE THE STEERING COLUMN REPLACED.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Ford Contour | 1999 |
| Mercury Mystique | 1999 |
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
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 Contour | 1999 | 419 | 3 |
| Mercury Mystique | 1999 | 128 | 2 |
Other electrical system recalls in 1999
24 of the 392 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 1999 concerned the electrical system; FORD MOTOR COMPANY filed 963 campaigns in all.
| 99V333002 23 Nov 1999 | MITSUBISHI CARIBBEAN |
| 99V333001 23 Nov 1999 | MITSUBISHI AMERICA |
| 99V329000 22 Nov 1999 | OVERLAND MOTOR COACH |
| 99V325000 19 Nov 1999 | KIA MOTORS AMERICA, INC. |
| 99V289000 26 Oct 1999 | BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY |
| 99V282000 19 Oct 1999 | AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO. |
| 99V234000 23 Aug 1999 | BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY |
| 99V181002 27 Jul 1999 | FREIGHTLINER CORPORATION |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 1999