The defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE AIR BAG SENSOR WIRING PIGTAIL INSULATION CAN BECOME BRITTLE AND CRACK OVER TIME DUE TO ACCUMULATION OF WATER IN THE PIGTAIL PROTECTIVE CONVOLUTE IN COMBINATION WITH HIGH UNDERHOOD TEMPERATURES RELATED TO THE ROUTING OF THE WIRING PIGTAIL NEAR THE RADIATOR. THIS CAN RESULT IN ENVIRONMENTAL STRESS CRACKING OF THE INSULATION.
The risk
IN SOME CASES, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAN ILLUMINATE AND THE AIR BAG SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM DISABLED.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL INSTALL AIR BAG SENSORS WITH REVISED WIRING INSULATION. IN ADDITION, VEHICLES WHICH HAVE THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED WILL HAVE A NEW AIR BAG DIAGNOSTIC MONITOR INSTALLED.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by ODI
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Ford Contour | 1998 |
| Mercury Mystique | 1998 |
Components: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE-INACTIVE
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 | 1998 | 846 | 9 |
| Mercury Mystique | 1998 | 231 | 8 |
Other air bags recalls in 1999
15 of the 392 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 1999 concerned the air bags; FORD MOTOR COMPANY filed 963 campaigns in all.
| 99V343000 2 Dec 1999 | DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION |
| 99V334000 24 Nov 1999 | MITSUBISHI CARIBBEAN |
| 99V327000 22 Nov 1999 | MERCEDES-BENZ USA, INC. |
| 99V063001 15 Nov 1999 | BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE |
| 99V283000 21 Oct 1999 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 99V236000 30 Aug 1999 | VOLVO CARS OF NA, INC. |
| 99V090002 1 Jun 1999 | DAEWOO MOTOR GUAM |
| 99V090001 10 May 1999 | DAEWOO MOTOR DE PUERTO RICO |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 1999