1985 Mercury Lynx
Safety record from NHTSA: recalls, owner complaints, investigations and service bulletins.
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Vehicles › Mercury › Lynx › 1985
These records cover every 1985 Mercury Lynx. To see whether one car still needs a recall repair, decode its VIN or check it with NHTSA.
Recalls
3 recalls name the 1985 Mercury Lynx. Newest first.
The forward outboard pedestal of the seat track of driver's seat may be susceptible to fatigue fracture.
Risk and remedy
Risk
This could result in a limited degree of rocking motionof the drivers seat assembly upon acceleration or deceleration, which couldcause an accident.
Remedy
Install a reinforcement on all models and a new seat track as necessary
External cracks above the number 3 cylinder (1984 models) or rocker arm cover gaskets splitting (1985 models) could allow oil to leak onto the exhaust manifold.
Risk and remedy
Risk
Engine oil leaking onto a hot exhaust manifold couldresult in an engine compartment fire.
Remedy
Replace cracked cylinder heads (1984 models); replace rocker arm cover gaskets (1985 models).
The throttle lever may not return to idle position due to misalignment of the air conditioner shut off switch to the throttle lever pin. consequence of defect: a jammed throttle could result in a…
Risk and remedy
Remedy
Adjust shutoff switch and assure proper alignment to throttle lever pin.
Owner complaints
5 complaints3 involved a fire
What owners report most
Latest complaints
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Vehicle would stall while driving at any speed. vehicle been at dealer shop on three occasions, and problem still reoccurring. *Ak *slc
- Seat belts › Front › Buckle assembly
Plastic retainer that holds metal bar of seat belt buckle deteriorated, causing buckle to fail. *Sd
- Electrical system › Wiring
Upon parking and walking in home, driver heard horn and saw windshield wipers motion. Vehicle burst into flames. *ak
- Electrical system › Wiring
Upon parking and walking in home, driver heard horn and saw windshield wipers motion. Vehicle burst into flames. Please describe details. *ak
- Electrical system › Wiring › Interior/under dash
Wk (216) 522-5440; while driving owner noticed burning smell. Parked vehicle and flames began from dash by door. Please describe details. *ak
Defect investigations
NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation opened these reviews into vehicles including this one.
- Rear safety belt fit
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- Rear seat belt compliance
Rear seat belt compliance
- Seat tracks
Summary: a fractured front seat track received from an escort owner showsthat metal fatigue occurred which could cause partial movement of the seat.another owner sent pictures showing fracture at the same location. Tenof the eighteen odi complaints have been received in the past four months.manufacturer information…
Summary: a fractured front seat track received from an escort owner showsthat metal fatigue occurred which could cause partial movement of the seat.another owner sent pictures showing fracture at the same location. Tenof the eighteen odi complaints have been received in the past four months.manufacturer information: ford made two significant modifications to theseat track; one incorporated a double latch system, locking both the in-board and outboard track assemblies, and the other added web depth in thefront and rear of the seat track.ford provided a total of 1,741 warranty claims concerning seat trackfailure on the subject vehicles.they believe that fracture of the seat track causes a limited rockingmotion and IS not a safety problem.proposed action: ir to ford sent 10/9/87.test request sent to etf10/21/87.
- Stalling
No safety defect trend has been detected.===
- Seat track failure
Summary: a fractured front seat track received from an escort owner showsthat metal fatigue occurred which could cause partial movement of the seat.another owner sent pictures showing fracture at the same location. Tenof the eighteen odi complaints have been received in the past four months.manufacturer information…
Summary: a fractured front seat track received from an escort owner showsthat metal fatigue occurred which could cause partial movement of the seat.another owner sent pictures showing fracture at the same location. Tenof the eighteen odi complaints have been received in the past four months.manufacturer information: ford made two significant modifications to theseat track; one incorporated a double latch system, locking both the in-board and outboard track assemblies, and the other added web depth in thefront and rear of the seat track.ford provided a total of 1,741 warranty claims concerning seat trackfailure on the subject vehicles.they believe that fracture of the seat track causes a limited rockingmotion and IS not a safety problem.proposed action: close this pe, open an ea, and send another ir to ford.===
- Fires
Summary of information from manufacturer:the alleged fires result froma variety of causes.fire rate remains about the same despite majorchanges with 85-1/2 models.it believes that the fire rate IS less thanindustry average.mfgr request copies of specific fire reports for trendanalysis.analysis:several areas of fire…
Summary of information from manufacturer:the alleged fires result froma variety of causes.fire rate remains about the same despite majorchanges with 85-1/2 models.it believes that the fire rate IS less thanindustry average.mfgr request copies of specific fire reports for trendanalysis.analysis:several areas of fire origin are mentioned.engine firesallegedly caused by leakage of flammable fluids (oil, gas, trans fluid).catalytic converters frequently cited as overheating.certain modelsare reported at a greater frequency.exp turbo reported most often on aper unit basis.status: ir sent 2/19/88. Awaiting response.===
- Fires
Summary of information from manufacturer:the alleged fires result from a wide variety of causes, with the reportedrates of fires for 1984-85 models versus the 85 1/2 models remainingapproximately the same.these rates are signifigantly less than theindustry average for non-collision vehicle fires as reported in the…
Summary of information from manufacturer:the alleged fires result from a wide variety of causes, with the reportedrates of fires for 1984-85 models versus the 85 1/2 models remainingapproximately the same.these rates are signifigantly less than theindustry average for non-collision vehicle fires as reported in the saepaper motor vehicle non-crash fires by peter cooley of the hsri.the head gasket was revised on the 1.9L 2V or efi engines to service oilleaks on the intake manifold side of the engine.analysis:a review of the reported incidents showed 8 groups of probable causation:a)appears to be catalytic converter related:~30%b)wiring beneath rear seat:~5%c)oil leaks from cracked cylinder heads or blocks}:~5-10%d)oil leaks from poorly fitted valve covers: ~5%e)electrical fires in engine compartment: ~5%f)electrical fires in interior or under dash: ~5%g)fuel related fires: ~9%IN comparison to the other classified probable causes, the exhaust systemrelated fires appear to be overly represented.a catalytic convertermalfunction or the environmental unsuitability of adjacent materials arepotential causes.however, both this and other hypotheses requirefurther study to determine whether a safety defect exists. All appearto need lab or field testing.proposed action:upgrade this preliminary evaluation to an engineering analysis.===
- Seatback failure
Summary of information from manufacturer:ford believes that the al-leged defect only occurs in a small number of the subject vehicles andrecalled about 195,732 1984 tempo/topaz vehicles in june 1986.analysis: vehicles potentially involved include tempo/topaz, escort/lynx/exp, mustang/capri, ltd/marquis, and…
Summary of information from manufacturer:ford believes that the al-leged defect only occurs in a small number of the subject vehicles andrecalled about 195,732 1984 tempo/topaz vehicles in june 1986.analysis: vehicles potentially involved include tempo/topaz, escort/lynx/exp, mustang/capri, ltd/marquis, and thunderbird/cougar.ford sold about 110,000 replacement mio bolts, mainly for 1983 and 1984models. Low clamping force appears to be a large part of the problem.ford increased the torque requirements and required the use of a manualtorque tool in march and september 1985 production changes. 1987 modelswill be produced with a longer M10 bolt and a nut to increase and main-tain clamping force. Bolts were formerly self tapping. Reports listedabove specifically state that the bolt broke. None refer simply toseat back collapse alone.status:ford reply to odi ir dated 2/2/87.ford recalled 195,7321984 tempo/topaz vehicles in june 1986 (86v-082). Analyzing reponse,monitoring canadian progress. Response to 4/6/87 letter to fordreceived 7/15/87. Will probably close after canada completes theiractions.===
Service bulletins
Technical service bulletins and other communications the manufacturer sent dealers about this vehicle. Ask a dealer for the full document by its number.
- 6090087Information on identifying non-approved / alternate refrigerants which could cause safety, and performance concerns if installed in ford a/c systems.
- 3031000Unknown
- 618599Concerns with premature failure occuring on the 1.9L motorcraft remanufactured longblock assembly and shortblock assembly due to ingestion of foreign objects remaining in the transferred intake system from the original failed engine.
- 601290Information on tire company telephone numbers for customer assistance.
- 50997Transaxle - torque converter replacement guidelines and torque converter/transaxle cooling system cleaning procedures - service tip.
- 50940Windshield and interior glass - fog/film.
- 50905Wiring - electrical diode identification and service replacements.
- 39900Roughness concern during brake application.
Every Mercury Lynx model year
Bars are owner complaints, dots mark years with recalls. Select a year to open its report.