NHTSA Recall 81V102000
Filed by Ford Motor Company. Component: Seats. Reported 1981-09-08. An estimated 6,500 vehicles are affected. Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer.
Defect
THE HOUSING PLATES ON THE DRIVER SEAT BACK LATCH RECLINER ASSEMBLIES WERE MANUFACTURED WITH SUBSTANDARD MATERIAL PRODUCTS. THIS TAINTED STEEL WAS USED TO PRODUCE SEATBACK LATCHES FOR BOTH THE RIGHT AND LEFT SIDE SEAT ASSEMBLIES. UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, THE DEFECTIVE HOUSING PLATES MAY DISTORT, ALLOWING THE LOCKING TEETH TO DISENGAGE AND TEAR OFF. THIS PERMITS THE SEATBACK TO PIVOT BACKWARDS.
What the manufacturer will do
UPON INSPECTION, BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT LATCH/RECLINER ASSEMBLIES, ON VEHICLES EXHIBITING THE SUSPECT DATE CODES, WILL BE REPLACED.
Notes
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES.SYSTEM: INTERIOR; SEAT BACK LATCH/RECLINER ASSEMBLY HOUSING PLATE.CONSEQUENCES OF DEFECT: A BACKWARD PIVOTING OF THE DRIVER"S SEATBACK WITHOUTPRIOR WARNING MAY CAUSE A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND, POSSIBLY, AN ACCIDENT.