1989 Ford Thunderbird problems

FAULTY SEATBELT BUCKLES

THRTTL VLV LINKAGE BUSHING

THRTTL VLV LINKAGE BUSHING

HOOD LATCHES FAIL

THROTTLE STICKING

THROTTLE STICKING

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EXTERIOR LIGHTING

SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

Risk: DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

THE IGNITION SWITCH COULD EXPERIENCE AN INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT.

Risk: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE OVERHEATING, SMOKE, AND POSSIBLY FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN AREA OF THE VEHICLE.

SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:DISC:CALIPER

DUE TO CONTACT BETWEEN THE BRAKE CALIPER OF THE INBOARD FRONT WHEEL AND THE FRONT STABILIZER BAR, THERE MAY BE INCREASED BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL FOLLOWING LOW SPEED TURNING MANEUVERS.

Risk: THIS COULD CAUSE A REDUCTION IN BRAKE PERFORMANCETHAT COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.

SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS

IMPROPERLY HEAT TREATED REAR SUSPENSION KNUCKLES COULD EXPERIENCE HIGH MILEAGE FATIGUE CRACKS AND EVENTUAL FRACTURE.

Risk: THIS COULD RESULT IN REAR SUSPENSION FAILURE AT THEAFFECTED WHEEL WITH AN ADVERSE AFFECT ON CONTROL OF THE CAR, WHICH COULDCAUSE AN ACCIDENT.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:MOUNTING

PLASTIC ROLLOVER VALVE MOUNTING PLATE MAY NOT BE PROPERLY SEALED TO THE PLASTIC FUEL TANK.

Risk: FUEL OR VAPOR COULD LEAK, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLEFIRE.

Electrical

A SHORT CIRCUIT COULD DEVELOP IN THE IGNITION SWITCH THAT COULD LEAD TO OVERHEATING, SMOKE, AND POSSIBLY FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN OF THE VEHICLE. THIS CONDITION MAY OCCUR WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN USE OR UNATTENDED. CORRECTION: IGNITION SWITCH WILL BE REPLACED WITH A REVISED DESIGN SWITCH.

Emissions

Certain Cougar XR-7, Tunderbird turbo, and Merkur XR4TI vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of CMVSS 1103 - Exhaust Emissions. Correction: Dealers will replace the exhaust system catalyst and a vacuum delay valve will be installed in the EGC vacuum line.

Seats And Restraints

NOTE: THIS RECALL SUPERSEDES RECALL 91066 (91S32). A CABLE IN THE TENSION RELIEVER MECHANISM IN EITHER THE SAFETY BELTS PROVIDED IN THE KITS FOR RECALL 91066 (91S32) OR THE FACTORY INSTALLED FRONT SAFETY BELT ASSEMBLIES MAY BREAK OR BIND CAUSING A MALFUNCTION IN THE RETRACTOR MECHANISM. SHOULD THIS OCCUR, THE FRONT SAFETY BELTS MAY NOT RETRACT AFTER FULL EXTENSION. IN THIS CONDITION, THE BELTED OCCUPANT WILL NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED IF THE VEHICLE IS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION. CORRECTION: DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER SAFETY BELT ASSEMBLIES WILL BE REPLACED ON AFFECTED VEHICLES.

Lights And Instruments

NOTE: ALSO INCLUDES SOME MEDIUM AND HEAVY TRUCKS. THESE VEHICLES MAY NOT COMPLY WITH C.M.V.S.S. 108 - LIGHTING. DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT MODULE MAY MALFUNCTION WHICH CAN RESULT IN DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS THAT DIM, FLICKER OR GO OFF OR IN SOME INSTANCES MAY REMAIN ON AFTER THE IGNITION IS TURNED OFF. CORRECTION: DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT MODULE WILL BE REPLACED ON AFFECTED VEHICLES.

Emissions

NOTE: VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 3.8 LITRE ENGINES. THESE VEHICLES MAY NOT COMPLY WITH C.M.V.S.S 1105 - EVAPORATIVE EMISSIONS. FUEL VAPOUR HOSE MAY NOT BE CONNECTED AT THE FUEL TANK VAPOUR VALVE. CORRECTION: VEHICLES WILL BE INSPECTED AND FUEL TANK VAPOUR HOSE WILL BE RECONNECTED WHERE NECESSARY.

Seats And Restraints

NOTE: THIS RECALL SUPERSEDED BY RECALL 92-108. THE FRONT SEAT BELTS MAY NOT RETRACT AFTER EXTENSION DUE TO A BROKEN TENSION ELIMINATOR CABLE WHICH IS TOO LONG AND PRONE TO BREAKAGE. THIS COULD RESULT IN THE SEAT OCCUPANT BEING INADEQUATELY RESTRAINED IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION. CORRECTION: NEW FRONT SEAT LAP-SHOULDER BELT ASSEMBLIES THAT HAVE A SHORTER TENSION ELIMINATOR CABLE WILL BE INSTALLED ON AFFECTED VEHICLES.

Suspension

IMPROPERLY HEAT TREATED REAR SUSPENSION KNUCKLES ON THESE VEHICLES COULD EXPERIENCE HIGH MILEAGE FATIGUE CRACKS AND EVENTUAL FRACTURE. SHOULD A FRACTURE OCCUR, THE REAR SUSPENSION AT THAT WHEEL WOULD NOT REMAIN INTACT AND VEHICLE CONTROL COULD BE ADVERSELY AFFECTED. CORRECTION: VEHICLES WILL BE INSPECTED AND SUSPECT REAR SUSPENSION KNUCKLES WILL BE REPLACED.

Brakes

A FULL-LOCK, LOW SPEED TURNING MANEUVER MAY RESULT IN THE BRAKE CALIPER OF THE INBOARD FRONT WHEEL CONTACTING THE FRONT STABILIZER BAR, CAUSING MOVEMENT OF THE CALIPER PISTON AND DISPLACEMENT OF BRAKE FLUID FROM THE CALIPER BACK TO THE MASTER CYLINDER RESERVOIR. THIS WOULD CAUSE INCREASED BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL AND REDUCED BRAKE PERFORMANCE ON THE FIRST BRAKE APPLICATION FOLLOWING THE TURN. AFTER ONE BRAKE APPLICATION, THE DISPLACED BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL AND BRAKE PERFORMANCE IS RESTORED. THE SEQUENCE COULD REPEAT, HOWEVER, FOLLOWING THE NEXT LOW SPEED FULL-LOCK TURNING MANEUVER. CORRECTION: ACORN TYPE FRONT SUSPENSION STRUT NUTS WILL BE INSTALLED WHICH WILL SERVE AS STEERING STOPS AND ELIMINATE THE POTENTIAL FOR STABILIZER BAR TO BRAKE CALIPER CONTACT.