RoadVitals

1983 Mercury Lynx

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
4
Latest Jan 3, 2002
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
4
Latest May 21, 1985
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
2
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
2

Overview

Our database contains 4 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1983 Mercury Lynx, most frequently naming the electrical and engine categories. 4 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 2 NHTSA investigations name it; and 2 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Electrical250.0%
  • Engine250.0%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

4 campaigns cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov

SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER

May 21, 1985
515,000 units potentially affected
The defect: REAR SEAT BELT RETRACTORS MAY ALLOW TWISTED WEBBING TO ENTER THE RETRACTOR HOUSING AND JAM THE RETRACTOR. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: A JAMMED RETRACTOR WOULD INTERFERE WITH WEBBING RETRACTION AND WITHDRAWAL. THIS WILL DISCOURAGE SEAT BELT USAGE.
The remedy: A CLIP WILL BE INSERTED INTO THE RETRACTOR HOUSING WEBBING TO PREVENT JAMMING.
FORD MOTOR COMPANYView on NHTSA.gov
Jun 15, 1984
261,400 units potentially affected
The defect: SEAT FRAME STRUCTURE COULD SEVER FRONT SEAT BELTS IF VEHICLE IS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, DEPENDING ON FORCE OF IMPACT.
The remedy: DEALER WILL INSTALL A MOLDED SPACER BETWEEN REINFORCEMENT PLATES AND LOWER DECORATIVE PLASTIC COVER.
FORD MOTOR COMPANYView on NHTSA.gov

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH

Jun 22, 1983
610,000 units potentially affected
The defect: DOOR LOCK PILLARS COULD DEVELOP FATIGUE CRACKS FROM NORMAL USAGE OF DOOR, AT THE POINT WHERE DOOR LATCH STRIKER REINFORCEMENTS ARE ATTACHED.
The remedy: ANY DAMAGED LOCK PILLARS WILL BE REPAIRED AND REINFORCEMENTS WILL BE INSTALLED BETWEEN THE DOOR LATCH STRIKER AND LOCK PILLARS.
FORD MOTOR COMPANYView on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

EA86010ClosedEngineering Analysis

SEATBACK FAILURE

Opened Mar 26, 1986
Closed Jul 28, 1989

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.===

SEATSLed to recall 86V082000
DP84017ClosedDefect Petition

STALLING AND CARBURETOR MALFUNCTIONS

Opened May 30, 1984
Closed Sep 10, 1984

STALLING AND CARBURETOR MALFUNCTIONS

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Engine
Filed Jan 3, 2002

VEHICLE EXPERIENCEING NUMEROUS ENGINE STALL CONDITIONS, VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO DEALER, BUT DEALER COULD NOT REMEDY PROBLEM, MANUFACTURER AND ATTORNEY GENERAL'S CONSUMER PROTECTION AGENCY HAVE BEEN INFORMED. *TT

NHTSA ID
563890
Electrical
Filed Feb 13, 2001

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE WILL CUT OFF. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER WHERE CONSUMER WAS ADVISED THAT THE TFI MOUDLE HAD FAILED, CONSUMER HAS HAD TO REPLACE 3 TIMES. *AK *TT

NHTSA ID
880449
Incident
Feb 13, 1983
Engine
Filed Jun 4, 1996
Fire reported

ENGINE FIRE. *DH

NHTSA ID
505187
Incident
May 31, 1996
Electrical
Filed Apr 22, 1996
Fire reported

EXPERIENCED ELECTRICAL FIRE IN THE IGNITION SWITCH. *AK

NHTSA ID
983289
Incident
Jan 3, 1996

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

9562

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC

ROUGHNESS CONCERN DURING BRAKE APPLICATION. *TW

9503011

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM; SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC

UNKNOWN

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Mercury Lynx by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
1989001
1988005
1987435
1986527
1985538
1984335
1983Viewing442
1982355
19810106

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.