RoadVitals

NHTSA safety recall

Recall 78V203000: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CRANKCASE (PCV)

FORD MOTOR COMPANY · Reported to NHTSA Sep 21, 1978

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
Units potentially affectedThe manufacturer's own estimate of how many vehicles or items of equipment may contain the defect. It is not a count of failures, and not every unit in the range is necessarily affected.
218,500
Model years coveredModel years in our database that NHTSA matched to this campaign. Whether an individual vehicle is covered still depends on its VIN.
2
Models covered
2
Grouped from the model years above
Reported to NHTSA
Sep 21, 1978
Production Aug 1, 1977 – Apr 1, 1978

What this recall covers

NHTSA's campaign record, quoted as published

The defect

THE INVOLVED VEHICLES CONTAIN EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEMS THAT UTILIZE A PULSE AIR REED VALVE TO PERMIT AIR FLOW FROM THE AIR CLEANER TO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD ON NEGATIVE PRESSURE PULSATIONS. THESE REED VALVES MAY FAIL UNDER COLD WEATHER CONDITIONS, CAUSING A BACKFLOW OF EXHAUST GAS INTO THE AIR CLEANER AND FUEL INDUCTION SYSTEM ON POSITIVE EXHAUST PULSES. THIS CAUSES AN OVERLY RICH AIR/FUEL MIXTURE, REDUCED FUEL ECONOMY AND REDUCED ENGINE PERFORMANCE. CONTINUED VEHICLE OPERATION MAY RESULT IN ENGINE STALLING OR OVERHEATING OF THE EXHAUST SYSTEM.

The remedy

THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THE PULSE AIR SYSTEM REED VALVE AND SILENCER WITHOUT CHARGE.

Notes

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 200 CID ENGINES,AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS AND THERMACTOR PULSE AIR SUPPLY SYSTEMS.SYSTEM: EXHAUST; EMISSIONS SYSTEM.CONSEQUENCES OF DEFECT: OVERHEATING OF THE EXHAUST SYSTEM MAY LEAD TO SCORCHEDREAR SEATS AND CARPETS AND ASSOCIATED FUMES. ENGINE STALLING WOULD POSE ASAFETY HAZARD IN TRAFFIC, WHICH COULD LEAD TO A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

A 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.

Campaign details

Identifiers and dates as filed with NHTSA

Manufacturer
FORD MOTOR COMPANY
Manufacturer's campaign number
Not recorded
NHTSA campaign number
78V203000
Units potentially affected
218,500
Report received
Sep 21, 1978
Production range
Aug 1, 1977 – Apr 1, 1978
Campaign type
Vehicle
Federal safety standard (FMVSS)
Not recorded

Vehicles covered

2 model years across 2 models

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.