Stats focus on model years from 1960 onwards.
Earlier years appear in the detailed table below where data exists.
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Get plain-language explanations of recalls and complaints for the
Mercury Zephyr. Powered by AI, backed by NHTSA data.
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Important: This assistant provides context from aggregated NHTSA data.
Always check your specific VIN on
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for vehicle-specific recall information.
Key Takeaways
A quick scan of where recalls and complaints concentrate for the Mercury Zephyr,
based on aggregated NHTSA counts and campaign metadata.
Coverage spans model years 1978–1994 with 18 recall campaigns and 8 complaints in NHTSA data.
Years with the most recall activity: 1978 (10), 1979 (3), and 1983 (2).
Years with the most complaint volume: 1994 (2), 1983 (2), and 1978 (2).
Top recall themes: Brakes, Powertrain, and Equipment and labeling.
Most reported complaint areas (across all years): Electrical system:ignition:switch, Electrical system:wiring, Seat belts.
Complaints are not proof of a defect, but repeated themes can be useful signals when researching a used vehicle.
Always check your specific VIN for open recalls (open recalls are VIN-specific and can change over time).
Recall Themes
Instead of listing long campaign narratives, this groups recall campaigns into a few recurring areas.
Each theme links back to official notices as evidence.
Brakes
5 campaigns · Years: 1978–1981
These campaigns relate to braking system components that can affect stopping performance or warning behavior.
Official notices (evidence):
80V152000
· Service brakes, hydraulic: Pedals and linkages
79V262000
· Service brakes, hydraulic: Wheel cylinders
79V117000
· Service brakes, hydraulic: Pedals and linkages
+ 2 more notices in this theme
Powertrain
4 campaigns · Years: 1978, 1982–1983
These campaigns relate to drivetrain or transmission components that can affect shifting, power delivery, or control.
Across all model years, the most frequently reported areas for the
Mercury Zephyr in NHTSA complaint data are
Electrical system:ignition:switch, Electrical system:wiring, Seat belts.
Jump to Model Year
Year-by-Year Overview
Each row shows how often this model appears in NHTSA recalls and consumer
complaints for a given model year. These are counts of campaigns and
complaints, not risk predictions.
Model Year
Recalls
Complaints
Details
1994
0
2
Complaints recorded; no recall campaigns issued.
Top complaint areas: Structure:frame and members, Suspension:rear.
1983
2
2
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Electrical system:ignition:switch.
1982
1
1
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Power train:automatic transmission.
1981
1
0
Recall campaign(s) issued; no grouped complaints in summary.
1980
1
0
Recall campaign(s) issued; no grouped complaints in summary.
1979
3
1
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump.
1978
10
2
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Electrical system:wiring, Seat belts.
What to Do Next
Check open recalls by VIN on the official NHTSA site (open recalls are VIN-specific).
If buying used, ask for proof of recall remedy completion (dealer paperwork helps).
If symptoms match common complaint themes, consider a mechanic inspection before purchase or long trips.
A compact evidence view of recall campaigns that include this model.
The default text is an original summary line, with official notice text available on demand.
Most common areas involved:
Power train
, Service brakes
and Equipment
Show recall evidence by year
1983
Power train: Automatic transmission:
Safety recall involving the power train area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: The shift indicator may not accurately reflect the shift selector position. Some vehicles were produced with transmission control selector tube retaining clips that may not be hard enough. The clip may loosen or fall off, and the selector tube may become displaced.
1982
Power train: Automatic transmission:
Safety recall involving the power train area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: The park lever on the involved vehicles contains a defective spring which could prevent automatic engagement of the parking gear.
1981
Service brakes, hydraulic: Pedals and linkages:
Safety recall involving the service brakes area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: On some of the involved vehicles, the brake pushrod to brake pedal retaining pins may be missing or loose. Insecurely installed or missing retainers could result in disengagement of the brake pushrod and total loss of service braking.
1980
Service brakes, hydraulic: Wheel cylinders:
Safety recall involving the service brakes area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: The involved vehicles do not conform to federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 105, "Hydraulic brake systems". Rear axle assemblies intended for other vehicles may have been installed in the involved vehicles. The wheel cylinders may not be the correct size. This could affect braking performan
1979
Equipment: Labels:
Safety recall involving the equipment area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: The involved vehicles were built with safety compliance certification labels that contained incorrect gvwr and gawr weight information. The gvwr"s could be overstated by up to 197 lbs., Due to an error in the reporting of incremental option weights used to derive the gvwr"s and gawr"s.
Service brakes, hydraulic: Pedals and linkages:
Safety recall involving the service brakes area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: The involved vehicles were produced with brake push-rod to brake pedal retaining pins which were not heat-treated as specified. This could allow the brake pedal to become disengaged from the push-rod.
Visibility: Windshield:
Safety recall involving the visibility area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: Windshields may have been installed on these vehicles without the application of a butyl primer on the mounting surface of the glazing. The primer is required to ensure adequate retention of the windshield to its opening flange. This constitutes a non-compliance with federal motor vehicle safety
1978
Service brakes, hydraulic: Rotor:
Safety recall involving the service brakes area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: The front disc brake rotors installed on the involved vehicles may have been improperly manufactured so that they contain cracks. These cracked rotors could fracture during vehicle braking and cause brake pull and affect vehicle directional control.
Suspension: Rear:
Safety recall involving the suspension area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: The involved vehicles may be in non-compliance to federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 105, "Hydraulic brake systems", due to installation of incorrect rear axle assemblies. Consequently, early rear wheel lock-up under light loading conditions could result causing vehicle directional instabi
Service brakes, hydraulic:
Safety recall involving the service brakes area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: The involved vehicles may have been incorrectly equipped with manual brakes instead of power brakes. Consequently, a non-compliance to federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 105, "Hydraulic brake systems", may exist.
Power train: Column shift:
Safety recall involving the power train area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: On some of the involved vehicles, the transmission parking pawl may not engage the parking gear when the transmission selector lever is placed in the "park" position. This condition is attributable to excessive free play in the transmission shift linkage adjustment.
Equipment: Air conditioner:
Safety recall involving the equipment area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: The involved vehicles are equipped with air conditioning units which contain blower motor resistor wires which are improperly positioned. As a result, under certain conditions the polypropylene case material could become overheated and eventually ignite, especially if the blower motor switch is i
Electrical system: Interior/under dash:
Safety recall involving the electrical system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: Because of its position, the wiring assembly may chafe against the cowl-to-brake pedal support brace which is located under the instrument panel.
Power train: Column shift:
Safety recall involving the power train area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: Transmission shift control rods were installed that were intended for use with the steering columns of a prior design level. Attachment of the shift control rod with the steering column shift lever grommet will allow relative movement between these parts. Continued usage could result in grommet w
Fuel system, gasoline: Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings:
Safety recall involving the fuel system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: An improper transmission shift bracket was installed which, because of its design, could contact and abrade the fuel hose. Fuel leakage and possible accumulation of fuel on a surface beneath a parked vehicle could result.
Visibility: Linkages:
Safety recall involving the visibility area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: The windshield wiper drive linkage on the affected vehicles may fracture due to metal fatigue as a result of repeated flexing of the drive arm across a stress sensitive area. This condition will render the windshield wiper system inoperative.
Engine and engine cooling: Crankcase (pcv):
Safety recall involving the engine and engine cooling area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: 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 clea
Other Mercury Models
Explore recall and complaint data for other Mercury models.
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This site does not replace the official NHTSA VIN lookup and should not be
treated as legal or safety advice for your specific vehicle.
For any safety concerns: Always check your VIN on the official
NHTSA site and contact an authorized dealer.
