Hearth Record

Visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system: windshield: electrical heating element (Mercury and Ford)

Vehicle safety improvement campaign 01I-009. NHTSA received FORD MOTOR COMPANY’s report on Jul 9, 2001.

  • NHTSA: a safety improvement campaign, not a safety recall
NHTSA’s own record, on nhtsa.gov

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The short answer

NHTSA received FORD MOTOR COMPANY’s report on Jul 9, 2001. Copied from NHTSA on Oct 21, 2026.

Every line below is in NHTSA’s own words, with its source beside it.

What’s wrong with it?

NHTSA files this as a safety improvement campaign, not a safety recall.

NHTSA’s records of these campaigns say each is “not a safety recall”, but is “deemed a safety improvement campaign by the agency”. What’s wrong and the fix are below, in NHTSA’s words.

Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 21, 2026. Updated daily.

THIS COULD CREATE THE POTENTIAL FOR A FIRE.

THIS IS NOT A SAFETY RECALL IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SAFETY ACT.

HOWEVER, IT IS DEEMED A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN BY THE AGENCY.

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: 1995-1997 FORD CONTOUR AND MERCURY MYSTIQUE VEHICLES.

THE HEATER BLOWER RESISTOR COULD OVERHEAT CAUSING THE ATTACHED ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR TO MELT.

Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 21, 2026. Updated daily.

  • NHTSA’s part: Visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system: windshield: electrical heating element.

What should you do?

FORD WILL PROVIDE ADDITIONAL WARRANTY COVERAGE FOR THE HEATER BLOWER SWITCH FOR 10 YEARS FROM ORIGINAL DATE OF SALE OF THE VEHICLE OR 150,000 MILES, WHICHEVER COMES FIRST. DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW HEATER BLOWER RESISTOR AND A NEW WIRE JUMPER HARNESS FREE OF CHARGE.

Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 21, 2026. Updated daily.

  • How to reach the firm: FORD HAS DECIDED TO CONDUCT AN EXTENDED COVERAGE PROGRAM TO EXTEND THE WARRANTY COVERAGE FOR POTENTIAL HEATHER BLOWER RESISTOR PROBLEMS. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FORD AT1-866-436-7332, CONCERNING THIS PROGRAM.
  • Check a vehicle by its VIN at NHTSA: the recalls still open on it are listed there.

Which ones does it cover?

NHTSA counts 566,979 vehicles potentially involved, across everything this recall names.

Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 21, 2026. Updated daily.

  • Mercury Mystiqueand 1995, 1996 and 1997, before the model years listed here
  • Ford Contourand 1995, 1996 and 1997, before the model years listed here

Who is running it?

  • Made by FORD MOTOR COMPANY.
Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 21, 2026. Updated daily.

What the record doesn’t say

  • NHTSA’s recall file doesn’t say whether anyone was hurt.
  • Whether one vehicle or seat has been fixed: only its maker, or NHTSA’s lookup with a VIN, can say.
  • This campaign names only model years before 2015, which have no pages here. Your VIN, at NHTSA, says which recalls are open on a vehicle.
  • How many have been returned or fixed isn’t in the notice.
Source:

Hearth Record wrote these lines.

Sources

Source:

Vehicle, car seat, tire and vehicle equipment recalls, owner complaints and crash ratings are from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Copied on Oct 21, 2026.

How to read a record

Four things every record does, shown on an example record made up for this guide.

An example record, made up for this guide

An example nursing home

Made up for this guide: no real place is shown

Not fully inspected in over two years (CMS flag)

11 health citations at the latest inspection cycle

The state average is 14.3.

Source:

CMS, State and US Averages and Health Deficiencies. Released Oct 28, 2026. Updated monthly.

From the homeNone yet. Replies and paid listings aren’t open, and when they open they will sit here, below the record.

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Every fact names its source.

Who published it, when, and how often it changes sit beside each fact, with a link to the agency’s own file.

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