Seat belts: front: webbing (Mercury, Ford and Lincoln)
Vehicle recall 72V-160. NHTSA received FORD MOTOR COMPANY’s report on Jun 29, 1972.
Watch and the shortlist are kept with a free account, on every device. Your watch list. NHTSA’s own record is on nhtsa.gov.
The short answer
NHTSA received FORD MOTOR COMPANY’s report on Jun 29, 1972. Copied from NHTSA on Oct 28, 2026.
Every line below is in NHTSA’s own words, with its source beside it.
What’s wrong with it?
IF THE SHOULDER BELT IS SEPARATED FROM THE SEAT BELTBUCKLE, THE SHOULDER BELT WILL NOT PROPERLY PROTECT SEAT OCCUPANTS IN THE EVENTOF A SUDDENT STOP OR ACCIDENT.
THE SHOULDER BELT PIN CONNECTOR PLASTIC SLEEVES WHICH WERE INJECTION MOLDED CAN HAVE SURFACE IMPERFECTIONS OR DISCONTINUITIES AT THE POINT AT WHICH THERMAL PLASTIC IS INJECTED INTO MOLD AND WHERE FLOW DIVERGES TO FILL BOTH SIDES OF THE RING.
IF THE CONDITION EXISTS AND THE SLEEVE BREAKS AWAY FROM THE PIN, THE SHOULDER BELT WILL NOT REMAIN ENGAGED TO THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 28, 2026. Updated daily.
- NHTSA’s part: Seat belts: front: webbing.
What should you do?
REPLACE THE SHOULDER BELT PIN CONNECTOR PLASTIC SLEEVE WITH NEOPRENE RETAINERS.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 28, 2026. Updated daily.
- How to reach the firm: SYSTEM: INTERIOR; SAFETY BELTS.VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER CARS AND LIGHT TRUCKS.
- Check a vehicle by its VIN at NHTSA: the recalls still open on it are listed there.
Which ones are recalled?
NHTSA counts 4,072,000 vehicles potentially involved, across everything this recall names.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 28, 2026. Updated daily.
- Mercury Mercuryand 1970 and 1971, before the model years listed here
- Ford Fordand 1970 and 1971, before the model years listed here
- Ford Rancheroand 1970 and 1971, before the model years listed here
- Lincoln Lincolnand 1970 and 1971, before the model years listed here
Who is recalling it?
- Made by FORD MOTOR COMPANY.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 28, 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 recall 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.
Hearth Record wrote these lines.
Sources
-
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Recalls flat file before 2010 (FLAT_RCL_PRE_2010).
Released Oct 28, 2026 and checked Oct 28, 2026. Updated daily. Public domain (U.S. Government work).
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 28, 2026.