Hearth Record

Latches/locks/linkages: doors: latch (Ford and Mercury)

Vehicle recall 77V-045. NHTSA received FORD MOTOR COMPANY’s report on Apr 5, 1977.

NHTSA’s own record, on nhtsa.gov

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The short answer

NHTSA received FORD MOTOR COMPANY’s report on Apr 5, 1977. 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?

The notice gives no hazard in a field of its own.

THE INVOLVED VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN BUILT WITH LEFT DOOR LOCK ASSEMBLIES THAT CONTAIN PAWL SPRING RETAINERS THAT WERE NOT PRODUCED TO ENGINEERING SPECIFICATIONS.

CONSEQUENTLY, THE SPRING COULD BREAK, CAUSING THE LATCH PAWL TO DISENGAGE FROM THE LATCH CAM.

Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 28, 2026. Updated daily.

  • NHTSA’s part: Latches/locks/linkages: doors: latch.

What should you do?

DEALER WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, INSTALL A NEW PAWL SPRING AND CORRECT THE FLANGE ALIGNMENT, WITHOUT CHARGE.

Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 28, 2026. Updated daily.

  • How to reach the firm: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES.SYSTEM: STRUCTURE; DOOR ASSEMBLY, LATCHES AND HOOKS.CONSEQUENCES OF DEFECT: SHOULD DISENGAGEMENT OCCUR WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION,THE DOOR COULD OPEN AND A PASSENGER COULD FALL FROM THE VEHICLE AND BESERIOUSLY INJURED.
  • Check a vehicle by its VIN at NHTSA: the recalls still open on it are listed there.

Which ones are recalled?

NHTSA counts 2,751 vehicles potentially involved, across everything this recall names.

Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 28, 2026. Updated daily.

  • Ford Maverickand 1977, before the model years listed here
  • Mercury Cometand 1977, before the model years listed here

Who is recalling it?

  • Made by FORD MOTOR COMPANY.
Source:

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.
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 28, 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.

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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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