Hearth Record

Steering: column (Ford and Mercury)

Vehicle recall 78V-186. NHTSA received FORD MOTOR COMPANY’s report on Aug 24, 1978.

NHTSA’s own record, on nhtsa.gov

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The short answer

NHTSA received FORD MOTOR COMPANY’s report on Aug 24, 1978. Copied from NHTSA on Oct 27, 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 TILT STEERING COLUMNS ON THE INVOLVED VEHICLES CONTAIN IN-PROCESS TEMPORARY ALIGNMENT PINS RATHER THAN THE PERMANENT PRESS-FIT PIVOT PINS.

THE TEMPORARY PINS ARE SLIGHTLY UNDERSIZED AND COULD SEPARATE FROM THE STEERING COLUMN DURING VEHICLE OPERATION.

THIS CAN CAUSE STEERING WHEEL LOCKUP.

Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 27, 2026. Updated daily.

  • NHTSA’s part: Steering: column.

What should you do?

THE DEALER WILL INSTALL A PERMANENT PIVOT PIN IN THE STEERING COLUMN WITHOUT CHARGE TO OWNER.

Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 27, 2026. Updated daily.

  • How to reach the firm: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES.SYSTEM: STEERING; STEERING COLUMN, TILT.CONSEQUENCES OF DEFECT: STEERING WHEEL LOCKUP CAN CAUSE LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROLAND AN ACCIDENT.
  • Check a vehicle by its VIN at NHTSA: the recalls still open on it are listed there.

Which ones are recalled?

NHTSA counts 59 vehicles potentially involved, across everything this recall names.

Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 27, 2026. Updated daily.

  • Ford Mustangand 1979, before the model years listed here
  • Mercury Capriand 1979, before the model years listed here

Who is recalling it?

  • Made by FORD MOTOR COMPANY.
Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 27, 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 27, 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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