Hearth Record

Exterior lighting: tail lights (Mercury and Ford)

Vehicle recall 78V-204. NHTSA received FORD MOTOR COMPANY’s report on Sep 25, 1978.

NHTSA’s own record, on nhtsa.gov

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The short answer

NHTSA received FORD MOTOR COMPANY’s report on Sep 25, 1978. Copied from NHTSA on Oct 24, 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 FULL SIZE SEDANS WERE EQUIPPED WITH INCORRECT TAIL LAMP SOCKETS AND THE FULL SIZE STATION WAGONS WERE INSTALLED WITH INCORRECT TAIL LAMP AND BACK UP LAMP SOCKETS.

THEREFORE THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE PHOTOMETRIC REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, “LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT”.

Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 24, 2026. Updated daily.

  • NHTSA’s part: Exterior lighting: tail lights.

What should you do?

DEALER WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE TAIL LAMP AND BACK UP LAMP SOCKETS WITHOUT CHARGE TO OWNER.

Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 24, 2026. Updated daily.

  • How to reach the firm: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES.SYSTEM: LIGHTING; TAIL LAMPS; BACK UP LAMPS.CONSEQUENCES OF DEFECT: INCORRECT TAIL LAMPS AND BACK UP LAMPS COULD CONFUSEOTHER DRIVERS AND CONTRIBUTE TO A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
  • Check a vehicle by its VIN at NHTSA: the recalls still open on it are listed there.

Which ones are recalled?

NHTSA counts 20,000 vehicles potentially involved, across everything this recall names.

Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 24, 2026. Updated daily.

  • Mercury All Full Sizeand 1979, before the model years listed here
  • Ford All Full Sizeand 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 24, 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 24, 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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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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