Equipment: other: labels (Mercury and Ford)
Vehicle recall 79V-039. NHTSA received FORD MOTOR COMPANY’s report on Jan 26, 1979.
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The short answer
NHTSA received FORD MOTOR COMPANY’s report on Jan 26, 1979. 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 INVOLVED VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH SAFETY COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATION LABELS THAT CONTAINED INCORRECT GVWR AND GAWR WEIGHT INFORMATION.
THE GVWR”S COULD BE OVERSTATED BY UP TO 197 LBS., DUE TO AN ERROR IN THE REPORTING OF INCREMENTAL OPTION WEIGHTS USED TO DERIVE THE GVWR”S AND GAWR”S.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 24, 2026. Updated daily.
- NHTSA’s part: Equipment: other: labels.
What should you do?
THE OWNER HAS THE OPTION OF AFFIXING THE SUPPLIED LABELS HIMSELF OR BRINGING THE VEHICLE IN TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THEM AFFIXED.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 24, 2026. Updated daily.
- How to reach the firm: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES.SYSTEM: EQUIPMENT; CERTIFICATION LABELS.CONSEQUENCES OF DEFECT: IF THE VEHICLE IS LOADED TO THE LARGER RATINGS, VEHICLESTOPPING DISTANCES COULD BE INCREASED AND A GREATER RATE OF TIRE WEAR COULDRESULT, WITH A POTENTIAL FOR 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 9,500 vehicles potentially involved, across everything this recall names.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 24, 2026. Updated daily.
- Mercury Zephyrand 1979, before the model years listed here
- Ford Fairmontand 1979, before the model years listed here
Who is recalling it?
- Made by FORD MOTOR COMPANY.
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.
Hearth Record wrote these lines.
Sources
-
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Recalls flat file before 2010 (FLAT_RCL_PRE_2010).
Released Oct 24, 2026 and checked Oct 24, 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 24, 2026.