Structure: frame and members (Mercury and Ford)
Vehicle recall 79V-116. NHTSA received FORD MOTOR COMPANY’s report on May 15, 1979.
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 May 15, 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 PRODUCED WITH FRAMES THAT MAY HAVE INADEQUATELY WELDED #2 CROSSMEMBER ASSEMBLIES.
THIS COULD OCCUR IF CERTAIN MANUAL WELD OPERATIONS WERE NOT PERFORMED DURING FRAME FABRICATION.
SEVERE OPERATING CONDITIONS WHICH MAY OCCUR IN POLICE DUTY, MAY CAUSE CRACKING AROUND THE GUSSET, ALLOWING IT TO SEPARATE FROM THE FRAME.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 24, 2026. Updated daily.
- NHTSA’s part: Structure: frame and members.
What should you do?
DEALER WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REWELD THE MANUAL WELD AREAS ON THE #2 CROSSMEMBER ASSEMBLY.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 24, 2026. Updated daily.
- How to reach the firm: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH POLICE PACKAGE.SYSTEM: STRUCTURE; FRAME AND MEMBERS.CONSEQUENCES OF DEFECT: IFTHIS WERE TO OCCUR, THE FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER ARMWHICH IS ATTACHED TO THE GUSSET WOULD ALSO DISENGAGE FROM THE FRAME, RESULTINGIS LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. THIS COULD LEAD 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 12 vehicles potentially involved, across everything this recall names.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 24, 2026. Updated daily.
- Mercury Police Vehicleand 1979, before the model years listed here
- Ford Police Vehicleand 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.