Seats: front assembly: recliner (Mercury)
Vehicle recall 79V-268. NHTSA received FORD MOTOR COMPANY’s report on Dec 20, 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 Dec 20, 1979. Copied from NHTSA on Oct 26, 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 RECLINING SEAT ASSEMBLIES MAY HAVE A POOR QUALITY OR A MISSING WELD IN THE SEAT BACK FRAME.
THIS COULD CAUSE ADDITIONAL LOADING ON OTHER SUPPORTIVE ELEMENTS IN THE SEAT WHICH COULD RESULT IN LOOSENING AND EVENTUAL BREAKAGE OF THE SEAT BACK.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 26, 2026. Updated daily.
- NHTSA’s part: Seats: front assembly: recliner.
What should you do?
DEALER WILL MAKE THE NECESSARY STRUCTURAL MODIFICATIONS TO THE DRIVER”S SIDE SEAT BACK.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 26, 2026. Updated daily.
- How to reach the firm: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES.SYSTEM: INTERIOR; SEAT BACK RECLINER.CONSEQUENCES OF DEFECT: IF THE SEAT BACK SHOULD BREAK, THE DRIVER COULD BEINJURED OR LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND AN ACCIDENT COULD OCCUR.
- Check a vehicle by its VIN at NHTSA: the recalls still open on it are listed there.
Which ones are recalled?
NHTSA counts 152,000 vehicles potentially involved, across everything this recall names.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 26, 2026. Updated daily.
- Mercury Capriand 1971, 1972, 1973 and 1974, before the model years listed here
Who is recalling it?
- Made by FORD MOTOR COMPANY.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 26, 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 26, 2026 and checked Oct 26, 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 26, 2026.