Power train: automatic transmission: lever and linkage: column shift (Lincoln, Ford and Mercury)
Vehicle recall 83V-017. NHTSA received FORD MOTOR COMPANY’s report on Feb 24, 1983.
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The short answer
NHTSA received FORD MOTOR COMPANY’s report on Feb 24, 1983. Copied from NHTSA on Oct 28, 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 SHIFT INDICATOR MAY NOT ACCURATELY REFLECT THE SHIFT SELECTOR POSITION.
SOME VEHICLES WERE PRODUCED WITH TRANSMISSION CONTROL SELECTOR TUBE RETAINING CLIPS THAT MAY NOT BE HARD ENOUGH.
THE CLIP MAY LOOSEN OR FALL OFF, AND THE SELECTOR TUBE MAY BECOME DISPLACED.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 28, 2026. Updated daily.
- NHTSA’s part: Power train: automatic transmission: lever and linkage: column shift.
What should you do?
THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL SELECTOR TUBE RETAINING CLIP AT NO CHARGE TO OWNER.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 28, 2026. Updated daily.
- How to reach the firm: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH COLUMN SHIFT ANDAUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.SYSTEM: POWER TRAIN; TRANSMISSION CONTROL SELECTOR TUBE RETAINING CLIPS.CONSEQUENCES OF DEFECT: THE SELECTOR TUBE, WHICH IS ROUTED INSIDE THE STEERINGCOLUMN, CONTROLS THE POSITION OF THE TRANSMISSION GEAR INDICATOR IN THE DASH.IF THE CLIP LOOSENS AND THE TUBE IS NOT POSITIONED CORRECTLY, THE INDICATOR MAYNOT BE ACCURATE. FOR EXAMPLE, THE INDICATOR MAY SHOW THAT THE TRANSMISSION ISIN “PARK”, WHEN IT IS ACTUALLY IN “REVERSE”, OR IT MAY INDICATE “NEUTRAL” WHENTHE TRANSMISSION IS IN GEAR. IF THIS SHOULD OCCUR, AND THE PARKING BRAKE IS NOTSET, THE VEHICLE MAY MOVE UNEXPECTEDLY AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT OR PERSONALINJURY.
- Check a vehicle by its VIN at NHTSA: the recalls still open on it are listed there.
Which ones are recalled?
NHTSA counts 36,000 vehicles potentially involved, across everything this recall names.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 28, 2026. Updated daily.
- Lincoln Town Carand 1983, before the model years listed here
- Lincoln Continentaland 1983, before the model years listed here
- Ford Fairmontand 1983, before the model years listed here
- Mercury Grand Marquisand 1983, before the model years listed here
- Ford Squireand 1983, before the model years listed here
- Mercury Zephyrand 1983, before the model years listed here
- Lincoln Mark VIand 1983, before the model years listed here
- Ford Crown Victoriaand 1983, before the model years listed here
- Mercury Marquisand 1983, before the model years listed here
- Ford LTD Land 1983, before the model years listed here
Who is recalling it?
- Made by FORD MOTOR COMPANY.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 28, 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
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National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Recalls flat file before 2010 (FLAT_RCL_PRE_2010).
Released Oct 28, 2026 and checked Oct 28, 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 28, 2026.