Hearth Record

Air bags: on-off switch assembly (Ford)

Vehicle equipment recall 98E-020. NHTSA received FORD MOTOR COMPANY’s report on Jul 28, 1998.

NHTSA’s own record, on nhtsa.gov

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The short answer

NHTSA received FORD MOTOR COMPANY’s report on Jul 28, 1998. Copied from NHTSA on Oct 20, 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.

EQUIPMENT DESCRIPTION: AFTERMARKET AIR BAG CONTROL SWITCH KITS, PART NOS.

F8DB - 14385, WITH THE FOLLOWING SUFFIXES: EA, FA, LA, MA, VA, AND TA, CAN BREAK IF CYCLED FREQUENTLY.

THESE KITS ARE SPECIFIED FOR INSTALLATION ON TAURUS, SABLE, WINDSTAR, EXPLORER, MOUNTAINEER, EXPEDITION, NAVIGATOR, AND RANGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH EITHER DRIVER OR DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAGS.

Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 20, 2026. Updated daily.

  • NHTSA’s part: Air bags: on-off switch assembly.

What should you do?

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THESE SWITCHES WITH A REVISED SWITCH.

Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 20, 2026. Updated daily.

  • How to reach the firm: OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN AUGUST 24, 1998.OWNERS WHO DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION’S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Which ones are recalled?

NHTSA counts 470 items potentially involved, across everything this recall names.

Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 20, 2026. Updated daily.

  • Ford Air BAG SwitchBuilt to May 22, 1998

Who is recalling it?

  • Made by FORD MOTOR COMPANY.
Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 20, 2026. Updated daily.

What the record doesn’t say

  • NHTSA’s recall file doesn’t say whether anyone was hurt.
  • Which ones, by part or lot: the recall’s report on NHTSA’s site gives them where the maker did; this file gives part numbers only where its maker listed them.
  • 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 20, 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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