NHTSA campaign 98V198000

Ford and Mercury Recall 98V-198: FORD/SEAT BELT BUCKLE ATTACHMENT

NHTSA recall 98V198000 was reported by FORD MOTOR COMPANY on August 25, 1998, with 7,000 vehicles potentially affected (per NHTSA). NHTSA's record lists the Ford Taurus and Mercury Sable for model years 1998–1999. Owners were notified on September 4, 1998, per NHTSA.

Updated daily from NHTSA's recall files

Is my vehicle included?

This page lists, by model year, the vehicles NHTSA's recall record names for campaign 98V198000 in the model years try.vin imports (1995 and later); NHTSA's own record can list more. A model year on the list doesn't mean every vehicle of that year is included, and some may already have been repaired.

To see whether a specific vehicle is included and still needs the repair, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Free VIN check: decode a VIN to see its year, make and model.

Key facts

NHTSA campaign: 98V198000 (also written 98V-198 or 98V198)
Filed by: FORD MOTOR COMPANY
Report received: August 25, 1998
Potentially affected: 7,000 vehicles (per NHTSA)
Component: Seat Belts — Front — Anchorage
Owners notified: September 4, 1998

Vehicles listed for this recall

NHTSA's recall record lists these vehicles for recall 98V198000. try.vin imports model years 1995 and later, so NHTSA's own list can be longer. Model years with a try.vin recall page link to it. Build dates are NHTSA's range for a model year (per NHTSA); a vehicle built in that range is not necessarily included.

Ford

Ford Taurus
- 1998, 1999 · Vehicles built July 31, 1998 – August 7, 1998 (per NHTSA)

All Ford recalls

Mercury

Mercury Sable
- 1998, 1999 · Vehicles built July 31, 1998 – August 7, 1998 (per NHTSA)

All Mercury recalls

NHTSA's recall notice

As NHTSA's recall record states it for campaign 98V198000.

Defect description

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH MANUAL SEAT TRACKS. THE FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLE ATTACHING STUD MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY HEAT TREATED. THIS HEAT TREATMENT MAY HAVE RESULTED IN CRACKS DEVELOPING IN THE STUD.

Safety consequence

IF THE STUD IS CRACKED, IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE MOUNTING BRACKET AND STUD ASSEMBLY.

Notes

OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN SEPTEMBER 4, 1998.OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND 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).

Sources

Official NHTSA notice for recall 98V198000

Campaign details come from NHTSA's recall files, which try.vin imports once a day. The plain-language subject and the completion rate come from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Recalls Data dataset. How try.vin reads recall data.