Mercury Capri Recalls & Complaints by Model Year

NHTSA lists 26 safety recalls and 48 owner complaints across 16 model years of the Mercury Capri (1971–1994). The most-complained-about year is 1991.

Pick your Mercury Capri model year

• 1971
• 1972
• 1973
• 1974
• 1975
• 1976
• 1977
• 1979
• 1981
• 1983
• 1984
• 1985
• 1991
• 1992
• 1993
• 1994

What Mercury Capri owners complain about

Across all model years, owners have filed 48 complaints with NHTSA. The 1991 model year has the most, with 30.

• Power train: automatic transmission6
• Structure: roof and pillars6
• Electrical system: switch4
• Engine and engine cooling: gasoline4
• Air bags: frontal3
• Engine and engine cooling: engine3
• Exterior lighting: headlights2
• Structure: body1

All Mercury Capri recalls (26)

Every NHTSA safety campaign that lists a Mercury Capri, most recent first, with the model years each one covers.

1. Vehicle speed control

   NHTSA 07V336000 Reported August 3, 2007 3,600,000 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

   On certain pickup trucks, passenger vehicles, sport utility vehicles, and motor homes chassis, the speed control deactivation switch may, under certain conditions, leak internally and then overheat, smoke, or burn.

   Remedy: Dealers will install a fused wiring harness. Owners of the passenger cars included in this campaign will be instructed to return their vehicles to their dealers to have the speed control deactivation switch…

   Model years: 1994

2. Cooling unit and lines (power train)

   NHTSA 93V180000 Reported November 5, 1993 3,750 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

   The transmission fluid rubber tube connecting the transmission to the transmission oil cooler located in the radiator can become disconnected from the transmission, resulting in discharge of transmission fluid.

   Remedy: Dealers will install a revised line and transmission outlet tube.

   Model years: 1993

3. Air bags

   NHTSA 92V080000 Reported June 2, 1992 648 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

   The air bag modules do not meet the ford specifications for high ambient temperature performance.

   Remedy: Replace the air bag modules with modules that meet specifications.

   Model years: 1991, 1992

4. Anchorage (seat belts)

   NHTSA 92V063000 Reported April 29, 1992 306,000 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

   The plastic sleeve in the front safety belt tongue assembly which retains the lock bar can deteriorate from prolonged exposure to sunlight and become displaced, causing the tongue to detach from the safety belt webbing.

   Remedy: Ford will repair the safety belts experiencing this condition regardless of vehicle age or condition.

   Model years: 1984, 1985

5. Cooling unit and lines (power train)

   NHTSA 91V009000 Reported January 8, 1991 4,200 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

   The rubber tube that connects the transmission to the transmission oil cooler (in the radiator) may disconnect causing discharge of fluid.

   Remedy: Install revised line and clamps to improve line retention to the transmission.

   Model years: 1991

6. Vacuum (service brakes)

   NHTSA 85V068000 Reported May 21, 1985 14,008 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

   Brake booster rear shells may have reduced wall thicknesses which could cause the shell to break. Consequence of defect: repeated brake use could cause the shell to crack and the booster assembly to come apart. Service brakes capability would be totally lost without warning and could result in an accident.

   Remedy: Inspect and if necessary replace the power brake booster assembly.

   Model years: 1985

7. Carburetor system (fuel system)

   NHTSA 84V119000 Reported October 2, 1984 85,000 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

   The secondary throttle shaft may, with accumulated mileage, become contaminated and may stick in a partially open position while driving.

   Remedy: The primary to secondary throttle closure link on the carburetor will be replaced free of charge.

   Model years: 1984

8. Anchorage (seat belts)

   NHTSA 83V134000 Reported December 20, 1983 530,000 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

   The bolts that attach the d-shaped ring for the shoulder belt are inadequately supported by the material in which they are mounted. The attachment does not comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 210, "seat belt assembly anchorages".

   Remedy: Dealers will install new attaching hardware to improve the strength of the mounting.

   Model years: 1984

9. Hood (structure)

   NHTSA 83V110000 Reported October 21, 1983 185 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

   Inadequate clearance between the underside of the hood and the throttle linkage could damage the linkage and prevent the throttle from returning to idle position. This condition is due to installation of the incorrect hood style during vehicle assembly.

   Remedy: For vehicles that are found to have the incorrect hood, the cut out area beneath the turbo scoop will be enlarged. Newly exposed metal will be painted.

   Model years: 1983

10. Recliner (seats)

    NHTSA 81V102000 Reported September 8, 1981 6,500 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    The housing plates on the driver seat back latch recliner assemblies were manufactured with substandard material products. This tainted steel was used to produce seatback latches for both the right and left side seat assemblies. Under certain conditions, the defective housing plates may distort, allowing the locking teeth to disengage…

    Remedy: Upon inspection, both driver and passenger seat latch/recliner assemblies, on vehicles exhibiting the suspect date codes, will be replaced.

    Model years: 1981

11. Recliner (seats)

    NHTSA 79V268000 Reported December 20, 1979 152,000 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    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.

    Remedy: Dealer will make the necessary structural modifications to the driver"s side seat back.

    Model years: 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974

12. Floor shift assembly (power train)

    NHTSA 79V269000 Reported December 20, 1979 273,000 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    The gear shift selector lever may break during shifting.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the gear shift levers on all affected vehicles without charge to owners.

    Model years: 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977

13. Switch (exterior lighting)

    NHTSA 79V210000 Reported September 18, 1979 92,200 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    The headlamp switches on the involved vehicles may fail without warning and cause loss of vehicle instrument and road lights.

    Remedy: Dealer will replace the headlamp switch with one of a corrected design.

    Model years: 1971, 1972

14. Air conditioner (equipment)

    NHTSA 79V162000 Reported July 3, 1979 10,000 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    The air conditioners on some vehicles contain blower motor resistors that may cause overheating of the housing material.

    Remedy: Dealer will replace blower motor resistors with thermally protected fuse-link resistors, without charge.

    Model years: 1974

15. Pedals and linkages (service brakes)

    NHTSA 79V117000 Reported May 15, 1979 82,000 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    The involved vehicles were produced with brake push-rod to brake pedal retaining pins which were not heat-treated as specified. This could allow the brake pedal to become disengaged from the push-rod.

    Remedy: Dealer will replace the suspect brake retaining pin.

    Model years: 1979

16. Fan (engine and engine cooling)

    NHTSA 79V087000 Reported April 5, 1979 2,700 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    With the engine operating at high speed, the plastic engine fan finger guards may contact the engine fan and breakage of the guard may occur. This could cause fragments of the finger guard to scatter.

    Remedy: Two guard supports and two additional fasteners will be installed. If the fan guard has been damaged, the guard and fan will be replaced at no cost to owner.

    Model years: 1979

17. Steering wheel/handle bar (steering)

    NHTSA 79V053000 Reported February 22, 1979 16,000 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    An incorrect steering gear flange may have been installed, which may slip and cause eventual loss of steering control.

    Remedy: Inspection for and replacement of incorrect steering gear flanges will be done at no cost to owner.

    Model years: 1979

18. Fan (engine and engine cooling)

    NHTSA 78V211000 Reported October 4, 1978 6,750 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    The involved vehicles are equipped with flexible cooling fan blades that may crack when subjected to high engine speed operating conditions. Fan blade cracking can lead to fragments separating from the fan.

    Remedy: The dealer will replace the existing cooling fan at no cost to owner.

    Model years: 1979

19. Column (steering)

    NHTSA 78V186000 Reported August 24, 1978 59 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    The tilt steering columns on the involved vehicles contain in-process temporary alignment pins rather than the permanent press-fit pivot pins. The temporary pins are slightly undersized and could separate from the steering column during vehicle operation. This can cause steering wheel lockup.

    Remedy: The dealer will install a permanent pivot pin in the steering column without charge to owner.

    Model years: 1979

20. Linkages (visibility)

    NHTSA 78V176000 Reported August 15, 1978 187,000 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    The wiper arms could separate from the pivot shafts, rendering the wipers inoperative.

    Remedy: Dealer will replace the windshield wiper arms, pivot assemblies and certain wiper linkage components without charge to owner.

    Model years: 1971, 1972, 1973

21. Air conditioner (equipment)

    NHTSA 76V097000 Reported July 2, 1976 2,380 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    Model years: 1974

22. Steering wheel/handle bar (steering)

    NHTSA 76V009000 Reported January 26, 1976 73,739 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    Model years: 1971, 1972

23. Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings (service brakes)

    NHTSA 75V093000 Reported May 19, 1975 44,890 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    Model years: 1974, 1976

24. Labels (equipment)

    NHTSA 75V092000 Reported May 19, 1975 10,941 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    Model years: 1975

25. Electrical system: front underhood

    NHTSA 73V246000 Reported December 20, 1973 13,768 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    Model years: 1974

26. Steering wheel/handle bar (steering)

    NHTSA 71V187000 Reported October 20, 1971 15,607 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    Model years: 1971

Other Mercury models

• Sable5,381 complaints
• Grand Marquis3,951 complaints
• Milan2,519 complaints
• Mountaineer1,992 complaints
• Cougar1,893 complaints
• Villager1,725 complaints
• Mariner1,296 complaints
• Mystique1,019 complaints

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.