1981 Mercury Lynx Recalls, Complaints & Specs
10 safety recalls list the 1981 Mercury Lynx. Check your own VIN below.
10 safety recalls for the 1981 Mercury Lynx
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Seats
Screw that connects the seat back frame to the recliner mechanism may break.
Remedy: The attachment screw on the driver"s seat will be replaced by one of a larger diameter.
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Seats
Seat frame structure could sever front seat belts if vehicle is involved in an accident, depending on force of impact.
Remedy: Dealer will install a molded spacer between reinforcement plates and lower decorative plastic cover.
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Latch (latches/locks/linkages)
Door lock pillars could develop fatigue cracks from normal usage of door, at the point where door latch striker reinforcements are attached.
Remedy: Any damaged lock pillars will be repaired and reinforcements will be installed between the door latch striker and lock pillars.
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Seat belts
The portion of the roof above frame (rail) to which the shoulder belt is anchored may have a slot that can compromise the strength of the shoulder belt anchor under certain severe loads. (the suspect area is not visible.) consequently, some vehicles included in this recall may not meet the 3000 pound anchorage strength requirements of…
Remedy: The dealer will inspect and, if necessary, reinforce the roof rail inner panel surrounding the drainage hole at no cost to owner.
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Filler pipe and cap (fuel system)
Some of the involved vehicles have an electrically ungrounded fuel inlet. These vehicles are subject to static charge accumulation at the fuel filler pipe opening, which can occur if these vehicles are refueled from an electrically ungrounded dispensing nozzle.
Remedy: A grounding connection from the filler pipe inlet to the vehicle body and a static electricity suppression rod inside the filler pipe will be installed at no charge to owner.
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Vacuum (service brakes)
Some vehicles equipped with power brake boosters have front and rear shells that may have been improperly joined. Improperly joined booster shells may separate either partially or completely during brake application.
Remedy: All defective boosters will be replaced at no charge to owner.
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Vehicle speed control
Fuel may possibly travel through the speed control vacuum lines and into the speed control actuation device (serv0). The fuel can damage seals in the actuator servo and allow vacuum leaks. Such a leak could activate the speed control without any action on the part of the driver. This would cause the vehicle to gradually accelerate.
Remedy: The vacuum check valve and hose assembly will be replaced and the speed control servo will be replaced if it has been damaged.
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Tank assembly (fuel system)
On certain vehicles, metal fasteners that were used to secure the carpeting to the floor pan may have accidentally penetrated the top of the fuel tank. This would result in a slight fuel leak.
Remedy: Dealer will inspect vehicles for penetration of the fuel tank by carpet fasteners. Any leaking fuel tanks will be replaced and the floor pan will be sealed, without charge to owners.
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Electrical system: front underhood
Some of the involved vehicles were produced with an engine compartment wire assembly that may have been routed above the air conditioning suction hose. This hose may push up on the wiring harness causing it to contact the hood prop rod bracket attaching bolt. This could lead to penetration or chafing of the wiring insulation.
Remedy: Dealer will inspect and, if necessary, correct the wiring harness routing at no charge to owner.
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Foundation components (service brakes)
On certain vehicles, the right and left hand rear brake backing plate attachment bolts may not have been tightened to the correct specifications. Backing plate bolts may not be able to withstand the loads experienced during truck shipment. If the bolts loosen from the spindle during operation, backing plate movement may result in…
Remedy: Dealer will inspect and tighten the bolts to the proper specifications. Rear brake tubes will be replaced, if necessary, at no charge to owner.
No owner complaints on file
NHTSA has no owner complaints on file for the 1981 Mercury Lynx. For context, the average model year in NHTSA's database has dozens; a zero can mean a reliable vehicle, a rare one, or both.
Compare Mercury Lynx model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Mercury Lynx model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 Mercury Lynx | 10 | 0 |
| 1982 Mercury Lynx | 5 | 3 |
| 1983 Mercury Lynx | 4 | 4 |
| 1984 Mercury Lynx | 3 | 3 |
| 1985 Mercury Lynx | 3 | 5 |
| 1986 Mercury Lynx | 2 | 5 |
| 1987 Mercury Lynx | 3 | 4 |
Checking a specific 1981 Mercury Lynx
How do I know if my 1981 Mercury Lynx has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 10 campaigns currently list the 1981 Mercury Lynx; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Mercury dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 80V133000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
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.