1985 Mercury Lynx Recalls, Complaints & Specs
3 safety recalls list the 1985 Mercury Lynx, and owners have filed 5 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
3 safety recalls for the 1985 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
The forward outboard pedestal of the seat track of driver's seat may be susceptible to fatigue fracture.
Remedy: Install a reinforcement on all models and a new seat track as necessary
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Engine (engine and engine cooling)
External cracks above the number 3 cylinder (1984 models) or rocker arm cover gaskets splitting (1985 models) could allow oil to leak onto the exhaust manifold.
Remedy: Replace cracked cylinder heads (1984 models); replace rocker arm cover gaskets (1985 models).
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Vehicle speed control
The throttle lever may not return to idle position due to misalignment of the air conditioner shut off switch to the throttle lever pin. Consequence of defect: a jammed throttle could result in a loss of accelerator control, without prior warning, and an accident.
Remedy: Adjust shutoff switch and assure proper alignment to throttle lever pin.
5 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 1985 Mercury Lynx have filed 5 complaints with NHTSA; 3 describe a fire. Complaints peaked in 1996 with 4 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“Vehicle would stall while driving at any speed. Vehicle been at dealer shop on three occasions, and problem still reoccurring. *ak *slc”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, August 30, 2001 · Engine and engine cooling
“Plastic retainer that holds metal bar of seat belt buckle deteriorated, causing buckle to fail. *sd”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, May 4, 1996 · Seat belts
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 1985 Mercury Lynx (Lynx Wagon). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 24–40 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 22–36 / 28–46 |
| Fuel | Diesel, Regular |
| EPA class | Compact Cars, Small Station Wagons |
| Engine | 4 cyl, 1.6/1.9/2 L |
| Transmission | Automatic 3-spd; Manual 4-spd; Manual 5-spd |
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 1985 Mercury Lynx
How do I know if my 1985 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. 3 campaigns currently list the 1985 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 85V054000).
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.