Mercury Zephyr Recalls & Complaints by Model Year
NHTSA lists 17 safety recalls and 6 owner complaints across 7 model years of the Mercury Zephyr (1978–1994). The most-complained-about year is 1978.
Pick your Mercury Zephyr model year
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 Mercury Zephyr | 0 | 1 |
| 1983 Mercury Zephyr | 2 | 1 |
| 1982 Mercury Zephyr | 1 | 1 |
| 1981 Mercury Zephyr | 1 | 0 |
| 1980 Mercury Zephyr | 1 | 0 |
| 1979 Mercury Zephyr | 3 | 1 |
| 1978 Mercury Zephyr | 10 | 2 |
What Mercury Zephyr owners complain about
Across all model years, owners have filed 6 complaints with NHTSA. The 1978 model year has the most, with 2.
All Mercury Zephyr recalls (17)
Every NHTSA safety campaign that lists a Mercury Zephyr, most recent first, with the model years each one covers.
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Column shift (power train)
The shift indicator may not accurately reflect the shift selector position. Some vehicles were produced with transmission control selector tube retaining clips that may not be hard enough. The clip may loosen or fall off, and the selector tube may become displaced.
Remedy: The dealer will replace the transmission control selector tube retaining clip at no charge to owner.
Model years: 1983
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Automatic transmission (power train)
The park lever on the involved vehicles contains a defective spring which could prevent automatic engagement of the parking gear.
Remedy: The park actuating lever rod spring will be replaced with an upgraded spring without charge to owner.
Model years: 1982, 1983
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Pedals and linkages (service brakes)
On some of the involved vehicles, the brake pushrod to brake pedal retaining pins may be missing or loose. Insecurely installed or missing retainers could result in disengagement of the brake pushrod and total loss of service braking.
Remedy: Dealer will inspect and, if necessary, install a brake pedal retaining pin.
Model years: 1981
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Windshield (visibility)
Windshields may have been installed on these vehicles without the application of a butyl primer on the mounting surface of the glazing. The primer is required to ensure adequate retention of the windshield to its opening flange. This constitutes a non-compliance with federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 212, "windshield mounting".
Remedy: Dealer will reinstall the windshield correctly without charge to owner.
Model years: 1979
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Wheel cylinders (service brakes)
The involved vehicles do not conform to federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 105, "hydraulic brake systems". Rear axle assemblies intended for other vehicles may have been installed in the involved vehicles. The wheel cylinders may not be the correct size. This could affect braking performance.
Remedy: Dealer will replace any incorrect wheel cylinders without charge to owner.
Model years: 1980
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Pedals and linkages (service brakes)
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
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Labels (equipment)
The involved vehicles were built with safety compliance certification labels that contained incorrect gvwr and gawr weight information. The gvwr"s could be overstated by up to 197 lbs., due to an error in the reporting of incremental option weights used to derive the gvwr"s and gawr"s.
Remedy: The owner has the option of affixing the supplied labels himself or bringing the vehicle in to the dealer to have them affixed.
Model years: 1979
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Crankcase (pcv) (engine and engine cooling)
The involved vehicles contain emission control systems that utilize a pulse air reed valve to permit air flow from the air cleaner to the exhaust manifold on negative pressure pulsations. These reed valves may fail under cold weather conditions, causing a backflow of exhaust gas into the air cleaner and fuel induction system on positive…
Remedy: The dealer will replace the pulse air system reed valve and silencer without charge.
Model years: 1978
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Linkages (visibility)
The windshield wiper drive linkage on the affected vehicles may fracture due to metal fatigue as a result of repeated flexing of the drive arm across a stress sensitive area. This condition will render the windshield wiper system inoperative.
Remedy: The dealer will install an improved windshield wiper linkage without cost to owner.
Model years: 1978
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Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings (fuel system)
An improper transmission shift bracket was installed which, because of its design, could contact and abrade the fuel hose. Fuel leakage and possible accumulation of fuel on a surface beneath a parked vehicle could result.
Remedy: The dealer will replace the transmission shift bracket and its related parts, including the fuel hose if found necessary, free of charge.
Model years: 1978
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Column shift (power train)
Transmission shift control rods were installed that were intended for use with the steering columns of a prior design level. Attachment of the shift control rod with the steering column shift lever grommet will allow relative movement between these parts. Continued usage could result in grommet wear and deterioration of the shift…
Remedy: Driver will inspect and, if necessary, install new transmission shift linkage parts, without charge to owner.
Model years: 1978
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Interior/under dash (electrical system)
Because of its position, the wiring assembly may chafe against the cowl-to-brake pedal support brace which is located under the instrument panel.
Remedy: The dealer will install protective shields on the brake pedal support brace and perform repairs, if necessary.
Model years: 1978
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Air conditioner (equipment)
The involved vehicles are equipped with air conditioning units which contain blower motor resistor wires which are improperly positioned. As a result, under certain conditions the polypropylene case material could become overheated and eventually ignite, especially if the blower motor switch is in the low or medium position.
Remedy: Dealer will modify the involved units as found necessary.
Model years: 1978
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Column shift (power train)
On some of the involved vehicles, the transmission parking pawl may not engage the parking gear when the transmission selector lever is placed in the "park" position. This condition is attributable to excessive free play in the transmission shift linkage adjustment.
Remedy: Dealer will inspect and properly adjust the shift linkage, at no charge.
Model years: 1978
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Rotor (service brakes)
The front disc brake rotors installed on the involved vehicles may have been improperly manufactured so that they contain cracks. These cracked rotors could fracture during vehicle braking and cause brake pull and affect vehicle directional control.
Remedy: Dealer will replace both front disc brake rotors on involved vehicles, without charge to owners.
Model years: 1978
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Suspension: rear
The involved vehicles may be in non-compliance to federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 105, "hydraulic brake systems", due to installation of incorrect rear axle assemblies. Consequently, early rear wheel lock-up under light loading conditions could result causing vehicle directional instability. Rear braking effectiveness would…
Remedy: Dealer will inspect and, if necessary, install the correct rear axle assembly without charge to owner.
Model years: 1978
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Service brakes, hydraulic
The involved vehicles may have been incorrectly equipped with manual brakes instead of power brakes. Consequently, a non-compliance to federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 105, "hydraulic brake systems", may exist.
Remedy: Dealer will remove the manual brake components and install power brake components on all involved vehicles, without charge.
Model years: 1978
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.