FORD ESCORT 1981: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS

General Information

NHTSA Campaign ID Number: 80V134000

Make Model Year
FORD ESCORT 1981
Date Owners Notified Date Received by ODI Date Added to Database
1980-10-03 1980-10-03 1980-12-09

Production Dates: 1980-08-01 - 1980-10-01

Manufacturers Involved: Ford Motor Company

Component: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS

Potential Number Of Units Affected: 27000

Report Initiator: MFR MFR Report

Summary

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 WEAKENING OR PREMATURE WEAR OF ONE OR BOTH REAR BRAKE TUBES. THIS COULD LEAD TO LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID.

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.

Notes

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES.SYSTEM: SERVICE BRAKES; REAR BRAKE BACKING PLATE, ATTACHMENT BOLTS.CONSEQUENCES OF DEFECT: LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID WOULD CAUSE LOSS OF BRAKINGCAPABILITY ON THE REAR BRAKE ADJACENT TO THE BROKEN TUBE AND ON THE OPPOSITESIDE FRONT BRAKE. ALTHOUGH PARTIAL BRAKING CAPABILITY WOULD REMAIN, THE VEHICLESTOPPING DISTANCE WOULD BE INCREASED AND AN ACCIDENT COULD RESULT. IF BOTH REARBRAKE TUBES FAIL, ALL HYDRAULIC BRAKING WOULD BE LOST AND LOSS OF VEHICLECONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT COULD OCCUR.NOTE: A LOOSE BACKING PLATE MAY RESULT IN NOTICEABLE NOISE DURING VEHICLEOPERATION.