Sable V6-182 3.0L (1986)
Technical Service Bulletin # 87S25
Date: 870301
Recall - Backlight Glass Modification
Number:
87S25
March, 1987
To:
Selected North American Ford and Lincoln-Mercury Dealers and Affiliated Ford Motor Companies
Subject:
Safety Recall 87S25 - Certain 1986/1987 Taurus and Sable Station Wagons for Modification or Replacement of Backlite Glass
Reference:
Service Recall Bulletin dated February 19, 1987
VEHICLES INVOLVED:
1986/1987 Taurus/Sable station wagons with liftgate wiper/washer option built at both the Atlanta and Chicago Assembly Plants from Job #1, 1986
through January 28, 1987.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DEFECT:
Ford Motor Company has determined that a defect related to motor vehicle safety exists in certain 1986/1987 Taurus/Sable station wagon vehicles. The
affected vehicles were produced with the liftgate wiper/washer option at the Atlanta and Chicago Assembly Plants from Job #1, 1986 through January
28, 1987. Road salt may penetrate the lower backlite glass seal and erode the electrical conducting material. Heat produced in the eroded conductors
during wiper operation may create thermal stresses in the backlite glass. As a result, the backlite may fracture while the wiper is or has recently been
operated. If the window fractures while the vehicle is in motion, the driver may be distracted by the glass breakage possibly affecting his or her control of
the car. In addition, some degree of risk of injury to rear-facing third-row seat occupants is possible. While awaiting modification of the vehicle, owners
may lessen the risk of fracture of the backlite by not operating the rear window wipers.
To correct this condition, dealers are instructed to add sealing to protect the wiper motor conductors from erosion or, if necessary, to replace the backlite
glass.
PLEASE READ ALL OF THIS BULLETIN AND PROVIDE COPIES TO YOUR PARTS MANAGER AND SERVICE MANAGER. ANY
QUESTIONS REGARDING ITS CONTENTS SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO YOUR SUPERVISING FORD LOCATION OR THIS OFFICE.
Owner/Dealer & Parts Information
NOTIFICATION OF OWNERS/DEALER ACTIONS:
The enclosed list identifies vehicles delivered to your dealership which are involved in this recall. Other eligible vehicles may be brought to your
dealership by their owners for this recall service. Those units also are to be corrected as promptly as possible. If the owner of any eligible vehicle does
not have a Customer Notification and Dealer Claim Form (FED or FCS-1864), a blank Form 1864 should be completed by you and submitted for
reimbursement. For Dealers in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands - To determine vehicle eligibility, please use "CARES".
Vehicle owners whose names and addresses are shown on the enclosed recall listing are being notified by First Class Mail. If you have knowledge that a
suspect vehicle has been sold, but the owner's name and address does not appear on the listing, please contact the owner immediately and provide him a
copy of the owner letter. If the owner of any vehicle cannot be contacted or does not make an appointment to have his vehicle corrected, advise your
supervising Ford location of the owner's name and address so that we can handle further notification.
Owners in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands are being encouraged in the owner letter to ask about any other outstanding recalls on their vehicles
when they contact you to arrange an appointment for this recall service. Dealers in those areas can advise them through use of CARES of other recalls, if
any, that may be uncompleted. You should attempt to complete all open recalls on these vehicles on a single visit by the owner.
If no vehicle listing is enclosed, you are not involved at this time, and this Service Recall Bulletin is for information only.
DEALER OBLIGATIONS:
Dealers are obligated to perform this recall service promptly following presentations of the vehicle by the owners. United States law requires that we
advise owners in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and certain territories of the procedure to be followed by them in informing the National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration, if the defect is not corrected without charge within a reasonable time after the vehicle is brought in. This notice is included
in the owner letter (copy attached) to be sent to owners in Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Canal Zone, Guam and the Northern Mariana
Islands. It is also important, however, that you promptly report (to your supervising location or Wixom) any instances in which an owner will not allow
you to complete this recall because of objections to delays in scheduling, or for any other reason.
For any suspect vehicle received and already delivered to an owner, it is imperative that you contact the owner immediately, and advise the owner to
return the vehicle to your dealership without delay for the repair.
TECHNICAL INSTRUCTIONS: (See Page 4)
