Vehicle recall 77V170000 · October 12, 1977
Ford Fairmont and Mercury Zephyr
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.
Source: NHTSA data as of September 22, 2026. Last refreshed Sep 23, 2026, 2:43 AM UTC.
- Summary
- 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.
- Notes
- Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with automatic transmissionsand steering column-mounted shift controls.system: power train; parking pawl.consequences of defect: if the condition were to occur on a vehicle on whichthe driver had not engaged the parking brake, the vehicle could roll free andcause property damage and personal injury.
Recall details
- NHTSA campaign
- 77V170000
- Reported to NHTSA
- October 12, 1977
- Filed by
- FORD MOTOR COMPANY
- Owner notification
- October 22, 1977
- Vehicles potentially affected
- 41,000
- Initiated by
- the manufacturer
- Components
- Power train › Automatic transmission › Lever and linkage › Column shift
Vehicles covered
As listed by NHTSA. A recall usually covers only some vehicles of each model and year, often a production date range.
- Ford Fairmont (1978): 1978
- Mercury Zephyr (1978): 1978
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