Vehicle recall 77V218000 · December 14, 1977
Mercury Comet, Ford F-150 and 6 more models
On the involved vehicles, the manual steering gears may contain steering gear recirculatory balls that could fracture.
Source: NHTSA data as of September 22, 2026. Last refreshed Sep 23, 2026, 2:43 AM UTC.
- Summary
- On the involved vehicles, the manual steering gears may contain steering gear recirculatory balls that could fracture. This fracturing is a result of improper heat-treatment during manufacture and can eventually cause increased steering effort.
- Remedy
- The dealer will inspect and, if necessary, replace the ball bearings of the steering gear, without charge to owner.
- Notes
- Vehicle description: passenger vehicles and light trucks.system: steering; steering gear recirculatory balls.consequences of defect: under continued operation, loss of steering control,loss of vehicle control, and an accident could occur.note: increased steering efforts will be accompanied by an audible popping orgrinding noise and momentary steering hang-up. If any of these conditions areexperienced, the vehicle should not be operated.
Recall details
- NHTSA campaign
- 77V218000
- Reported to NHTSA
- December 14, 1977
- Filed by
- FORD MOTOR COMPANY
- Owner notification
- January 18, 1978
- Vehicles potentially affected
- 40,000
- Initiated by
- the manufacturer
- Components
- Steering › Gear box (other than rack and pinion)
Vehicles covered
As listed by NHTSA. A recall usually covers only some vehicles of each model and year, often a production date range.
- Ford F-100 (1977): 1977
- Ford F-150 (1977): 1977
- Ford F-250 (1977): 1977
- Ford F-350 (1977): 1977
- Ford Granada (1977): 1977
- Ford Maverick (1977): 1977
- Mercury Comet (1977): 1977
- Mercury Monarch (1977): 1977
Has your Ford been repaired?
Recalls here come from NHTSA’s records for the model and year. Not every vehicle of a model is included in every recall, and this site can’t see whether a repair has been done. Only a VIN lookup can tell you that.
NHTSA’s VIN search doesn’t show recalls that were already repaired, recalls more than 15 years old, or some small manufacturers’ recalls. Recall repairs are free.