Vehicle recall 78V167000 · August 7, 1978
Ford Fairmont and Mercury Zephyr
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.
Source: NHTSA data as of September 22, 2026. Last refreshed Sep 23, 2026, 2:43 AM UTC.
- Summary
- 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.
- Notes
- Vehicle description: passenger vehicles.system: visual; windshield.consequences of defect: an inoperative windshield wiper system would adverselyaffect driver visibility in poor weather conditions. This could contribute to avehicle accident.
Recall details
- NHTSA campaign
- 78V167000
- Reported to NHTSA
- August 7, 1978
- Filed by
- FORD MOTOR COMPANY
- Owner notification
- October 6, 1978
- Vehicles potentially affected
- 400,000
- Initiated by
- NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation
- Components
- Visibility › Windshield wiper/washer › Linkages
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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