Vehicle recall 80V121000 · September 23, 1980
Lincoln Lincoln, Ford LTD and 2 more models
The involved vehicles may start in reverse gear.
Source: NHTSA data as of September 22, 2026. Last refreshed Sep 23, 2026, 2:43 AM UTC.
- Summary
- The involved vehicles may start in reverse gear. This does not comply with federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 102, "transmission shift lever sequence, starter interlock, and transmission braking affect". Some of these vehicles may be equipped with a defective neutral start switch that occasionally permits engine starting with the transmission shift lever in the reverse ("r") position.
- Remedy
- Dealer will inspect the involved vehicles and, if necessary, replace the transmission neutral start switch at no charge to owner.
- Notes
- Vehicle description: passenger vehicles.system: electrical; gear shift.consequences of defect: starting the engine with the shift selector in thereverse position can result in unexpected rearward motion of the vehicle whichcould cause injury to persons or damage to property behind the vehicle.
Recall details
- NHTSA campaign
- 80V121000
- Reported to NHTSA
- September 23, 1980
- Filed by
- FORD MOTOR COMPANY
- Owner notification
- November 6, 1980
- Vehicles potentially affected
- 14,000
- Initiated by
- the manufacturer
- Components
- Electrical system › Ignition › Switch
Vehicles covered
As listed by NHTSA. A recall usually covers only some vehicles of each model and year, often a production date range.
- Ford LTD (1981): 1981
- Lincoln Lincoln (1981): 1981
- Lincoln Mark VI (1981): 1981
- Mercury MARQUIS (1981): 1981
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.