Vehicle recall 81V045000 · April 6, 1981
Ford Escort and Mercury Lynx
Fuel may possibly travel through the speed control vacuum lines and into the speed control actuation device (SERV0).
Source: NHTSA data as of September 22, 2026. Last refreshed Sep 23, 2026, 2:43 AM UTC.
- Summary
- Fuel may possibly travel through the speed control vacuum lines and into the speed control actuation device (SERV0). The fuel can damage seals in the actuator servo and allow vacuum leaks. Such a leak could activate the speed control without any action on the part of the driver. This would cause the vehicle to gradually accelerate.
- Remedy
- The vacuum check valve and hose assembly will be replaced and the speed control servo will be replaced if it has been damaged.
- Notes
- Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with speed control option.system: equipment; speed control.consequences of defect: increase in vehicle speed can be controlled by applyingthe brakes, however releasing the brakes will allow the problem to recur. Ifthe driver is inattentive to vehicle speed, the condition could result in anaccident.
Recall details
- NHTSA campaign
- 81V045000
- Reported to NHTSA
- April 6, 1981
- Filed by
- FORD MOTOR COMPANY
- Owner notification
- May 13, 1981
- Vehicles potentially affected
- 21,000
- Initiated by
- the manufacturer
- Components
- Vehicle speed control
Vehicles covered
As listed by NHTSA. A recall usually covers only some vehicles of each model and year, often a production date range.
- Ford Escort (1981): 1981
- Mercury Lynx (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.