Vehicle recall 89V095000 · June 12, 1989
Ford Escort, Mercury Lynx and 1 more model
External cracks above the number 3 cylinder (1984 models) or rocker arm cover gaskets splitting (1985 models) could allow oil to leak onto the exhaust manifold.
Source: NHTSA data as of September 22, 2026. Last refreshed Sep 23, 2026, 2:43 AM UTC.
- Summary
- External cracks above the number 3 cylinder (1984 models) or rocker arm cover gaskets splitting (1985 models) could allow oil to leak onto the exhaust manifold.
- Consequence
- Engine oil leaking onto a hot exhaust manifold couldresult in an engine compartment fire.
- Remedy
- Replace cracked cylinder heads (1984 models); replace rocker arm cover gaskets (1985 models).
- Notes
- System:engine/cylinder heads, rocker arm cover gaskets.vehicle description:passenger cars with 1.6L and 1.9L engines.
Recall details
- NHTSA campaign
- 89V095000
- Reported to NHTSA
- June 12, 1989
- Filed by
- FORD MOTOR COMPANY
- Owner notification
- July 19, 1989
- Vehicles potentially affected
- 481,049
- Initiated by
- NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation
- Components
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine
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 (1984-1985): 1985, 1984
- Ford EXP (1984): 1984
- Mercury Lynx (1984-1985): 1985, 1984
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.