Vehicle recall 97V097000 · June 9, 1997
Ford Windstar, Mercury Sable and 1 more model
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with AX4S automatic transaxles.
Source: NHTSA data as of September 22, 2026. Last refreshed Sep 23, 2026, 2:43 AM UTC.
- Summary
- Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with AX4S automatic transaxles. The low/intermediate servo cover can separate from the transaxle while the vehicle is being driven. If this occurs, transmission fluid will leak contacting the catalytic converter.
- Consequence
- The catalytic converter temperature may be hot enough to ignite the transmission fluid and cause a vehicle fire.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect the transmission and replace these servo covers.
- Notes
- Owner notification:owner notification began June 30, 1997.OWNERS who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Ford at 1-800-392-3673. Also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-800-424-9393.
Recall details
- NHTSA campaign
- 97V097000
- Reported to NHTSA
- June 9, 1997
- Filed by
- FORD MOTOR COMPANY
- Manufacturer campaign
- 97S75
- Owner notification
- June 30, 1997
- Vehicles potentially affected
- 100,000
- Initiated by
- the manufacturer
- Components
- Power train › Automatic transmission
Vehicles covered
As listed by NHTSA. A recall usually covers only some vehicles of each model and year, often a production date range.
- Ford Taurus (1997): 1997
- Ford Windstar (1997-1998): 1998, 1997
- Mercury Sable (1997): 1997
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.