1979 Ford Mustang — Problems, Recalls & Complaints

INTERCONTINENTAL AUTO PARTS IS RECALLING 1,937 FUEL FILTERS, P/NOS ALG 44/1 AND PUROLATOR F10024, SHIPPED BETWEEN JANUARY 14 AND FEBRUARY 13, 2008, SOLD FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE FILTER'S OUTLET CAP MAY NOT BE SECURELY CRIMPED TO THE HOUSING. THIS COULD RESULT IN A SEPARATION OF FILTER'S OUTLET CAP FROM THE HOUSING.

Remedy: INTERCONTINENTAL WILL REPLACE THE FUEL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN DURING MARCH 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT INTERCONTINENTAL AT 800-451-2593.

CERTAIN FEDERAL-MOGUL AFTERMARKET FUEL PUMPS SOLD UNDER THE BRAND NAMES OF CARTER, ACCUFLOW, NAPA, TRUFLOW, PARTS DEPO, AND PARTS MASTER, SHIPPED BETWEEN AUGUST 2006 AND JULY 2007 FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE FUEL PUMP DIAPHRAGM IN CERTAIN PRODUCTION RUNS MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY INSTALLED OR INADEQUATELY TESTED WHICH MAY CAUSE THE FUEL PUMP TO LEAK.

Remedy: FEDERAL-MOGUL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 15, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FEDERAL-MOGUL AT 248-354-7700.

THE INVOLVED VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH FLEXIBLE COOLING FAN BLADES THAT MAY CRACK WHEN SUBJECTED TO HIGH ENGINE SPEED OPERATING CONDITIONS. FAN BLADE CRACKING CAN LEAD TO FRAGMENTS SEPARATING FROM THE FAN.

Remedy: THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THE EXISTING COOLING FAN AT NO COST TO OWNER.

THE TILT STEERING COLUMNS ON THE INVOLVED VEHICLES CONTAIN IN-PROCESS TEMPORARY ALIGNMENT PINS RATHER THAN THE PERMANENT PRESS-FIT PIVOT PINS. THE TEMPORARY PINS ARE SLIGHTLY UNDERSIZED AND COULD SEPARATE FROM THE STEERING COLUMN DURING VEHICLE OPERATION. THIS CAN CAUSE STEERING WHEEL LOCKUP.

Remedy: THE DEALER WILL INSTALL A PERMANENT PIVOT PIN IN THE STEERING COLUMN WITHOUT CHARGE TO OWNER.

WITH THE ENGINE OPERATING AT HIGH SPEED, THE PLASTIC ENGINE FAN FINGER GUARDS MAY CONTACT THE ENGINE FAN AND BREAKAGE OF THE GUARD MAY OCCUR. THIS COULD CAUSE FRAGMENTS OF THE FINGER GUARD TO SCATTER.

Remedy: TWO GUARD SUPPORTS AND TWO ADDITIONAL FASTENERS WILL BE INSTALLED. IF THE FAN GUARD HAS BEEN DAMAGED, THE GUARD AND FAN WILL BE REPLACED AT NO COST TO OWNER.

AN INCORRECT STEERING GEAR FLANGE MAY HAVE BEEN INSTALLED, WHICH MAY SLIP AND CAUSE EVENTUAL LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL.

Remedy: INSPECTION FOR AND REPLACEMENT OF INCORRECT STEERING GEAR FLANGES WILL BE DONE AT NO COST TO OWNER.

THE INVOLVED VEHICLES WERE PRODUCED WITH BRAKE PUSH-ROD TO BRAKE PEDAL RETAINING PINS WHICH WERE NOT HEAT-TREATED AS SPECIFIED. THIS COULD ALLOW THE BRAKE PEDAL TO BECOME DISENGAGED FROM THE PUSH-ROD.

Remedy: DEALER WILL REPLACE THE SUSPECT BRAKE RETAINING PIN.