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RecallGazette

Vehicle problems, recalls & safety intelligence

Preliminary Evaluation · Closed

HALFSHAFT FAILURE

Action number
PE88034
Opened
Mar 18, 1988
Closed
Sep 19, 1988
Outcome
Closed without recall

Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company

What NHTSA is examining

Summary:the subject vehicles may be equipped with either a 2.3 liter4 cylinder engine or a 2.0 liter diesel engine.the transaxle may beeither a 5 speed manual or a 3 speed automatic transmission.thehalfshaft assemblies are identical for automatic and manual use, but theright interconnecting shaft on a diesel equipped vehicle does not have atorsional damper.the 1987 model vehicles (gas or diesel) do not use thetorsional damper.the right side interconnecting shaft is longer thanthe left side shaft (25 inches versus 12 inches).most of the reported failures involve the right halfshaft assembly.failure of the halfshaft appears to result in a loss of drive without anyloss of vehicle control. #===

Vehicles under investigation

1984 Ford Tempo1985 Ford Tempo1986 Ford Tempo1984 Mercury Topaz1985 Mercury Topaz1986 Mercury Topaz

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation records, updated daily. An investigation is not a determination that a defect exists; many probes close without a recall.