1978 Ford Club Wagon

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT

ON THE INVOLVED VEHICLES, THE PARK ACTUATION SUPPORT PLATES ARE DEFECTIVE DUE TO THEIR SUSCEPTIBILITY TO CRACKING DUE TO IMPROPER HEAT TREATMENT DURING MANUFACTURE. AS A RESULT, FRAGMENTS FROM A BROKEN PLATE CAN BECOME LODGED IN THE TRANSMISSION PARKING PAWL MECHANISM. THIS COULD PREVENT THE TRANSMISSION PARKING PAWL FROM ENGAGING WHEN THE SELECTOR LEVER IS PLACED IN THE "PARK" POSITION, OR PREVENT THE PAWL FROM BEING DISENGAGED FROM THE PARK GEAR.

STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY

ON THE INVOLVED VEHICLES, THE STEERING TIE ROD AND LINK ASSEMBLIES WITH ADJUSTING SLEEVE CLAMPS MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED. THE CLAMPS CONTAIN A SHARP DIE MARK WHICH COULD CAUSE THE CLAMP TO FRACTURE WHEN THE CLAMP BOLT IS TIGHTENED TO SPECIFICATIONS. THE CLAMP COULD BREAK AND CAUSE SEPARATION OF THE TIE ROD ADJUSTING SLEEVES.

VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR

ON THE INVOLVED VEHICLES, TEMPERED GLASS MAY HAVE BEEN INSTALLED IN THE REAR DOORS INSTEAD OF LAMINATED GLASS. THIS CONSTITUTES A NON-COMPLIANCE TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 217, "BUS WINDOW RETENTION AND RELEASE". ONE PURPOSE OF THE STANDARD IS TO MINIMIZE THE LIKELIHOOD OF OCCUPANTS BEING EJECTED FROM A BUS IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT

THE SHIFT SELECTOR REACTION SPRINGS MAY BE DEFORMED AS A RESULT OF IMPROPER INSTALLATION OF SELECTOR LEVERS DURING COLUMN BUILDUP. THUS THE LEVER MAY NOT BE ABLE TO BE MOVED INTO THE INSERT DETENTS LOCATED IN THE STEERING COLUMN ASSEMBLY. THIS COULD PREVENT THE "PARK" GEAR FROM BEING ENGAGED.