1981 Mercury Capri problems
Capri (later Mercury Capri) is a nameplate marketed by the Lincoln-Mercury division of Ford Motor Company over three generations between 1970 and 1994.
From 1970 to 1978, the Capri was a sport compact marketed in North America by the Lincoln-Mercury division without any Ford or Mercury divisional branding; it was a captive import, manufactured by Ford of Europe and sold simply as the Capri. From 1979 to 1986, the second generation Capri became part of the Mercury model line as a U.S. built pony car. From 1991 to 1994, the third generation Mercury Capri was a roadster manufactured by Ford Australia and marketed outside North America as the Ford Capri.
In North America, the first and third generations of the Capri were marketed without a direct Ford-brand counterpart but were sold in other markets under the Ford brand.
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Common 1981 Mercury Capri problems
The Mercury Capri, introduced in 1981, was a car that faced several common problems, leading to its eventual discontinuation. One of the main issues was the engine-related problems, particularly with the 2.8 Liter V-6 and the 150-horse turbocharged 2300 engines. These engines were prone to constant stalling, head gasket failures, and turbo issues, causing significant frustration for the owners.
Another issue was the lack of identity and distinctiveness from its Mustang sibling. The Fox Capri looked nearly identical to the Mustang, and consumers quickly realized that it was merely a mildly rebadged version of the Mustang, offering little value for the extra cost. This lack of unique identity and perceived value led to poor sales and a weak market presence for the Capri.
The Capri also suffered from a series of reliability issues, particularly in the 1980 and 1981 models. These issues included power steering seal failures, tail shaft bearing problems in the five-speed transmission, and other strange failures that affected the overall driving experience and reliability of the car. These problems, combined with the engine issues, contributed to the Capri's poor reputation and sales performance.
Lastly, the Capri faced competition from both domestic and import sporty coupes, which further eroded its market share. The sporty coupe market moved towards either Mustangs or imports, leaving the Capri in a difficult position.
In summary, the Mercury Capri faced significant challenges due to engine-related problems, a lack of unique identity, reliability issues, and competition from other sporty coupes. These factors ultimately led to its discontinuation in 1986.
Which was the best Ford Capri?
- The 10 Greatest Ford Capris. While supercars are all great and good, the real heroes are the aspirational cars that the likes of you or I can more easily afford. ...
- The 10 Greatest Ford Capris. ...
- Ford Capri MK1 2000 GT. ...
- Ford Capri MK1 RS2600. ...
- Ford Capri RS2600 Touring Cars. ...
- Ford Capri RS Cologne. ...
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- Mercury Capri.
Is a Mercury Capri a Foxbody?
The second generation Capri was a slightly reworked and rebadged third Generation Mustang at its essence. With production starting in 1979, it served as a companion and cousin to the four-eye Fox Body Mustang until 1986. From there, the Fox Body received a refresh while the Mercury Capri was discontinued.
What happened to the Mercury Capri?
From 1979 to 1986, the second generation Capri became part of the Mercury model line as a U.S. built pony car. From 1991 to 1994, the third generation Mercury Capri was a roadster manufactured by Ford Australia and marketed outside North America as the Ford Capri.
Is Ford Capri a classic car?
Throw it back to the golden age of motors with a Ford Capri. These classic cars are truly iconic and are sure to draw the eye when seen amongst modern models. Designed as a fastback hatch, the striking design hints to the athletic engine held within.
What happened to the Mercury Capri?
From 1979 to 1986, the second generation Capri became part of the Mercury model line as a U.S. built pony car. From 1991 to 1994, the third generation Mercury Capri was a roadster manufactured by Ford Australia and marketed outside North America as the Ford Capri.
How much horsepower does a 1980 Mercury Capri have?
4 engines
| Name | Power | Drivetrain |
|---|---|---|
| 3.3 | 86 hk | 2WD |
| 2.3 | 89 hk | 2WD |
| 4.2 V8 | 121 hk | 2WD |
| Capri RS Turbo | 152 hk | 2WD |
How much is a 1980 Mercury Capri worth?
As of 2022, prices for a classic 1980 Mercury Capri RS start around $15,765. Keep in mind that this average price depends on a lot of factors, particularly the condition and mileage of the vehicle. That said, a classic Mercury Capri RS with more than 50K+ on the odometer would range between $6,400 and $9,300.
Is Ford Capri a classic car?
Throw it back to the golden age of motors with a Ford Capri. These classic cars are truly iconic and are sure to draw the eye when seen amongst modern models. Designed as a fastback hatch, the striking design hints to the athletic engine held within.
1981 Mercury Capri car problems categorized by type of issue
After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Mercury Capri problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:
- Structure problems
- Seats problems
The graph below shows statistics for all 1981 Mercury Capri vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
1981 Mercury Capri complaints
The NHTSA has received 2 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 1981 Mercury Capri.
STRUCTURE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
- Components: STRUCTURE
- Summary: #EA85-O16 FLOOR PAN CRACKS THERE IS HOLE DRIVERS SIDE FLOOR. TT
SEATS PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1994-05-27
- VIN: 1MEBP67B9BF
- Components: SEATS
- Summary: SEAT BACK LATCH FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL.
1981 Mercury Capri recalls
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued 2 recalls for different components of the 1981 Mercury Capri.
- Manufacturer: FEDERAL-MOGUL CORPORATION
- Components: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
- Summary: 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.
- Consequence: A LEAKING FUEL PUMP COULD CREATE A VEHICLE FIRE HAZARD.
- 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.
- Manufacturer: FORD MOTOR COMPANY
- Components: SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
- Summary: THE HOUSING PLATES ON THE DRIVER SEAT BACK LATCH RECLINER ASSEMBLIES WERE MANUFACTURED WITH SUBSTANDARD MATERIAL PRODUCTS. THIS TAINTED STEEL WAS USED TO PRODUCE SEATBACK LATCHES FOR BOTH THE RIGHT AND LEFT SIDE SEAT ASSEMBLIES. UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, THE DEFECTIVE HOUSING PLATES MAY DISTORT, ALLOWING THE LOCKING TEETH TO DISENGAGE AND TEAR OFF. THIS PERMITS THE SEATBACK TO PIVOT BACKWARDS.
- Remedy: UPON INSPECTION, BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT LATCH/RECLINER ASSEMBLIES, ON VEHICLES EXHIBITING THE SUSPECT DATE CODES, WILL BE REPLACED.
Additional sources
More sources of information about 1981 Mercury Capri problems:
FAQ - Known issues and fixes for 79/81 2.3 turbo engine (carb)
Mar 6, 2014 ... Mercury Mountaineer GT-40P engine, some ... 1981. Whoever tried to fix it did a poor job ... Capri, 84-86 Mustang SVO, 78-83 Fairmont & Zephyr ...
Cohort Pic(k) of the Day: 1981 Mercury Capri "Two Door Sedan ...
Nov 14, 2021 ... Fuel injection solved all the problems for both Ford and GM. And Chrysler, when they turbocharged the K-car's 2.2. Turbocharging went from ...
Junkyard Find: 1980 Mercury Capri | The Truth About Cars
Apr 7, 2012 ... The Fox Mustang/Capri with the 5.0 engine ... I bought it in late 1980 after the 1981's ... As the problems mounted with the 85, I really feared ...
Its Official I now own a 1982 Mercury Capri RS
Apr 8, 2016 ... If common sense was common wouldn't it just be sense? ... 1981 Capri Black Magic Roller Basket Case ... Oil pressure problems would present nothing ...
Fire-breathing, Neck-snapping: The Ultimate Capri - Speedhunters
Feb 1, 2013 ... This 1981 Group 5 Zakspeed ... It's a common problem even today – vis the modern rallycross Supercars. ... FORD CAPRI TURBO GROUP 5. ENGINE. Front ...
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