Mercury Zephyr problems
The Ford Fairmont is a model line of compact cars that was manufactured by Ford from the 1978 to 1983 model years. The successor of the Ford Maverick, the Fairmont marked the third generation of compact sedans sold by Ford in North America. Initially slotted between the Pinto and Granada within the Ford line, the Fairmont was later marketed between the Ford Escort and Ford LTD. In contrast to its predecessor (only offered as a two-door or four-door sedan), the model line was offered as a two-door notchback sedan, two-door coupe, four-door sedan, and five-door station wagon. Though never sold as a Lincoln, Mercury sold a divisional counterpart of the Fairmont as the Mercury Zephyr.
The inaugural model lines of the rear-wheel drive Ford Fox platform (which served to replace models based on the Ford Falcon), the Fairmont and Zephyr shared underpinnings with twelve additional model lines for Ford, Mercury, and Lincoln. Though the Fairmont itself was produced for only six model years, the Fox platform would live on for another two decades, underpinning vehicles (in updated form) through the 2004 model year.
Through its production, Ford produced the Fairmont at numerous facilities across North America. On November 15, 1977, a Fairmont (a 1978 Fairmont Futura coupe) became the 100 millionth vehicle assembled by Ford Motor Company. For 1984, the model line was replaced with the front-wheel drive Ford Tempo.
Social links
Mercury Zephyr model years
Common Mercury Zephyr problems
The Mercury Zephyr is a car model that was produced in the late 1970s and early 1980s. While some owners have reported that their Zephyrs are reliable and run like new, there are several common problems that have been reported by other owners.
One common issue with the Mercury Zephyr is rust on the body. While some owners have reported only minor rust spots, others have reported more significant rust issues. In some cases, rust has been reported on the cowl/firewall, which can lead to leaks and other problems.
Another issue that has been reported by some Mercury Zephyr owners is problems with the engine. While some owners have reported that the engine runs well, others have reported issues with the carburetor and a lack of power. In some cases, the engine has been described as "wheezy" and having low power output, despite consuming a lot of fuel.
Build quality has also been identified as a problem with the Mercury Zephyr. Some owners have reported that the build quality of the car is wretched, with issues reported from top to bottom and end to end. In some cases, the build quality has been described as being so poor that a better car could be built in Botswana today.
The interior of the Mercury Zephyr has also been identified as a problem area by some owners. While some have reported that the interior is in okay shape, others have reported that it shows signs of wear and tear that are consistent with the age of the car.
Finally, some Mercury Zephyr owners have reported issues with the automatic transmission. In some cases, the transmission has been described as shifting harshly or experiencing delays in shifting.
It is worth noting that not all Mercury Zephyr owners have reported experiencing these problems. Some owners have reported that their Zephyrs are reliable and run like new, even after many years of ownership. However, the issues described above are common complaints that have been reported by some owners of this car model.
How long do Lincoln Zephyrs last?
Lincoln Zephyr Reliability for 2024
iSeeCars analyzed over 300 million vehicles to find out, and to determine how long each model can last. The Lincoln Zephyr has an average lifespan of 146,653 miles or about 10 years.
Is a 2006 Lincoln Zephyr a good car?
With its responsive steering and quiet ride, the 2006 Lincoln Zephyr is as nimble on back roads as it is comfortable on the highway. Wind and road noise are effectively quelled at highway speeds, and the transmission offers crisp upshifts and downshifts, although we wish it provided manual access to gears.
How reliable is the Lincoln Zephyr?
It ranks second to last in reliaibility out of 15 eligible Lincoln models. Our reliability rank is based on our PainRank™ system. A higher number means you can expect more significant problems. The average Lincoln score is 6.19 while the Zephyr comes in at 18.68.
Are there any recalls on a 2006 Lincoln Zephyr?
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2006-2010 Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan, Lincoln Zephyr and MKZ vehicles. The valves within the ABS Hydraulic Control Units (HCU) may react with brake fluids containing specific corrosion preventative additives. This reaction may cause the valves to not close properly.
Percentage distribution of complaints by Mercury Zephyr years
We have researched Mercury problems and analysed all the complaints filed against Mercury Zephyr cars and compiled the top 5 most problematic Mercury Zephyr model years:
Below you can see the percentage distribution of known problems by Mercury Zephyr model years.
Distribution of the number of complaints by Mercury Zephyr years
We've also compiled a chart for you with the number of complaints about Volkswagen Jetta cars of certain model years:
Mercury Zephyr car problems categorized by type of issue
After analysing all complaints related to Mercury Zephyr , it was concluded that the most common issues with these cars are:
- Electrical system problems
- Seat belts problems
- Fuel system problems
- Gasoline problems
- Power train problems
The graph below shows statistics for all Mercury Zephyr vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
Distribution of the number of complaints with fire by Zephyr model years
There were a total of 3 complaints that resulted in a fire. In the graph you can see the distribution of the number of complaints by model year.
The NHTSA has received 7 complaints about various vehicle components related to the Mercury Zephyr . Below are the 25 most recent complaints reported for Mercury Zephyr vehicles.
List of Mercury Zephyr complaints
Mercury Zephyr 1978
- Date Of Incident: 2003-02-19
- Date Complaint: 2003-03-05
- Components: SEAT BELTS
- Summary: WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED SUDDENLY, THE SEAT BELTS DID NOT LOCK AS DESIGNED.*JB
Mercury Zephyr 1978
- Date Of Incident: 1999-03-14
- Date Complaint: 1999-04-21
- Fire: 1
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Summary: WIRES IN STEERING COLUMN SHORTED OUT RESULTING IN FIRE.
Mercury Zephyr 1983
- Date Of Incident: 1996-03-22
- Date Complaint: 1996-04-29
- Fire: 1
- VIN: 1MELM5349NG
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Summary: 5043559997(H): BACKED OUT OF DRIVEWAY, STOPPED, WENT INTO HOUSE, VEHICLE NOT RUNNING;RETURNED 5 MINUTES LATER, FLAMES COME OUT FROM STEERING WHEEL/DASH. *AK
Mercury Zephyr 1983
- Date Of Incident: 1996-03-22
- Date Complaint: 1996-04-29
- Fire: 1
- VIN: 1MELM5349NG
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Summary: 5043559997(H): BACKED OUT OF DRIVEWAY, STOPPED, WENT INTO HOUSE, VEHICLE NOT RUNNING;RETURNED 5 MINUTES LATER, FLAMES COME OUT FROM STEERING WHEEL/DASH. *AK
Mercury Zephyr 1979
- Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
- Date Complaint: 1995-11-08
- VIN: 9X32T630218
- Components: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
- Summary: OWNER HAS TRIED SEVERAL MODELS OF GAS FILTERS THAT WOULD LEAK SEVERELY ONTO ENGINE.TT CONSUMER STATED THAT FUEL FILTER HAS BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES, EACH FILTER LEAKED AT THE FACTORY ASSEMBLY JOINT.*JB
Mercury Zephyr 1994
- Date Of Incident: 1995-10-15
- Date Complaint: 1995-10-17
- Components: SUSPENSION,STRUCTURE
- Summary: RENTAL VEHICLE, WHILE DRIVING REAR LEFT A FRAME BROKE WHILE DRIVING. TT RENTAL COMPANY STATED THIS FAILURE OCCURRED DUE TO SOMETHING BEING HIT, HOWEVER CONSUMER STATES THEY DID NOT HIT ANYTHING. *SLC
Mercury Zephyr 1982
- Date Of Incident: 1994-04-09
- Date Complaint: 1995-04-13
- Components: POWER TRAIN
- Summary: ASK FOR STATION 52. SHAVINGS LEFT IN TRANSMISSION GEARS VEHICLE LOSSES POWER DUE TO POOR DESIGN. TT
Latest 5 recalls Mercury Zephyr
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued 20 recalls for different components of the Mercury Zephyr.You can explore the year of the Volkswagen Jetta you are interested in by selecting it from the list.
- Model: Mercury Zephyr 1978
- Report Received Date: 2007-08-27
- 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.
- Model: Mercury Zephyr 1979
- Report Received Date: 2007-08-27
- 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.
- Model: Mercury Zephyr 1982
- Report Received Date: 2007-08-27
- 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.
- Model: Mercury Zephyr 1983
- Report Received Date: 2007-08-27
- 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.
- Model: Mercury Zephyr 1983
- Report Received Date: 1983-02-24
- Manufacturer: FORD MOTOR COMPANY
- Components: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT
- Summary: THE SHIFT INDICATOR MAY NOT ACCURATELY REFLECT THE SHIFT SELECTOR POSITION. SOME VEHICLES WERE PRODUCED WITH TRANSMISSION CONTROL SELECTOR TUBE RETAINING CLIPS THAT MAY NOT BE HARD ENOUGH. THE CLIP MAY LOOSEN OR FALL OFF, AND THE SELECTOR TUBE MAY BECOME DISPLACED.
- Remedy: THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL SELECTOR TUBE RETAINING CLIP AT NO CHARGE TO OWNER.
Are you having problems with your Mercury Zephyr?
