1983 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.
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Common 1983 Mercury Zephyr problems
The Mercury Zephyr, produced between 1978 and 1983, is known for its reliability and clean design. However, there are some common issues that owners have reported.
- Engine performance and emissions: The 2.3-liter 4-cylinder engine in the Mercury Zephyr was known to have issues with its emissions controls, leading to poor performance from the day of purchase. Despite multiple attempts by dealers to fix the problem, it often remained unresolved.
- Rust: Although the car's body is generally in good shape, some owners have reported minor rust spots, which are not very noticeable. This is likely due to the car's age, as the vehicle is over 30 years old.
- Interior wear and tear: The car's interior shows signs of wear and tear, which is to be expected in a vehicle of this age. This includes typical signs of aging, such as worn-out upholstery and fading plastic components.
- Engine oil consumption: Some owners have reported that the engine in their Mercury Zephyr consumes oil, which may indicate a need for maintenance or repair.
- Fuel efficiency: To improve fuel efficiency in the Mercury Zephyr, some owners have considered installing an MSD box, coil, and new oil pan and valve cover gaskets, as well as swapping in an electric fan like those used in Mustangs. These modifications can help improve gas mileage, but it is important to ensure that they do not compromise the car's emissions performance.
These are some of the common issues reported by Mercury Zephyr owners. While these problems can be frustrating, they are generally manageable with proper maintenance and repairs.
What years was the Mercury Zephyr made?
| Ford Fairmont | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Ford Motor Company |
| Also called | Mercury Zephyr Ford Elite II (Mexico) Ford Zephyr (Venezuela) Ford Futura (Venezuela) |
| Production | 1977–1983 |
| Model years | 1978–1983 |
How much horsepower does a 1978 Mercury Zephyr have?
Zephyr buyers could choose between a 2.3-liter straight-four, a 3.3-liter straight-six, and a 5.0-liter V8, rated at 88, 85, and 134 horsepower, respectively (the six offered 154 lb-ft of torque versus the Pinto four's 118, so it wasn't quite as miserable a choice as the lackluster horsepower number suggests).
What engine was in the Zephyr?
The Zephyr engine included both straight-4 and straight-6 OHV engines. Production began in 1951 and lasted through to 1966, when it was replaced by Ford's Essex V4 and Essex V6 engines.
What year was the last Mercury built?
2011
Production of Mercury vehicles ceased in all markets during the fourth quarter of 2010, with the final Mercury automobile, a Grand Marquis, rolling off the assembly line on January 4, 2011.
Was the Mercury Zephyr a good car?
It wasn't perfect – there's that rear seat trim issue, and the radio had some static, but overall this review describes a small car with a novel, unique design that allowed for a surprising amount of room, all with a rattle-free driving experience, unlike some other cars I could mention.
What years was the Mercury Zephyr made?
| Ford Fairmont | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Ford Motor Company |
| Also called | Mercury Zephyr Ford Elite II (Mexico) Ford Zephyr (Venezuela) Ford Futura (Venezuela) |
| Production | 1977–1983 |
| Model years | 1978–1983 |
How much horsepower does a 1978 Mercury Zephyr have?
Zephyr buyers could choose between a 2.3-liter straight-four, a 3.3-liter straight-six, and a 5.0-liter V8, rated at 88, 85, and 134 horsepower, respectively (the six offered 154 lb-ft of torque versus the Pinto four's 118, so it wasn't quite as miserable a choice as the lackluster horsepower number suggests).
Was Mercury nicer than Ford?
What is the difference between a Ford and a Mercury? Most Mercury models were higher trim, than Ford models, but lower trim, than Lincoln. Mercury had more standard features, than Ford and was priced higher than Ford, but less than Lincoln.
1983 Mercury Zephyr car problems categorized by type of issue
After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Mercury Zephyr problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:
- Electrical system problems
The graph below shows statistics for all 1983 Mercury Zephyr vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
1983 Mercury Zephyr complaints
The NHTSA has received 2 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 1983 Mercury Zephyr.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1996-03-22
- 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
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1996-03-22
- 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
1983 Mercury Zephyr recalls
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued 3 recalls for different components of the 1983 Mercury Zephyr.
- 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: 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.
- Manufacturer: FORD MOTOR COMPANY
- Components: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
- Summary: THE PARK LEVER ON THE INVOLVED VEHICLES CONTAINS A DEFECTIVE SPRING WHICH COULD PREVENT AUTOMATIC ENGAGEMENT OF THE PARKING GEAR.
- Remedy: THE PARK ACTUATING LEVER ROD SPRING WILL BE REPLACED WITH AN UPGRADED SPRING WITHOUT CHARGE TO OWNER.
Additional sources
More sources of information about 1983 Mercury Zephyr problems:
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Other years of Mercury Zephyr
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