The 1977 Ford Maverick has 3 recalls, the most serious affecting manual steering models where the steering gear can seize and eventually fail entirely, causing the driver to lose control of the vehicle.
On manual steering-equipped vehicles, small steel balls inside the steering gear can fracture, making the wheel increasingly hard to turn and causing it to momentarily stick mid-maneuver. If the vehicle continues to be driven in this condition, steering control can be lost completely. There is also a door latch concern: the left front door lock assembly can be defective in a way that allows the door to swing open while the vehicle is moving, leaving the driver or any occupant on that side exposed. Finally, certain vehicles with 200, 250, or 302 cubic inch engines paired with an automatic transmission were built with the wrong speedometer gears, causing both the speedometer and odometer to read lower than the vehicle's actual speed and mileage.
At a glance
What can fail
The recirculating balls in the manual steering gear may crack due to improper heat treatment. Cracked balls increase steering effort and can cause the steering to stick momentarily, potentially leading to loss of steering control.
What the fix does
No remedy description available.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
We may earn a commission for purchases made through these links.
At a glance
What can fail
The left front door lock assembly may be defective, allowing the left front door to open while the vehicle is moving.
What the fix does
No remedy description available.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Some vehicles have incorrect speedometer gears that cause the speedometer and odometer to read lower than actual speed and mileage.
What the fix does
No remedy description available.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
