1978 MERCURY ZEPHYR Recalls — Canada & USA

The 1978 Mercury Zephyr has 4 recalls, three of which involve braking defects serious enough to reduce stopping power or cause loss of vehicle control. The brake concerns cover several distinct problems. On vehicles where the wrong rear axle was installed, sedans may experience early wheel lock-up during hard braking while station wagons see reduced braking effectiveness overall. Some front disc brake rotors contain cracks that can fracture under braking, causing the vehicle to pull sharply to one side. On Zephyrs with the 302 cubic inch engine, some were fitted with manual brakes instead of the required power brakes, which reduces braking force and can cause the brakes to fade under repeated or sustained use. The remaining recall involves the main wiring harness rubbing against a brake pedal support brace, where the friction can wear through the wire insulation, ground one or more circuits, and cause the engine to stall unexpectedly.