Owner Notification and Reimbursement

This letter is to advise you of Owner Notification Program M41. A summary of major program features is shown on Attachment I. Detailed technical and administrative instructions and a copy of the letter being sent by the Company to owners are shown on Attachment II respectively.

The engine cylinder bead gaskets of the subject vehicles may fail prematurely. Should this occur, there would be leakage of oil between the cylinder head and engine block at the front corner of the passenger side of the engine or into the engine coolant passages at the gasket high pressure oil feed hole. An oil passage sealing ring, which is part of the engine cylinder head gasket, becomes deformed because of different thermal expansion rates between the aluminum cylinder head and the cast iron block. The sealing ring becomes permanently damaged after repeated vehicle cold starts and heavy acceleration.

Owner Notification Program M41 provides extended coverage for the cylinder head gasket for five years from the vehicles' in-service date or 60,000 miles of operation, whichever comes first. The repair of any engine damage resulting from the described gasket condition will also be provided within this time/mileage limitation. This service will be performed at no charge to owners.

Reimbursement is provided to owners who have paid to have their vehicles' engine cylinder head gaskets replaced or had engine repairs performed at their expense prior to the announcement of this program as a result of the described condition. Reimbursement includes the deductible amount owners may have paid under Ford Motor Company's 24-month/24,000-mile powertrain warranty, Ford's Extended Service Plan or any similar plan in effect on their vehicles. Owners must provide dealerships with proper documentation of the repairs by March 31, 1986. Dealerships must submit separate warranty claim Forms 1863 for owner reimbursement by May 30, 1986.

Please assure that your parts and service personnel are familiar with the details of this program so that they may respond to owners' inquiries.

Your cooperation in the administration of Owner Notification Program M41 is appreciated. We believe that the program will help to assure the satisfaction of the vehicles' owners with their Ford-built products.