Owner Letter

September, 1989

Dear Owner:

This notice is sent to you in accordance with the requirements of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act.

Ford Motor Company has determined that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in certain 1988 Mercury Tracer cars.

Safety Defect

On some of these cars, the front lap-shoulder belt can lock or be extremely difficult to extend for buckling. If this condition exists, it does not necessarily mean the belt is inoperative. In most cases, the retractor will release the belt when the pulling motion is stopped and tension on the belt is removed. The belt can then be pulled out slowly. In a few cases, the belt may lock in the retractor and become impossible to use.

Ford believes that the use of seat belts by all occupants of passenger cars provides the best protection available in cars today to help reduce the number and seriousness of injuries resulting from automobile accidents.

Repairs

If you are experiencing considerable difficulty in using the front lap-shoulder belts, return the car to your dealer for inspection and, if necessary, replacement of the belts. There will be no charge for this service.

If the front lap-shoulder belts have already been replaced or you are not experiencing difficulty in using the belts, then they are performing properly and need not be replaced. If this is the case, please fill out the enclosed prepaid postcard included with this letter and mail it to us. This information is needed to update our records.

NOTE:
Please be aware that filling out the enclosed postcard will cancel your seat belt warranty. If at a later date your belts become difficult to use, you may still have them replaced under the provisions of Ford's seat belt warranty.

How Long Will It Take?

The time needed to repair your car is about one hour.

Call Your Dealer

Call your dealer and ask for a service date. Your dealer has the service information needed to repair your car. Be prepared to tell the dealer the color of your seat belts. If the parts are not in stock, they can be ordered before scheduling your service date. Parts would be expected to arrive within a week.

When you bring your car in, give the dealer the enclosed recall notification form.

If you misplace the form, your dealer will still do the work, free of charge.

Changed Address Or Sold The Car?





If you have, please fill out Section 1 of the enclosed prepaid recall notification postcard and mail it to us.

If the dealer doesn't make the repair promptly and without charge, you may either mail Section 3 of the prepaid recall notification postcard to us or contact the Ford Parts and Service Division Office whose address is shown in your Owner Guide booklet. You may send a complaint to the Administrator, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 400 Seventh Street, SW, Washington, DC 20590 or call the toll free Auto Safety Hotline 800-424-9393 (Washington, DC area residents may call 426-0123).

We regret the inconvenience this service may cause you, but we want you to have the work done for your safety and satisfaction with your Ford-built car.