Illustration#EA85-O16 FLOOR PAN CRACKS THERE IS HOLE DRIVERS SIDE FLOOR. TT
1981 Mercury Capri
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.
About this comparison →1Owner complaints
Model-year median: 0
1Recall campaignsView recall details →
3InvestigationsView investigation details →
Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.
Inspection summary
1981 Mercury Capri
NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 1 owner complaints · 1 recall campaigns · 3 investigations.
Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.
Top reported categories (up to 5)
- Structure: 1 reports
Full reported-category list and vehicle report
Recall links
Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.
Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.
How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Capri years →Counts vary with age, sales, mileage exposure and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 0 of 1 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Structure. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
1 reportsRecall campaigns
181V102000 · Seats:front Assembly:recliner
Sep 8, 1981
THE HOUSING PLATES ON THE DRIVER SEAT BACK LATCH RECLINER ASSEMBLIES WERE MANUFACTURED WITH SUBSTANDARD MATERIAL PRODUCTS. THIS TAINTED STEEL WAS USED TO PRODUCE SEATBACK LATCHES FOR BOTH THE RIGHT AND LEFT SIDE SEAT ASSEMBLIES. UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, THE DEFECTIVE HOUSING PLATES MAY DISTORT, ALLOWING THE LOCKING TEETH TO DISENGAGE AND TEAR OFF. THIS PERMITS THE SEATBACK TO PIVOT BACKWARDS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Not supplied
Remedy: UPON INSPECTION, BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT LATCH/RECLINER ASSEMBLIES, ON VEHICLES EXHIBITING THE SUSPECT DATE CODES, WILL BE REPLACED.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
Defect investigations
3EA85016 · Floor Pan Cracks
Opened Feb 22, 1985 · Closed Apr 14, 1987
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure
SUMMARY:FORD RECOGNIZES THE FLOOR PAN CRACKING PROBLEM AND HAS ISSUED4 SERVICE BULLETINS PERTAINING TO REPAIR. THE LATEST ONE WAS ISSUED ONSEPTEMBER 11, 1986. HOWEVER, FORD DOES NOT BELIEVE THE FLOOR PAN PROBLEMREPRESENTS A SAFETY HAZARD.ANALYSIS: FLOOR PAN CRACKING CAUSES THE DRIVER TO ROCK IN HIS SEAT.ALTHOUGH THIS IS VERY ANNOYING, IT APPEARS TO BE MORE OF AN ECONOMIC ISSUETHAN A SAFETY ISSUE. NO ACCIDENTS OR INJURIES HAVE BEEN REPORTED.STATUS: THIS EA WAS CLOSED ON MAY 14, 1987.===
DP85009 · Failure Of Seat Back Securing Bolts
Opened Jan 29, 1985 · Closed Feb 27, 1985
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seats
FAILURE OF SEAT BACK SECURING BOLTS
EA83013 · Front Seatback Failure
Opened Mar 23, 1983 · Closed Jan 26, 1989
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seats
STATUS: DISCUSSING WITH CANADA.===
An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.