Auto Recall Watch
U.S. public vehicle records

1985 Mercury LYNX: complaints, problems and recalls

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

5 owner complaints analyzed

3 distinct recall campaigns

Not available median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1985 model year. Data updated: . 0 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Electrical System:Wiring is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 5 complaints (40.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Engine operation120.0%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Electrical System:Wiring
2
Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash
1
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
1
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly
1
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Electrical System:Wiring2
Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash1
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline1
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly1

Electrical System:Wiring: 2; Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 1; Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
0
25,000 to 49,999
0
50,000 to 74,999
0
75,000 to 99,999
0
100,000 to 149,999
0
150,000 and above
0
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0000
25,000 to 49,9990
50,000 to 74,9990
75,000 to 99,9990
100,000 to 149,9990
150,000 and above0

Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0

No usable failure mileage is recorded. 5 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

1996
4
2001
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
19964
20011

1996: 4; 2001: 1

Pattern summary

Electrical System:Wiring leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Examples from the source records

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 504156 · 1996-05-04 (May 4, 1996)

PLASTIC RETAINER THAT HOLDS METAL BAR OF SEAT BELT BUCKLE DETERIORATED, CAUSING BUCKLE TO FAIL. *SD

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 504156 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 895518 · 2001-08-30 (August 30, 2001)

VEHICLE WOULD STALL WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. VEHICLE BEEN AT DEALER SHOP ON THREE OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM STILL REOCCURRING. *AK *SLC

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 895518 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 982970 · 1996-04-18 (April 18, 1996)

WK [phone removed]; WHILE DRIVING OWNER NOTICED BURNING SMELL. PARKED VEHICLE AND FLAMES BEGAN FROM DASH BY DOOR. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 982970 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 983837 · 1996-04-30 (April 30, 1996)

UPON PARKING AND WALKING IN HOME, DRIVER HEARD HORN AND SAW WINDSHIELD WIPERS MOTION. VEHICLE BURST INTO FLAMES. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 983837 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 983839 · 1996-04-30 (April 30, 1996)

UPON PARKING AND WALKING IN HOME, DRIVER HEARD HORN AND SAW WINDSHIELD WIPERS MOTION. VEHICLE BURST INTO FLAMES. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 983839 at NHTSA ↗

Recall history

3 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.

85V054000 · Vehicle Speed Control

Reported: 1985-05-01 (May 1, 1985)

THE THROTTLE LEVER MAY NOT RETURN TO IDLE POSITION DUE TO MISALIGNMENT OF THE AIR CONDITIONER SHUT OFF SWITCH TO THE THROTTLE LEVER PIN. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: A JAMMED THROTTLE COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF ACCELERATOR CONTROL, WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, AND AN ACCIDENT.

Remedy: ADJUST SHUTOFF SWITCH AND ASSURE PROPER ALIGNMENT TO THROTTLE LEVER PIN.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
89V095000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine

Reported: 1989-06-12 (June 12, 1989)

EXTERNAL CRACKS ABOVE THE NUMBER 3 CYLINDER (1984 MODELS) OR ROCKER ARM COVER GASKETS SPLITTING (1985 MODELS) COULD ALLOW OIL TO LEAK ONTO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD.

Consequence: ENGINE OIL LEAKING ONTO A HOT EXHAUST MANIFOLD COULDRESULT IN AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE.

Remedy: REPLACE CRACKED CYLINDER HEADS (1984 MODELS); REPLACE ROCKER ARM COVER GASKETS (1985 MODELS).

NHTSA campaign record ↗
89V170000 · Seats

Reported: 1989-10-13 (October 13, 1989)

THE FORWARD OUTBOARD PEDESTAL OF THE SEAT TRACK OF DRIVER'S SEAT MAY BE SUSCEPTIBLE TO FATIGUE FRACTURE.

Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN A LIMITED DEGREE OF ROCKING MOTIONOF THE DRIVERS SEAT ASSEMBLY UPON ACCELERATION OR DECELERATION, WHICH COULDCAUSE AN ACCIDENT.

Remedy: INSTALL A REINFORCEMENT ON ALL MODELS AND A NEW SEAT TRACK AS NECESSARY

NHTSA campaign record ↗
Explore the data

Vehicle analysis explorer

Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.

Data completeness

5 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.

0.0%Usable mileage0 / 5 records
80.0%Valid incident date4 / 5 records
100.0%Valid filing date5 / 5 records
80.0%Ordered incident and filing dates4 / 5 records

Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.

Problems by model year

Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.

Component complaint heatmap
Component1981198219831984198519861987
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch
0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

266.7%
ODI 504192

IGNITION SWITCH SMOKED. *SD

Look up ODI 504192 at NHTSA ↗

125.0%
ODI 983289

EXPERIENCED ELECTRICAL FIRE IN THE IGNITION SWITCH. *AK

Look up ODI 983289 at NHTSA ↗

133.3%
ODI 872845

WHILE TRAVELING AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION VEHICLE WOULD STALL. DEALER HAS REPLACED IGNITION MODULE FOUR TIMES. *AK DEALER REPLLACED IGNITION MODULE FOUR TIMES A T THE OWNER'S EXPENCE. *YH

Look up ODI 872845 at NHTSA ↗

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

120.0%
ODI 784023

IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED. *CJ

Look up ODI 784023 at NHTSA ↗

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

250.0%
ODI 505187

ENGINE FIRE. *DH

Look up ODI 505187 at NHTSA ↗

133.3%
ODI 509936

VEHICLE FIRE.

Look up ODI 509936 at NHTSA ↗

120.0%
ODI 895518

VEHICLE WOULD STALL WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. VEHICLE BEEN AT DEALER SHOP ON THREE OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM STILL REOCCURRING. *AK *SLC

Look up ODI 895518 at NHTSA ↗

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

Electrical System:Wiring
0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

240.0%
ODI 983837

UPON PARKING AND WALKING IN HOME, DRIVER HEARD HORN AND SAW WINDSHIELD WIPERS MOTION. VEHICLE BURST INTO FLAMES. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

Look up ODI 983837 at NHTSA ↗

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar
0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

133.3%
ODI 504192

IGNITION SWITCH SMOKED. *SD

Look up ODI 504192 at NHTSA ↗

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

125.0%
ODI 983892

SMOKE WAS SEEN FROM THE STEERING COLUMN ONCE WHILE BEING DRIVEN. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

Look up ODI 983892 at NHTSA ↗

Structure:Frame And Members
0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

133.3%
ODI 483674

REAR STRUT UNIBODY TOP SUPPOTS RUSTED, CAUSING REAR WHEELS TO FALL INWARD INTO CAR, DISABLING VEHICLE. *AK

Look up ODI 483674 at NHTSA ↗

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

125.0%
ODI 984837

FRAME CRACKED NEAR THE WHEEL IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. *AK

Look up ODI 984837 at NHTSA ↗

Electrical System
0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

120.0%
ODI 804202

ALTERNATOR WIRING HARNESS HAS CAUGHT ON FIRE TWICE, ONCE WHILE DRIVING AND THE SECOND TIME WHILE PARKED. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

Look up ODI 804202 at NHTSA ↗

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator
0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

120.0%
ODI 804202

ALTERNATOR WIRING HARNESS HAS CAUGHT ON FIRE TWICE, ONCE WHILE DRIVING AND THE SECOND TIME WHILE PARKED. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

Look up ODI 804202 at NHTSA ↗

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

Electrical System:Ignition:Module
0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

125.0%
ODI 880449

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE WILL CUT OFF. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER WHERE CONSUMER WAS ADVISED THAT THE TFI MOUDLE HAD FAILED, CONSUMER HAS HAD TO REPLACE 3 TIMES. *AK *TT

Look up ODI 880449 at NHTSA ↗

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.

Failure mileage by component

Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.

Component failure mileage distribution
ComponentMileage range (25th–75th percentile)MedianUsable recordsExamples
No usable records for this analysis.

Complaint and recall timeline

Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.

1 reports2024-112026-10

Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.

Monthly counts, recall campaigns and complaint examples
Monthly complaint and recall timeline
MonthComplaintsCampaigns announcedExamples
2024-110None

No examples available for this selection.

2024-120None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-010None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-020None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-030None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-040None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-050None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-060None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-070None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-080None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-090None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-100None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-110None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-120None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-010None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-020None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-030None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-040None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-050None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-060None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-070None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-080None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-090None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-10 (partial)0None

No examples available for this selection.

Emerging complaint spikes

Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.

This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.

No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.

Equal-age model-year comparison

Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.

Age 0Age 1Age 21 reports

1986: 0 complaints · 1987: 0 complaints

Equal observation windows
Model yearThrough age 0Through age 1Through age 2
1986000
1987000
Date coverage across each selected cohort
Date basis for all complaints in selected model years
YearIncident dates usedFiling date fallbacksExcluded dates
1986410
1987310

Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.

Components reported together

Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.

Component co-occurrence matrix
ComponentElectrical System:WiringElectrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under DashEngine And Engine Cooling:Engine:GasolineSeat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly
Electrical System:Wiring—000
Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash0—00
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline00—0
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly000—

Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.

Recurring narrative patterns

Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.

1 patterns with matching reports.

Stalling or loss of power

1 mentions · 20.0% of complaints

Median mileage: Unavailable (0 usable records).

ODI 895518

VEHICLE WOULD STALL WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. VEHICLE BEEN AT DEALER SHOP ON THREE OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM STILL REOCCURRING. *AK *SLC

Look up ODI 895518 at NHTSA ↗

Matching rule\b(stall\w*|loss of power|lost power|engine shut\w* off)\b