# NHTSA recall 99V243000

A recall listed here may apply to a vehicle of this year, make and model. Only the manufacturer can say whether it applies to one vehicle: check the VIN with the official lookups.

- Published by: NHTSA \(United States\)
- Campaign number: 99V243000
- Manufacturer's number: 99S23
- Manufacturer: FORD MOTOR COMPANY
- Reported: 1999\-09\-08
- Owners notified: 1999\-09\-27
- Component: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE\-INACTIVE
- Units potentially affected: 280481

## What is wrong

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION:  PASSENGER VEHICLES.  THE AIR BAG SENSOR WIRING PIGTAIL INSULATION CAN BECOME BRITTLE AND CRACK OVER TIME DUE TO ACCUMULATION OF WATER IN THE PIGTAIL PROTECTIVE CONVOLUTE IN COMBINATION WITH HIGH UNDERHOOD TEMPERATURES RELATED TO THE ROUTING OF THE WIRING PIGTAIL NEAR THE RADIATOR.  THIS CAN RESULT IN ENVIRONMENTAL STRESS CRACKING OF THE INSULATION.


## What can happen

IN SOME CASES, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAN ILLUMINATE AND THE AIR BAG SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM DISABLED.


## The remedy

DEALERS WILL INSTALL AIR BAG SENSORS WITH REVISED WIRING INSULATION.  IN ADDITION, VEHICLES WHICH HAVE THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED WILL HAVE A NEW AIR BAG DIAGNOSTIC MONITOR INSTALLED.


## Notes

FORD RECALL NO. 99S23. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN SEPTEMBER 27, 1999.OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1\-800\-392\-3673.ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1\-888\-DASH\-2\-DOT \(1\-888\-327\-4236\).


## Vehicles this campaign lists

- [1998 FORD CONTOUR](/makes/ford/contour/1998/recalls.md). Built 1997\-01\-02 to 1998\-08\-24.
- [1998 MERCURY MYSTIQUE](/makes/mercury/mystique/1998/recalls.md). Built 1997\-01\-02 to 1998\-08\-24.

## Investigated as RQ99019

This recall followed 1 NHTSA investigation. An investigation is NHTSA looking into a possible defect. It is not a finding that a defect exists, and it does not say that any one vehicle is affected.

- RQ99019: Recall query, opened 1999\-09\-15, closed 2001\-03\-07. VARIOUS INTERMITTENT ELECTRICAL ISSUES. UNKNOWN OR OTHER.

From NHTSA's investigation file, as of 2026-10-19. JSON: [/v1/recalls/nhtsa/99V243000/investigations](/v1/recalls/nhtsa/99V243000/investigations)

## Check a VIN

- [NHTSA recall lookup by VIN, United States](https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls)
- [Transport Canada recall search, Canada](https://wwwapps.tc.gc.ca/Saf-Sec-Sur/7/VRDB-BDRV/search-recherche/menu.aspx?lang=eng)

JSON: [/v1/recalls/nhtsa/99V243000](/v1/recalls/nhtsa/99V243000)

[Report an error on this page](https://github.com/wenmar-pro/wenmar-open/issues/new?template=data_correction.yml&title=Data%20correction%3A%20NHTSA%20recall%2099V243000&page=https%3A%2F%2Fopen.wenmarpro.com%2Frecalls%2Fnhtsa%2F99V243000&vehicle=NHTSA%20recall%2099V243000)