Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1978 Zephyr.
The 1978 Mercury Zephyr sits in an unusual spot within the model's reliability history, with owner-reported problems remaining sparse while factory recall activity was comparatively active. Only two owner complaints are on record for this model year, and seat belts register as the top concern, suggesting few chronic, day-to-day ownership issues. Those low complaint numbers contrast with 11 recalls, a gap that points researchers toward official recall campaigns rather than owner forums for the clearest picture of this year's trouble spots. For anyone studying the 1978 Zephyr, the data suggests a model year whose documented problems were more often addressed through manufacturer action than through repeated owner reports.
Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.
Owner complaints about the 1978 Mercury Zephyr dominate in one area — the seat belts, 1 of 2 reports (50%), well ahead of the next concern. None of this vehicle's 11 recall campaigns target the seat belts, so those reports read as owner-reported wear-and-tear rather than an acknowledged defect. 0 of the reports describe a crash and 1 a fire — a small share of the total, but worth weighing against the seat belts pattern above. These are tallies of what owners actually reported to the federal government, not an editorial score — and higher-selling models naturally rack up more reports.
All 2 complaints on record, top 2 components.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.
Showing 2 of 11 campaigns on record for this vehicle.
CERTAIN FEDERAL-MOGUL AFTERMARKET FUEL PUMPS SOLD UNDER THE BRAND NAMES OF CARTER, ACCUFLOW, NAPA, TRUFLOW, PARTS DEPO, AND PARTS MASTER, SHIPPED BETWEEN AUGUST 2006 AND JULY 2007 FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE… Remedy: FEDERAL-MOGUL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 15, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FEDERAL-MOGUL AT 248-354-7700.
BECAUSE OF ITS POSITION, THE WIRING ASSEMBLY MAY CHAFE AGAINST THE COWL-TO-BRAKE PEDAL SUPPORT BRACE WHICH IS LOCATED UNDER THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. Remedy: THE DEALER WILL INSTALL PROTECTIVE SHIELDS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL SUPPORT BRACE AND PERFORM REPAIRS, IF NECESSARY.
The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.
Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.
Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.
NHTSA lists 11 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.