TSB 031501 — Ford and Lincoln Service bulletin
031501 is a service bulletin on file with NHTSA for 7 Ford and Lincoln models, 1999–2004 model years. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
What the bulletin says. INOPERATIVE ELECTRIC REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER (HEATED BACKLITE) GRID LINES, INTEGRAL ANTENNA CONCERNS.
NHTSA's own summary of the document, quoted from the public manufacturer-communications file.
Vehicles and model years 031501 names
| Vehicle | Model years |
|---|---|
| Ford Crown Victoria | 1999, 2000 |
| Ford Expedition | 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 |
| Ford Explorer | 1999, 2000, 2001 |
| Ford Mustang | 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 |
| Ford Taurus | 1999 |
| Ford Windstar | 1999 |
| Lincoln Navigator | 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 |
Every document filed under 031501
| Document ID | Filed | Type |
|---|---|---|
| 031501 | July 12, 2004 | Service bulletin |
What 031501 covers
Visibility & wipers — the component vocabulary NHTSA files this communication under.
Questions buyers ask
What is TSB 031501?
031501 is a service bulletin filed with NHTSA by Ford and Lincoln, covering 7 Ford and Lincoln models across the 1999–2004 model years. NHTSA's summary reads: INOPERATIVE ELECTRIC REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER (HEATED BACKLITE) GRID LINES, INTEGRAL ANTENNA CONCERNS.
Which vehicles does 031501 cover?
NHTSA's file names Ford Crown Victoria (1999–2000); Ford Expedition (1999–2002); Ford Explorer (1999–2001); Ford Mustang (1999–2004); Ford Taurus (1999); Ford Windstar (1999); Lincoln Navigator (1999–2002). A bulletin number can be re-issued against more vehicles later, so check the model-year list on this page against your own.
Is TSB 031501 a recall, and is the repair free?
No. 031501 is repair guidance the manufacturer sent its dealers, not a safety defect finding. You pay for the work unless the vehicle is still under warranty. Recall repairs, by contrast, are always free.
How do I get the full text of 031501?
Take the document ID to a dealer's service desk, or search NHTSA's manufacturer-communications records. This page carries every document ID filed under 031501, its date, and NHTSA's own summary from the public file.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. This page lists only what NHTSA's manufacturer-communications file records under 031501. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.