TSB 12178 — Ford Service bulletin
12178 is a service bulletin on file with NHTSA for 4 Ford models, 1990–1994 model years. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
What the bulletin says. INFORMATION REGARDING TSB 98-5A-12 (TRANSAXLE/TRANSMISSION/TRANSFER CASE-VEHICLES TOWED BEHIND RECREATIONAL VEHICLES-RECOMMENDED GUIDELINES) DOES NOT LIST TOWING INFORMATION FOR CERTAIN MODEL VEHICLES.
NHTSA's own summary of the document, quoted from the public manufacturer-communications file.
Vehicles and model years 12178 names
| Vehicle | Model years |
|---|---|
| Ford Crown Victoria | 1990, 1991 |
| Ford Mustang | 1990, 1991, 1992 |
| Ford Taurus | 1990 |
| Ford Windstar | 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994 |
Every document filed under 12178
| Document ID | Filed | Type |
|---|---|---|
| 12178 | November 1, 1998 | Service bulletin |
What 12178 covers
Transmission & drivetrain — the component vocabulary NHTSA files this communication under.
Questions buyers ask
What is TSB 12178?
12178 is a service bulletin filed with NHTSA by Ford, covering 4 Ford models across the 1990–1994 model years. NHTSA's summary reads: INFORMATION REGARDING TSB 98-5A-12 (TRANSAXLE/TRANSMISSION/TRANSFER CASE-VEHICLES TOWED BEHIND RECREATIONAL VEHICLES-RECOMMENDED GUIDELINES) DOES NOT LIST TOWING INFORMATION FOR CERTAIN MODEL VEHICLES.
Which vehicles does 12178 cover?
NHTSA's file names Ford Crown Victoria (1990–1991); Ford Mustang (1990–1992); Ford Taurus (1990); Ford Windstar (1990–1994). 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 12178 a recall, and is the repair free?
No. 12178 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 12178?
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 12178, 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 12178. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.