NHTSA Complaint #10078356 — 1976 FORD E150

I OWN A 1976 FORD ECONOLINE (ONLY 110,000 MILES DRIVEN) THAT RUNS WELL EXCEPT FOR A FRONT END THAT HAS FELT "LOOSE" OVER THE PAST 10 YEARS, GRADUALLY WORSENING. I THOUGHT I COULD "LIVE WITH" THE PROBLEM BUT RECENTLY DISCOVERED A 1976 RECALL THAT SPECIFIED FRONT-END LOOSENESS INVOLVING WRONG KINDS OF WASHERS INSTALLED AT THE FACTORY. FORD TELLS ME THAT THE VIN HAS BEEN CHANGED TO 17 CHARACTERS, AS OPPOSED TO THE 10 IDENTIFYING MY FORD, AND THEREFORE THE VEHICLE IS, IN EFFECT, BEYOND THEIR SCOPE OF CONCERN. OKAY,THE VEHICLE IS ANCIENT. BUT SHOULD NHTSA CONTINUE CARRYING ITS RECALL NOTICE, OR IS THE DANGER IMPLIED BY LOOSE WASHERS THAT MAY (OR MAY NOT) INCLUDE THIS VEHICLE SUDDENLY NIL? *AK