Stats focus on model years from 1960 onwards.
Earlier years appear in the detailed table below where data exists.
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Get plain-language explanations of recalls and complaints for the
Ford F-100. Powered by AI, backed by NHTSA data.
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Important: This assistant provides context from aggregated NHTSA data.
Always check your specific VIN on
NHTSA.gov
for vehicle-specific recall information.
Key Takeaways
A quick scan of where recalls and complaints concentrate for the Ford F-100,
based on aggregated NHTSA counts and campaign metadata.
Coverage spans model years 1967–1996 with 43 recall campaigns and 19 complaints in NHTSA data.
Years with the most recall activity: 1979 (8), 1978 (7), and 1977 (4).
Years with the most complaint volume: 1996 (3), 1985 (3), and 1974 (3).
Top recall themes: Fuel and emissions, Seats and restraints, and Powertrain.
Most reported complaint areas (across all years): Electrical system:ignition, Engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline, Tires.
Complaints are not proof of a defect, but repeated themes can be useful signals when researching a used vehicle.
Always check your specific VIN for open recalls (open recalls are VIN-specific and can change over time).
Recall Themes
Instead of listing long campaign narratives, this groups recall campaigns into a few recurring areas.
Each theme links back to official notices as evidence.
Fuel and emissions
9 campaigns · Years: 1977–1981, 1984, 1986–1987
These campaigns relate to fuel delivery or emissions components where leaks or failures can raise safety risk.
Official notices (evidence):
87V139000
· Fuel system, gasoline: Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
84V119000
· Fuel system, gasoline: Carburetor system
Across all model years, the most frequently reported areas for the
Ford F-100 in NHTSA complaint data are
Electrical system:ignition, Engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline, Tires.
Jump to Model Year
Year-by-Year Overview
Each row shows how often this model appears in NHTSA recalls and consumer
complaints for a given model year. These are counts of campaigns and
complaints, not risk predictions.
Model Year
Recalls
Complaints
Details
1996
0
3
Complaints recorded; no recall campaigns issued.
Top complaint areas: Engine and engine cooling:engine, Electrical system, Electrical system:wiring.
1990
0
2
Complaints recorded; no recall campaigns issued.
Top complaint areas: Steering: steering wheel/handle bar, Visibility:glass, side/rear.
1988
0
1
Complaints recorded; no recall campaigns issued.
Top complaint areas: Structure:frame and members.
1987
1
0
Recall campaign(s) issued; no grouped complaints in summary.
1986
1
0
Recall campaign(s) issued; no grouped complaints in summary.
1985
0
3
Complaints recorded; no recall campaigns issued.
Top complaint areas: Electrical system:ignition.
1984
1
1
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Structure:frame and members:underbody shields.
1983
1
2
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Tires:tread/belt.
1981
3
0
Recall campaign(s) issued; no grouped complaints in summary.
1980
3
1
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Suspension.
1979
8
2
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline, Fuel system, gasoline:carburetor system.
1978
7
0
Recall campaign(s) issued; no grouped complaints in summary.
1977
4
0
Recall campaign(s) issued; no grouped complaints in summary.
1976
1
0
Recall campaign(s) issued; no grouped complaints in summary.
1974
2
3
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Tires, Tires:sidewall.
1973
4
0
Recall campaign(s) issued; no grouped complaints in summary.
1972
3
0
Recall campaign(s) issued; no grouped complaints in summary.
1971
1
0
Recall campaign(s) issued; no grouped complaints in summary.
1970
1
0
Recall campaign(s) issued; no grouped complaints in summary.
1969
1
1
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline.
1967
1
0
Recall campaign(s) issued; no grouped complaints in summary.
What to Do Next
Check open recalls by VIN on the official NHTSA site (open recalls are VIN-specific).
If buying used, ask for proof of recall remedy completion (dealer paperwork helps).
If symptoms match common complaint themes, consider a mechanic inspection before purchase or long trips.
A compact evidence view of recall campaigns that include this model.
The default text is an original summary line, with official notice text available on demand.
Most common areas involved:
Fuel system
, Power train
and Steering
Show recall evidence by year
1987
Fuel system, gasoline: Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings:
Safety recall involving the fuel system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: Spring lock fuel line coupling may not be properly engaged.
1986
Fuel system, gasoline: Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings:
Safety recall involving the fuel system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: Spring lock fuel line coupling may not be properly engaged.
1984
Fuel system, gasoline: Carburetor system:
Safety recall involving the fuel system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: The secondary throttle shaft may, with accumulated mileage, become contaminated and may stick in a partially open position while driving.
1983
Power train: Automatic transmission:
Safety recall involving the power train area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: The parking gear may not engage, even though the gear shift lever is placed in the "park" position. This occurs if the linkage inside the transmission that actuates the park gear was improperly manufactured. A pin that retains components on a linkage (actuating) rod could break and the linkage ma
1981
Fuel system, gasoline: Mounting:
Safety recall involving the fuel system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: During a change in assembly procedures, certain of the mid-ship fuel tank straps may have been improperly installed or mislocated. As a result, they fail to conform to federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 301, "Fuel system integrity". In the event of a collision, excessive fuel spillage may
Structure:
Safety recall involving the structure area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: The involved trucks were manufactured with a certain portion of specified floor pan insulation material (beneath the right front passenger seat) omitted. Because of this omission, a section of the sheet metal floor pan was left exposed over the exhaust system in an area of possible passenger cont
Equipment: Carrier/rack:
Safety recall involving the equipment area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: The reinforcement for the in-box spare tire carrier may have been attached using incorrect hex head bolts. If the carrier and reinforcement attaching bolts are incorrect, the potential exists for the tire sidewall to be damaged or weakened by extended contact with the sharp edges of the bolt head
1980
Power train: Column shift:
Safety recall involving the power train area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: The parking pawl actuating rod in the transmission may have an insufficient or cracked weld. This can cause the park cam end to separate from the rod itself, preventing the parking pawl from engaging the parking gear when the selector is placed in the park position.
Fuel system, gasoline: Mounting:
Safety recall involving the fuel system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: The involved vehicles were manufactured without the midship fuel tank protective shields. As a result, they do not conform to federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 301, "Fuel system integrity", due to excessive fuel spillage upon frontal impact.
Equipment: Carrier/rack:
Safety recall involving the equipment area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: The reinforcement for the in-box spare tire carrier may have been attached using incorrect hex head bolts. If the carrier and reinforcement attaching bolts are incorrect, the potential exists for the tire sidewall to be damaged or weakened by extended contact with the sharp edges of the bolt head
1979
Fuel system, gasoline: Mounting:
Safety recall involving the fuel system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: The involved vehicles do not contain a fuel tank shield at the front right corner of the mid-ship fuel tank. In the event of a frontal impact, excessive fuel spillage from the fuel tank may occur. This fails to comply with federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 301, "Fuel system integrity".
Power train: Automatic transmission:
Safety recall involving the power train area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: These transmissions may contain improperly manufactured parking pawl actuating rods. Consequently, the unhardened cam surface of these rods can allow the rod to deform during use with resultant increase in shift efforts and difficulty in releasing the parking pawl and engaging the parking gear.
Power train: Automatic transmission:
Safety recall involving the power train area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: The involved vehicles were equipped with automatic transmissions in which the parking pawl was not heat-treated. During normal vehicle operation, a parking pawl that has not been heat-treated could become deformed or worn to the point that the transmission will not lock in "park". As a result, th
Visibility: Windshield:
Safety recall involving the visibility area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: The involved vehicles do not conform to federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 212, "Windshield mounting", in that some of the vehicles were built without the specified windshield weatherstrip retaining components.
Fuel system, gasoline: Mounting:
Safety recall involving the fuel system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: The involved vehicles were manufactured without a fuel tank shield at the front right corner of the midship fuel tank. As a result, the vehicles do not conform to federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 301, "Fuel system integrity". In the event of a vehicle accident, excessive fuel spillage co
Service brakes, hydraulic: Pedals and linkages:
Safety recall involving the service brakes area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: The involved vehicles were produced with brake push-rod to brake pedal retaining pins which were not heat-treated as specified. This could allow the brake pedal to become disengaged from the push-rod.
Wheels:
Safety recall involving the wheels area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: The wheel assembly may contain substandard welds in the area where the disc is attached to the rim. As a result, cracks can form in the wheel assembly, causing air loss and an underinflated tire.
Wheels:
Safety recall involving the wheels area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: A number of wheel assemblies on the involved vehicles may have substandard welds in the area where the disc is attached to the rim. Substandard welds can cause cracks to occur in the wheel assembly. Rapid loss of air pressure in the tire or separation of the wheel rim from the disc could result.
1978
Steering: Linkages:
Safety recall involving the steering area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: The pitman arm to steering gear attachment nuts may not have been properly tightened on the involved vehicles. The nut could come off during vehicle operation.
Power train: Column shift:
Safety recall involving the power train area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: On the involved vehicles, the park actuation support plates are defective due to their susceptibility to cracking due to improper heat treatment during manufacture. As a result, fragments from a broken plate can become lodged in the transmission parking pawl mechanism. This could prevent the tran
Fuel system, gasoline: Carburetor system:
Safety recall involving the fuel system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: On the involved vehicles, leakage may occur at the threaded carburetor-to-fuel filter connection on the suspect carburetors. This is due to an improperly machined carburetor fuel inlet connection.
Wheels:
Safety recall involving the wheels area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: Some of the steel wheels on the involved vehicles may have been improperly manufactured. These wheels, over a period of time, could crack in the wheel rim area through normal operation, without prior warning.
Power train: Column shift:
Safety recall involving the power train area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: The shift selector reaction springs may be deformed as a result of improper installation of selector levers during column buildup. Thus the lever may not be able to be moved into the insert detents located in the steering column assembly. This could prevent the "park" gear from being engaged.
Steering: Linkages:
Safety recall involving the steering area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: These vehicles may be equipped with steering linkages on which cotter pins may not have been installed on castellated nuts to secure the steering drag link and tie-rod connections. Also, these attaching nuts may not have been tightened to specifications. This could allow linkage separation.
Seat belts: Retractor:
Safety recall involving the seat belts area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: The driver"s side shoulder belt retractor mounting bracket assembly contains a weld nut which was improperly attached to the bracket. This fails to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 210, "Seat belt assembly anchorages".
1977
Equipment: Labels:
Safety recall involving the equipment area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: The upper support strap nuts, attaching the fuel tank, were not tightened to specifications. This may allow the fuel tank to detach and fall to the ground.
Fuel system, gasoline: Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings:
Safety recall involving the fuel system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: The involved vehicles may experience fuel leakage at the rubber hose connecting the fuel inlet tube to the carburetor filter. This leakage condition is due to insufficient insertion of the fuel tube into the hose or improper positioning of the hose clamp, causing the clamp to be crimped directly
Steering: Gear box (other than rack and pinion):
Safety recall involving the steering area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: On the involved vehicles, the manual steering gears may contain steering gear recirculatory balls that could fracture. This fracturing is a result of improper heat-treatment during manufacture and can eventually cause increased steering effort.
1976
Service brakes, hydraulic: Power assist:
Safety recall involving the service brakes area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Steering: Gear box (other than rack and pinion):
Safety recall involving the steering area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Steering: Hydraulic power assist system:
Safety recall involving the steering area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Service brakes, hydraulic: Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings:
Safety recall involving the service brakes area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Steering: Gear box (other than rack and pinion):
Safety recall involving the steering area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Latches/locks/linkages:
Safety recall involving the latches/locks/linkages area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Service brakes, hydraulic: Master cylinder:
Safety recall involving the service brakes area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Recall Explained provides independent analysis of official NHTSA data.
This site does not replace the official NHTSA VIN lookup and should not be
treated as legal or safety advice for your specific vehicle.
For any safety concerns: Always check your VIN on the official
NHTSA site and contact an authorized dealer.
