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-800. 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-800,
based on aggregated NHTSA counts and campaign metadata.
Coverage spans model years 1979–1998 with 24 recall campaigns and 24 complaints in NHTSA data.
Years with the most recall activity: 1995 (4), 1993 (3), and 1981 (3).
Years with the most complaint volume: 1997 (12), 1998 (7), and 1995 (2).
Top recall themes: Brakes, Other, and Electrical.
Most reported complaint areas (across all years): Power train:axle assembly:axle shaft, Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components, 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.
Brakes
5 campaigns · Years: 1979–1981, 1984, 1995
These campaigns relate to braking system components that can affect stopping performance or warning behavior.
Official notices (evidence):
94V235000
· Service brakes, hydraulic: Control unit/module
84V135000
· Service brakes, hydraulic: Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
81V090000
· Service brakes, hydraulic: Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
+ 2 more notices in this theme
Other
4 campaigns · Years: 1990–1995
These campaigns do not fit a single dominant theme, or the component taxonomy is broad.
Across all model years, the most frequently reported areas for the
Ford F-800 in NHTSA complaint data are
Power train:axle assembly:axle shaft, Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components, 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
1998
2
7
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Power train, Power train:automatic transmission, Exterior lighting:brake lights.
1997
0
12
Complaints recorded; no recall campaigns issued.
Top complaint areas: Electrical system, Service brakes, electric, Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components.
1996
0
1
Complaints recorded; no recall campaigns issued.
Top complaint areas: Structure:body.
1995
4
2
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Power train:axle assembly:axle shaft, Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components.
1994
2
0
Recall campaign(s) issued; no grouped complaints in summary.
1993
3
0
Recall campaign(s) issued; no grouped complaints in summary.
1992
2
0
Recall campaign(s) issued; no grouped complaints in summary.
1991
1
1
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Fuel system, gasoline.
1990
1
1
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Tires.
1984
1
0
Recall campaign(s) issued; no grouped complaints in summary.
1983
2
0
Recall campaign(s) issued; no grouped complaints in summary.
1981
3
0
Recall campaign(s) issued; no grouped complaints in summary.
1980
2
0
Recall campaign(s) issued; no grouped complaints in summary.
1979
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:
Vehicle speed control
, Service brakes
and Electrical system
Show recall evidence by year
1998
Power train: Gear position indication (prndl):
Safety recall involving the power train area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: Vehicle description: medium duty trucks and school bus chassis-cowls equipped with automatic transmissions. The welds that attach the key to the top of the steering column mounted automatic transmission shift linkage may not adequately retain the key, allowing the transmission to be in a gear oth
Suspension: Wheel bearing:
Safety recall involving the suspension area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: Vehicle description: medium duty trucks and chassis-cabs. An automatic locking front wheel bearing adjusting nut was damaged during installation or removal by incorrect tools or an incorrect torque specification was used.
1995
Service brakes, hydraulic: Control unit/module:
Safety recall involving the service brakes area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: The vehicles were manufactured without separate abs indicator lamps. This does not comply with the requirements of fmvss no. 105, "Hydraulic brake systems."
Steering: Connection:
Safety recall involving the steering area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: The drag link installed can contact the front axle i-beam under certain extreme conditions. This drag link was not intended to be installed on "low profile" vehicles.
Electrical system: Wiring:
Safety recall involving the electrical system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: A connector in the wiring where the tilt hood mounted lamps attach to the vehicle wiring harness was built without sealing plugs. Moisture, road salt or other contaminants can enter the connection resulting in crossed circuits, shorts or corrosion of the wiring of the connector.
Vehicle speed control:
Safety recall involving the vehicle speed control area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: A connector in the wiring where the tilt hood mounted lamps attach to the vehicle wiring harness was built without sealing plugs. Moisture, road salt or other contaminants can enter the connection resulting in crossed circuits, shorts or corrosion of the wiring of the connector.
Vehicle speed control:
Safety recall involving the vehicle speed control area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Vehicle speed control: Springs:
Safety recall involving the vehicle speed control area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: Water can enter the door latch release cable. If the vehicle is operated in below freezing temperatures, the water in the door latch release cable can freeze and cause the latch mechanism to malfunction.
Vehicle speed control: Springs:
Safety recall involving the vehicle speed control area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: The throttle cable which runs from the accelerator to the governor assembly housing may have been kinked during assembly, causing excessive wear of the cable housing inner lining. This could result in either fracture or sticking of the cable.
1990
Vehicle speed control:
Safety recall involving the vehicle speed control area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: The throttle cable which runs from the accelerator to the governor assembly housing may have been kinked during assembly, causing excessive wear of the cable housing inner lining. This could result in either fracture or sticking of the cable.
1984
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.
Summary: The involved vehicles were produced with hydraulic brake booster supply hoses that are located too close to the engine exhaust manifold and may chafe and develop heat damage during vehicle operation. Chafing and heat induced deterioration of a hose due to direct contact with the manifold may caus
1983
Electrical system: Wiring:
Safety recall involving the electrical system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: On the affected vehicles, the wiring assembly to the floor mounted headlamp dimmer switch may be too tight; should wires disconnect, the headlights will not operate.
Suspension: Coil springs:
Safety recall involving the suspension area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: Two-inch spacers specified for installation between the front axles and each front spring assembly were omitted during manufacture. Under certain turning and bouncing conditions, a front tire could contact adjacent vehicle components, resulting in a possible separation of the drag link to steerin
1981
Electrical system: Wiring:
Safety recall involving the electrical system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: The primary circuit connection, which provides primary electrical power to the engine, could deteriorate due to high current draw produced by builder-installed equipment.
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.
Summary: The involved vehicles were assembled with the left front brake tube retaining clip missing. The absence of a retaining clip may allow the brake tube to rub against the shock absorber, causing wear on the tube and, eventually, loss of brake fluid.
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.
Summary: The master cylinder to chasis brake tube and hose assemblies may have been moved from their intended position, which could allow chafing against underbody components. Chafing promotes wear of the brake tube and hose assembly and could cause a loss of brake fluid.
1980
Electrical system: Wiring:
Safety recall involving the electrical system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: The primary circuit connection, which provides primary electrical power to the engine, could deteriorate due to high current draw produced by builder-installed equipment.
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.
Summary: The master cylinder to chasis brake tube and hose assemblies may have been moved from their intended position, which could allow chafing against underbody components. Chafing promotes wear of the brake tube and hose assembly and could cause a loss of brake fluid.
1979
Service brakes, air: Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings:
Safety recall involving the service brakes area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Summary: The air brake lines may be routed too close to the exhaust muffler. Because the air brake lines are made of nylon material, heat from the exhaust muffler can weaken the brake line tubes, possibly causing them to rupture. Tube rupture could result in loss of air in the secondary air brake system.
Other Ford Models
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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.
