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Ford LTD recall history

Comprehensive recall and complaint data for the Ford LTD, sourced from official National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) records.

Last updated: (NHTSA data snapshot)

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At a Glance

Total Recalls 40
Total Complaints 89
Years Covered 1968–2000

Stats focus on model years from 1960 onwards. Earlier years appear in the detailed table below where data exists.

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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 LTD, based on aggregated NHTSA counts and campaign metadata.

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

6 campaigns · Years: 1973, 1979, 1985

These campaigns relate to braking system components that can affect stopping performance or warning behavior.

Official notices (evidence):
  • 85V068000 · Service brakes, hydraulic: Vacuum
  • 78V199000 · Service brakes, hydraulic: Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
  • 79V106000 · Service brakes, hydraulic: Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
+ 3 more notices in this theme

Powertrain

5 campaigns · Years: 1973–1974, 1977–1978, 1982–1983

These campaigns relate to drivetrain or transmission components that can affect shifting, power delivery, or control.

Official notices (evidence):
+ 2 more notices in this theme

Fuel and emissions

4 campaigns · Years: 1973, 1975

These campaigns relate to fuel delivery or emissions components where leaks or failures can raise safety risk.

Official notices (evidence):
+ 1 more notice in this theme

Seats and restraints

4 campaigns · Years: 1972–1974, 1984

These campaigns relate to seats, belts, airbags restraint integration, or child restraint anchoring components.

Official notices (evidence):
+ 1 more notice in this theme

Electrical

3 campaigns · Years: 1979, 1981

These campaigns relate to wiring or electrical components that can cause warning lights, loss of function, or fire risk in some cases.

Official notices (evidence):

Steering and suspension

3 campaigns · Years: 1972, 1979, 1981–1982

These campaigns relate to steering or suspension components that can affect vehicle control or stability.

Official notices (evidence):

Structure

3 campaigns · Years: 1974, 1981, 1984–1985

These campaigns relate to structural components such as frame/body parts that can affect crash protection or integrity.

Official notices (evidence):

Engine and cooling

2 campaigns · Years: 1973–1974, 1979

These campaigns relate to engine or cooling components where failures can lead to stalling or overheating risk.

Official notices (evidence):

Most Reported Issues

Across all model years, the most frequently reported areas for the Ford LTD in NHTSA complaint data are Electrical system:ignition:switch, Engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline, Power train:automatic transmission.

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
2000 0 2 Complaints recorded; no recall campaigns issued.
Top complaint areas: Exterior lighting:headlights:switch, Engine and engine cooling:exhaust system.
1996 0 1 Complaints recorded; no recall campaigns issued.
Top complaint areas: Engine.
1995 0 2 Complaints recorded; no recall campaigns issued.
Top complaint areas: Electrical system:wiring:front underhood, Engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline.
1993 0 1 Complaints recorded; no recall campaigns issued.
Top complaint areas: Power train:automatic transmission.
1992 0 3 Complaints recorded; no recall campaigns issued.
Top complaint areas: Engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline, Electrical system:horn.
1991 0 3 Complaints recorded; no recall campaigns issued.
Top complaint areas: Power train:automatic transmission, Air bags:frontal:sensor/control module, Steering: steering wheel/handle bar.
1990 0 2 Complaints recorded; no recall campaigns issued.
Top complaint areas: Seat belts:front:buckle assembly.
1989 0 10 Complaints recorded; no recall campaigns issued.
Top complaint areas: Electrical system:ignition:switch, Electrical system:wiring:front underhood, Equipment:appliance:air conditioner.
1988 0 8 Complaints recorded; no recall campaigns issued.
Top complaint areas: Electrical system:ignition:switch, Electrical system:wiring:interior/under dash, Vehicle speed control:accelerator pedal.
1987 0 2 Complaints recorded; no recall campaigns issued.
Top complaint areas: Electrical system:ignition:switch.
1986 0 11 Complaints recorded; no recall campaigns issued.
Top complaint areas: Engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline, Seats, Electrical system:ignition.
1985 2 18 Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Electrical system:ignition:module, Electrical system:ignition:switch, Seat belts:front:webbing.
1984 2 15 Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline, Electrical system:ignition:switch, Structure:body.
1983 1 5 Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Power train:automatic transmission, Electrical system:ignition, Engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline.
1982 2 0 Recall campaign(s) issued; no grouped complaints in summary.
1981 4 0 Recall campaign(s) issued; no grouped complaints in summary.
1980 1 0 Recall campaign(s) issued; no grouped complaints in summary.
1979 8 3 Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Tires, Electrical system:ignition:switch.
1978 3 0 Recall campaign(s) issued; no grouped complaints in summary.
1977 1 0 Recall campaign(s) issued; no grouped complaints in summary.
1975 3 0 Recall campaign(s) issued; no grouped complaints in summary.
1974 5 2 Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Vehicle speed control, Power train:automatic transmission.
1973 5 0 Recall campaign(s) issued; no grouped complaints in summary.
1972 2 0 Recall campaign(s) issued; no grouped complaints in summary.
1970 0 1 Complaints recorded; no recall campaigns issued.
Top complaint areas: Vehicle speed control.
1968 1 0 Recall campaign(s) issued; no grouped complaints in summary.

What to Do Next

Check Your VIN on NHTSA.gov

Recall Evidence by Year

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: Power train , Service brakes and Structure

Show recall evidence by year

1985

  • Service brakes, hydraulic: Vacuum: Safety recall involving the service brakes area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (85V068000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: Brake booster rear shells may have reduced wall thicknesses which could cause the shell to break. Consequence of defect: repeated brake use could cause the shell to crack and the booster assembly to come apart. Service brakes capability would be totally lost without warning and could result in an
  • Structure: Underbody shields: Safety recall involving the structure area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (85V077000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: Heat shields for the catalytic converter outlet pipes were omitted during production. Consequence of defect: after severe duty use, such as high speed pursuit, the outlet pipes become very hot and could ignite certain types of ground cover resulting in a vehicle fire.

1984

  • Seat belts: Anchorage: Safety recall involving the seat belts area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (83V134000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: The bolts that attach the d-shaped ring for the shoulder belt are inadequately supported by the material in which they are mounted. The attachment does not comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 210, "Seat belt assembly anchorages".
  • Structure: Underbody shields: Safety recall involving the structure area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (85V077000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: Heat shields for the catalytic converter outlet pipes were omitted during production. Consequence of defect: after severe duty use, such as high speed pursuit, the outlet pipes become very hot and could ignite certain types of ground cover resulting in a vehicle fire.

1983

  • Power train: Automatic transmission: Safety recall involving the power train area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (83V028000) →
    Show official notice text
    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

1982

  • Power train: Column shift: Safety recall involving the power train area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (82V099000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: An incorrect insulator may have been installed in the steering shift cane lever on the involved vehicles. This insulator is used to connect the transmission shift linkage to the shift cane lever. If the shift linkage were to separate from the shift lever, operator would be unable to shift gears.
  • Suspension: Rear: Safety recall involving the suspension area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (82V135000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: The lower control arms may have been manufactured from steel with material thickness below the minimum specifications for police duty. This could lead to cracks developing in the control arms, and eventually, the possibility of fracture of an arm.

1981

  • Electrical system: Switch: Safety recall involving the electrical system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (80V121000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: The involved vehicles may start in reverse gear. This does not comply with federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 102, "Transmission shift lever sequence, starter interlock, and transmission braking affect". Some of these vehicles may be equipped with a defective neutral start switch that occa
  • Structure: Bumpers: Safety recall involving the structure area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (80V141000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: The involved vehicles were produced without surlyn-coated foil insulators between the isolator and bracket assemblies and the rear bumper reinforcements. An epoxy coating was also omitted from the bracket assemblies. When exposed to the corrosive action of road salt, the aluminum rear bumper rein
  • Electrical system: Interior/under dash: Safety recall involving the electrical system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (80V147000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: Some of the involved vehicles have electrical relay systems which may be susceptible to water leakage into the relay case. Water entry may cause a short circuit within the relay.
  • Suspension: Rear: Safety recall involving the suspension area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (82V135000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: The lower control arms may have been manufactured from steel with material thickness below the minimum specifications for police duty. This could lead to cracks developing in the control arms, and eventually, the possibility of fracture of an arm.

1980

  • Visibility: Power window devices and controls: Safety recall involving the visibility area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (80V061000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: Misbuilt wiring harnesses may have been installed on certain vehicles. This would allow the power windows to be operated while the ignition key is turned off, a condition which fails to comply with federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 118, "Power operated window systems".

1979

  • Electrical system: Fuses and circuit breakers: Safety recall involving the electrical system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (78V198000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: The windshield wiper and washer system contains an incorrect 6 amp circuit breaker instead of the 8.25 Amp circuit breaker. If the system is heavily loaded, as in the case of a partially dry windshield, the motor current may exceed the 6 amp breaker"s capacity. This would cause the breaker to ope
  • 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: Steering wheel/handle bar: Safety recall involving the steering area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (78V212000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: The lower steering shaft assemblies contain coupling rivet pins which were not riveted securely enough during manufacture. Consequently one or both of the pins could loosen from the flange of the flexible coupling during vehicle operation. If one pin is loose, free play would result. If both pins
  • Engine and engine cooling: Fan: Safety recall involving the engine and engine cooling area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (78V213000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: One or more of the five cooling fan blades may have been improperly riveted to the fan spider. This could allow the blades to separate from the fan during engine operation.
  • Equipment: Labels: Safety recall involving the equipment area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (79V022000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: The word "lights" was omitted from the panel applique identifying the headlamp switch. Without this identification the involved vehicles do not conform to federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 101, "Controls and displays".
  • 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.
    View official NHTSA notice (79V106000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: Some of these vehicles were produced with misindexed front brake hoses which could contact a tire or wheel in a full-turn condition. Chafing and wear to the brake hose could result in loss of brake fluid and front wheel braking capability.
  • 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.
    View official NHTSA notice (79V107000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: Some vehicles were produced with brake control valves and brake tubes intended for use in vehicles without trailer tow packages.
  • 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.
    View official NHTSA notice (79V117000) →
    Show official notice text
    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.

1978

  • Power train: Column shift: Safety recall involving the power train area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (77V140000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: The involved vehicles were fitted with tilt steering columns containing transmission control inserts intended for trucks rather than passenger vehicles. This may cause the transmission selector pointer to be misaligned and the possibility of starting the engine when the selector is between the ne
  • Power train: Column shift: Safety recall involving the power train area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (77V185000) →
    Show official notice text
    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
  • Tires: Safety recall involving the tires area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (78V044000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: Some of the involved vehicles may have been equipped with lr78-15 "c" load range truck tires instead of lr78-15 "b" load range passenger car tires. The wheels presently on the involved vehicles are intended for use with passenger vehicle tires and were not rated for the higher maximum air pressur

1977

  • Power train: Column shift: Safety recall involving the power train area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (77V140000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: The involved vehicles were fitted with tilt steering columns containing transmission control inserts intended for trucks rather than passenger vehicles. This may cause the transmission selector pointer to be misaligned and the possibility of starting the engine when the selector is between the ne

1975

1974

  • Power train: Automatic transmission: Safety recall involving the power train area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
  • Vehicle speed control: Safety recall involving the vehicle speed control area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
  • Structure: Safety recall involving the structure area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
  • Tires: Tread/belt: Safety recall involving the tires area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
  • Engine and engine cooling: Fan: Safety recall involving the engine and engine cooling area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (80V143000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: Some of the flexible five-blade engine cooling fans may be subject to high blade stresses that can result from resonant vibration inputs occurring during normal vehicle operation. This can result in the blades cracking due to fatigue, and portions of the blade may separate from the fan assembly w

1973

  • Fuel system, gasoline: Carburetor system: Safety recall involving the fuel system 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.
  • Seat belts: Anchorage: Safety recall involving the seat belts area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
  • Power train: Automatic transmission: Safety recall involving the power train area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
  • Engine and engine cooling: Fan: Safety recall involving the engine and engine cooling area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (80V143000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: Some of the flexible five-blade engine cooling fans may be subject to high blade stresses that can result from resonant vibration inputs occurring during normal vehicle operation. This can result in the blades cracking due to fatigue, and portions of the blade may separate from the fan assembly w

1972

1968

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⚠️ Important Safety Information

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.

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