US vehicle recalls and complaint patterns, explained
Ford LTD recall history
40 recall campaigns and 89 complaints in official NHTSA data
for the Ford LTD (1968–2000).
The most commonly reported problem areas are Electrical system, Engine and engine cooling, Power train.
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 LTD. 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 LTD,
based on aggregated NHTSA counts and campaign metadata.
Coverage spans model years 1968–2000 with 40 recall campaigns and 89 complaints in NHTSA data.
Years with the most recall activity: 1979 (8), 1974 (5), and 1973 (5).
Years with the most complaint volume: 1985 (18), 1984 (15), and 1986 (11).
Top recall themes: Brakes, Powertrain, and Fuel and emissions.
Most reported complaint areas (across all years): Electrical system, Engine and engine cooling, Power train.
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
6 campaigns · Years: 1973, 1979, 1985
These campaigns relate to braking system components that can affect stopping performance or warning behavior.
Across all model years, the most commonly reported problem areas for the
Ford LTD in NHTSA complaint data are
Electrical system, Engine and engine cooling, Power train.
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, Engine and engine cooling.
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, Engine and engine cooling.
1993
0
1
Complaints recorded; no recall campaigns issued.
Top complaint areas: Power train.
1992
0
3
Complaints recorded; no recall campaigns issued.
Top complaint areas: Engine and engine cooling, Electrical system.
1991
0
3
Complaints recorded; no recall campaigns issued.
Top complaint areas: Power train, Air bags, Steering.
1990
0
2
Complaints recorded; no recall campaigns issued.
Top complaint areas: Seat belts.
1989
0
10
Complaints recorded; no recall campaigns issued.
Top complaint areas: Electrical system, Power train, Equipment.
1988
0
8
Complaints recorded; no recall campaigns issued.
Top complaint areas: Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Power train.
1987
0
2
Complaints recorded; no recall campaigns issued.
Top complaint areas: Electrical system.
1986
0
11
Complaints recorded; no recall campaigns issued.
Top complaint areas: Electrical system, Engine and engine cooling, Seats.
1985
2
18
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Electrical system, Seat belts, Vehicle speed control.
1984
2
15
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Engine and engine cooling, Electrical system, Structure.
1983
1
5
Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Power train, Electrical system, Engine and engine cooling.
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.
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.
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 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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
Fuel system, gasoline: Carburetor system:
Safety recall involving the fuel system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Fuel system, gasoline: Carburetor system:
Safety recall involving the fuel system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
Fuel system, gasoline: Carburetor system:
Safety recall involving the fuel system 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.
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.
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.
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
Seat belts: Anchorage:
Safety recall involving the seat belts 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.
Exterior lighting: Concealment devices:
Safety recall involving the exterior lighting 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.
