RoadVitals

1979 Ford E350

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
0
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
3
Latest Jun 19, 1979
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
2
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0

Overview

Our database contains no NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1979 Ford E350. 3 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 2 NHTSA investigations name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Safety recalls

3 campaigns cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
79V152000

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

Jun 19, 1979
75,000 units potentially affected
The defect: THE INCORRECTLY INSTALLED LEFT FRONT BRAKE HOSES MAY ALLOW FOR CONTACT BETWEEN THE FRONT BRAKE HOSES AND THE FRONT TIRES WHEN THE FRONT WHEELS ARE IN FULL RIGHT OR LEFT TURN POSITIONS. IF CONTACT IS MADE, THE HOSE COULD WEAR AND ALLOW BRAKE FLUID TO LEAK OUT.
The remedy: THE DEALER WILL INSPECT FRONT BRAKE HOSES AND REPLACE THOSE LACKING THE PROPER CLEARANCE WITH CURRENT PRODUCTION HOSES, WITHOUT CHARGE TO OWNER.
FORD MOTOR COMPANYView on NHTSA.gov
79V117000

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES

May 15, 1979
82,000 units potentially affected
The defect: 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.
The remedy: DEALER WILL REPLACE THE SUSPECT BRAKE RETAINING PIN.
FORD MOTOR COMPANYView on NHTSA.gov
78V214000

SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER

Oct 5, 1978
874 units potentially affected
The defect: ON THE INVOLVED VEHICLES, THE POTENTIAL EXISTS FOR THE OUTBOARD SEAT BELTS TO BECOME TRAPPED IN THE SEAT-BED PIVOTING MECHANISM. SHOULD THE BELT BECOME TRAPPED IN THE MECHANISM WHEN THE SEAT IS CONVERTED TO A BED, THE BELT MAY BECOME CUT OR FRAYED.
The remedy: THE DEALER WILL INSTALL SEAT BELT SHIELDS ON THE FOLDING SEAT/BED PIVOTING MECHANISM AND REPLACE THE OUTBOARD SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES IF DAMAGED, FREE OF CHARGE.
FORD MOTOR COMPANYView on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

EA87002ClosedEngineering Analysis

FILLER NECK SPURT

Opened Nov 4, 1986
Closed Apr 29, 1987

SUMMARY OF INFORMATION FROM MANUFACTURER:FORD HAS SUPPLIED INFORMATION REQUESTED CONCERNING VEHICLE POPULATIONAND THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS.ANALYSIS:THE PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE ONE OF EXCESSIVE HEAT COLLECTING UNDER THEVEHICLES, USUALLY WHILE STATIONARY WITH THE ENGINE IDLING.THIS HEATCAUSES THE FUEL TO VAPORIZE IN THE FUEL TANK AND DEVELOP PRESSURES INEXCESS OF WHAT THE VENT SYSTEM CAN HANDLE.STATUS:IR TO FORD SENT ON 2/20/87. MEETING WITH FORD AND FINAL STAGE MANUFACTUR-ERS HELD ON MARCH 11 & 12, 1987. ADDITIONAL MEETING HELD ON MARCH 7, 1987.ALSO ON APRIL I, 1987.FORD ANNOUNCED SERVICE CAMPAIGN, NO SAFETY RECALL.RECALL REQUEST LETTER SENT ON 4/7/87. FORD DID NOT AGREE TO A SAFETYRECALL, CONSEQUENTLY A PANEL MEETING WAS HELD ON 4/29/87 AND INVESTIGATIVECASE C87-003 WAS OPENED.THIS EA WAS CLOSED AS A RESULT OF THE CASE OPEN-ING ON 4/27/87.===

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
C85010ClosedInvestigation

DUAL REAR WHEEL RETENTION

Opened Sep 30, 1985
Closed Aug 2, 1988

There is no summary currently available

SUSPENSION

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

No owner complaints recorded for this model year

Either none have been filed with NHTSA, or this vehicle is too new for reports to have accumulated.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Ford E350 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2027010—
2026010—
2025110—
2024210—
2023220—
2022143155.3
2021206155.5
2020200—
2019300—
2018340—
2017134057.6
2016530—
2015721—
20141711052.9
2013139048.3
20121612047.2
20111920053.7
20101718047.2
20091027054.5
20083932259.3
20071835259.8
20065339261.5
20055516256.3
20044611358.2
2003468361.7
2002535355.4
2001524457.0
2000598461.9
1999729563.5
1998638457.4
1997795463.4
1996503150.3
1995693052.9
1994515158.7
1993433158.2
1992413359.5
1991191654.3
1990232754.9
1989263659.2
1988111461.7
19871485369.3
198611115774.6
198521056—
198441256—
19835854—
1982032—
1981022—
1980012—
1979Viewing032—
1978052—
1977011—
1976011—
1975041—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.