RoadVitals

1980 Ford F-150

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

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.
3
Latest Oct 27, 2004
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.
4
Latest Mar 15, 1982
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.
0
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 3 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1980 Ford F-150, most frequently naming the exterior lighting, other / unspecified and suspension categories. 4 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 3 manufacturer communications are on file.

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

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Exterior lighting133.3%
  • Other / unspecified133.3%
  • Suspension133.3%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

4 campaigns cover this model year

View all 4

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
82V024000

EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:CARRIER/RACK

Mar 15, 1982
12,500 units potentially affected
The defect: 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 HEADS.
The remedy: DEALER WILL REPLACE BOLTS AND ANY DAMAGED SPARE TIRES AT NO COST TO OWNER.
FORD MOTOR COMPANYView on NHTSA.gov
80V103000

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:MOUNTING

Aug 6, 1980
24,400 units potentially affected
The defect: 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.
The remedy: THE INVOLVED VEHICLES WILL BE INSPECTED AND, IF NECESSARY, A FUEL TANK SHIELD WILL BE INSTALLED AT NO CHARGE TO OWNER.
FORD MOTOR COMPANYView on NHTSA.gov
80V044000

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

Apr 10, 1980
8,170 units potentially affected
The defect: CERTAIN VEHICLES WERE NOT EQUIPPED WITH A FRONT PROTECTIVE SHIELD FOR THE MID-SHIP FUEL TANK. THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 301, "FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITY". IN THE EVENT OF A FRONTAL COLLISION, EXCESSIVE FUEL SPILLAGE MAY OCCUR.
The remedy: DEALER WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, INSTALL THE REQUIRED MID-SHIP FUEL TANK SHIELD, WITHOUT CHARGE TO OWNER.
FORD MOTOR COMPANYView on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

Suspension
Filed Oct 27, 2004

MULTIPLE FAILURES, DRIVE LINK, BUSHINGS, BEARINGS. COSTLY TO REPAIR. *BF *TC

NHTSA ID
10099365
Incident
Oct 1, 2004
Other / unspecified
Filed Nov 20, 1997

LUG NUTS WERE TOO LOOSE CAUSING THEM TO BREAK OFF, ESULTING IN WHEEL FALLING OFF. (OHIO STATE POLICE REPORT)

NHTSA ID
525269
Incident
Oct 28, 1997
Exterior lighting
Filed Dec 16, 1996

SOMETIMES WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT THE HEADLIGHTS GO OFF AND SOMETIMES GO ON SOMTIME TOOK TRUCK TO REPAIR SHOP CAN'T FIND PROBLEM . *AK

NHTSA ID
806396

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

9747

STRUCTURE

FRAME- RIVET REPLACEMENT WITH BOLTS- SERVICE TIPS. *JD

97310

SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLY:HANGER,BRACKET

NOISE- "POPPING/CREAKING"- FRONT FRAME OR SUSPENSION BRACKETS- FRAME- "POPPING/CREAKING"- FASTENER REPLACEMENT. *JD

9597

SUSPENSION:FRONT

UNKNOWN

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Ford F-150 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2026410—
202510012062.6
202418310068.1
202339612060.7
202257423268.2
202197429163.2
202070911164.2
20191,3029164.0
20182,26519266.3
20171,40118370.1
20162,01014467.5
20151,67114568.3
20141,5158262.6
20132,9703361.0
20121,7764458.8
20112,1846458.8
20108421042.6
20093242050.5
20083681151.0
20074887159.4
200658514263.9
20051,11214362.1
20042,02816460.6
200342211366.8
200282110366.2
20011,23619670.9
20001,07417474.6
19991,04418565.6
19981,381181165.5
19972,758261866.9
19963247267.6
19956267164.4
199467613266.4
199358613260.0
19924709867.2
199130461268.8
199027551168.3
19892244567.8
19881392670.4
1987913271.1
1986611461.0
1985281260.8
1984151255.9
1983101159.8
1982500—
1981230—
1980Viewing340—
19792100—
19784100—
1977360—
1976020—
1975140—
1973010—
1968100—
1966100—
1955100—

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.