RoadVitals

1981 Ford F-350

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.
2
Latest Feb 17, 2000
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.
1
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.
1

Overview

Our database contains 2 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1981 Ford F-350, most frequently naming the engine and exterior lighting categories. 4 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 1 NHTSA investigation names it; and 9 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

  • Engine150.0%
  • Exterior lighting150.0%

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
81V035000

WHEELS:RIM

Mar 20, 1981
450 units potentially affected
The defect: CERTAIN VEHICLES MAY NOT HAVE HAD THE DISC PORTION OF THE WHEEL WELDED TO THE RIM DURING MANUFACTURE. CONSEQUENTLY, THE WHEEL COULD BE SUBJECT TO SUDDEN SEPARATION OF THE RIM AND TIRE FROM THE WHEEL DISC.
The remedy: SUSPECT WHEELS WILL BE INSPECTED AND REPLACED, IF NECESSARY, AT NO CHARGE.
FORD MOTOR COMPANYView on NHTSA.gov
81V023000

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:MOUNTING

Feb 13, 1981
26 units potentially affected
The defect: CERTAIN VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN ASSEMBLED WITHOUT THE SPECIFIED FUEL TANK SHIELD WHICH PREVENTS DIRECT CONTACT BETWEEN THE FUEL TANK AND DRIVELINE COMPONENTS. DURING A 30 MPH FRONTAL BARRIER IMPACT TEST, AS SPECIFIED IN FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 301, "FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITY", FUEL LEAKAGE MAY OCCUR.
The remedy: VEHICLES WILL HAVE THE EXISTING SEPARATE SKID PLATE OR FUEL TANK SHIELD REMOVED (WHICHEVER WAS INSTALLED ON VEHICLE). A SPECIAL COMBINATION SKID PLATE/FUEL TANK SHIELD ASSEMBLY WILL BE INSTALLED IN ITS PLACE 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.

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

Exterior lighting
Filed Feb 17, 2000

HEADLIGHTS GO OFF AND ON WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. *AK

NHTSA ID
718866
Engine
Filed Nov 29, 1999
Fire reported

POSSIBLE ENGINE FAILURE RESULTED IN VEHICLE FIRE (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). *MJS

NHTSA ID
549738
Incident
Oct 29, 1999

Manufacturer communications

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

01157

INFORMATION REGARDING TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE CHARTS. *SLC

98246

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS RELEASED A NEW ELECTRICAL GREASE ( F8AZ - 19G208-AA ) TO REDUCE THE POSSIBILITY OF MOISTURE CORROSION AT THE TERMINALS. *YC

9888

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

INFORMATION ON A NEW TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE CHART. *YC

985A29

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS

SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT EXCESSIVE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL, IRREGULAR FRONT LINING WEAR, AND BRAKE PULL. *YC

97511

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

FLUID- TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE CHARTS. *JD

9747

STRUCTURE

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

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-350 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2019001—
2018001—
2017001—
2015001—
2014910140.2
2013761149.8
20121494153.0
20111364154.0
2010010—
2009283048.8
20081319161.1
2007365252.3
20061456260.4
20051145253.1
20041593258.5
2003903265.0
20021163261.1
20011606565.8
20003045465.1
199941313464.4
1998121249.9
19971554260.9
19961304159.9
19951343159.1
1994957462.8
19931019360.6
1992527963.9
19913171166.8
19903971162.8
1989425766.4
1988294873.5
1987827—
1986142656.4
1985414—
1984234—
1983173—
1982021—
1981Viewing241—
1980051—
1979041—
1978091—
1977031—
1976011—
1975140—
1974010—
1973030—
1972030—
1969010—
1968020—
1967010—

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.