RoadVitals

1971 Ford F Series

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.
1
Latest Jul 23, 2008
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.
1
Latest Jul 3, 1978
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 1 NHTSA owner-reported complaint for the 1971 Ford F Series, most frequently naming the tires & wheels category. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year.

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

  • Tires & wheels1100.0%

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

1 campaign 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
78V153000

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN

Jul 3, 1978
125,000 units potentially affected
The defect: THE ENGINE COOLING FAN BLADES MAY CRACK AND CHIP DUE TO HIGH STRESSES CAUSED BY VIBRATIONS. THE CHIPPED PIECES OF THE BLADE COULD FLY INTO THE UNDERHOOD COMPONENTS. ALSO, THESE PIECES COULD FLY OUT FROM THE VEHICLE IF THE HOOD IS OPEN AND THE ENGINE IS RUNNING.
The remedy: THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THE EXISTING FAN BLADE ASSEMBLY WITH ONE OF ANOTHER DESIGN AT NO COST TO OWNER.
FORD MOTOR COMPANYView on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

Tires & wheels
Filed Jul 23, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1971 FORD F-350. THE VEHICLE HAS TWO REAR FUJIAMI ENDURO TIRES, SIZE LT 235/85R16 EPLY (NA). WHILE DRIVING 35-60 MPH, THE VEHICLE WANDER OVER THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE HAS TO BE SLOWED DOWN TO LESS THAN 60 MPH FOR THE CONTACT TO REMAIN IN CONTROL. HE STATED THAT HE FEELS LIKE HE IS DRIVING ON ICE. IT IS VERY DIFFICULT AND DANGEROUS TO DRIVE WITH THESE TIRES ON THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAD PLACED APPROX. 100 MILES ON THE TIRES AT THE TIME THEY WERE REMOVED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 300,000. UPDATED 09/15/08 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED HE REPLACED THE TIRES AND THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN RECTIFIED. UPDATED 09/17/08. *JB

NHTSA ID
10235452
Incident
Jul 14, 2008
Mileage
300,000 mi

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Ford F Series by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2008100—
2007400—
2006400—
2005900—
2004700—
2003111—
2002341142.4
2001441457.3
2000401453.6
1999360345.7
1998200132.0
1997470248.9
1996160252.6
1995160252.3
1994711—
1993511—
1992211—
1991601—
1990221—
1989221—
1988614—
1987304—
1986004—
1985012—
1984112—
1983001—
1979010—
1978030—
1977020—
1976020—
1975030—
1974020—
1973010—
1972010—
1971Viewing110—

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.