RoadVitals

1978 Ford Fiesta

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 Mar 1, 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.
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 no NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1978 Ford Fiesta. 3 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 1 manufacturer communication is on file.

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
79V062000

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

Mar 1, 1979
83,000 units potentially affected
The defect: VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 110, "TIRE SELECTIN AND RIMS". TIRE PLACARDS MAY LIST INCORRECT INFORMATION IN REGARD TO INFLATION PRESSURES.
The remedy: REVISED TIRE PLACARDS WILL BE PROVIDED FOR INSTALLATION BY OWNERS OR DEALERS, WITHOUT CHARGE.
FORD MOTOR COMPANYView on NHTSA.gov
78V223000

WHEELS

Oct 11, 1978
18,000 units potentially affected
The defect: THE INVOLVED WHEELS CONTAIN MISLOCATED STEM HOLES. THIS MAY ALLOW AIR LEAKAGE AT THE TIRE VALVE STEM, UNDER HIGH SPEED DRIVING CONDITIONS.
The remedy: THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THE EXISTING WHEELS WITH WHEELS HAVING THE PROPER VALVE STEM HOLES, IF NECESSARY, WITHOUT CHARGE TO OWNER.
FORD MOTOR COMPANYView on NHTSA.gov
77V220000

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

Dec 15, 1977
6,000 units potentially affected
The defect: THE INVOLVED VEHICLES MAY CONTAIN AIR CONDITIONERS WHICH HAVE BLOWER MOTOR RESISTOR WIRES WHICH WERE IMPROPERLY ROUTED TOO CLOSE TO THE BLOWER HOUSING WALL. AS A RESULT, THE BLOWER MOTOR COULD BECOME JAMMED AND, IF THE BLOWER SWITCH IS IN EITHER THE MEDIUM OR LOW POSITION, THE POLYPROPYLENE BLOWER HOUSING COULD IGNITE.
The remedy: DEALER WILL REPLACE THE RESISTOR ASSEMBLY WITH A TEMPERATURE PROTECTIVE THERMAL LIMITER, IF NECESSARY, WITHOUT CHARGE.
FORD MOTOR COMPANYView on NHTSA.gov

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.

Manufacturer communications

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

80-11/3572-S

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR

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 Fiesta by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2019963067.7
2018350041.8
2017730246.1
20161780244.6
20152584359.8
20145027359.4
20136673355.3
20126163355.1
20117293355.6
2002100—
2001100—
2000000—
1999000—
1998000—
1997000—
1996000—
1991200—
1989100—
1988100—
1980000—
1979000—
1978Viewing030—

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.