RoadVitals

1981 Ford L Series

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.
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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.
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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.
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Overview

Our database contains no NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1981 Ford L Series. 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.

Safety recalls

No recalls in our database for this model year

That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN 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.

951212

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

IGNITION SWITCH-OVERLOADING ON SWITCH CONTACTS-VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH CITY DELIVERY INSTRUMENT PANEL-BUILT BEFORE 11/14/94. *TW

9511169

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:WINDSHIELD:ELECTRICAL HEATING ELEMENT

REVISED BLOWER MOTOR SWITCH. *TW

9582

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE; VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

A REVISED SERVICE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR IS NOW AVAILABLE. *TW

BC4197950401

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY; ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM; ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR; EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:FLASHER UNIT; POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION; VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL; VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM; VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

UNKNOWN

95531

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

NEW WIPER ARM ASSEMBLY WITH IMPROVED SPRING DURABILITY. *TW

9546

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

WIPER MOTOR REPLACEMENT - UPGRADED SERVICE KITS. *TW

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 L Series by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
1999000
1998100
1997100
1996000
1995001
1994011
1993001
1992000
1991100
1990020
1989000
1988000
1987000
1986000
1985010
1984010
1983000
1982000
1981Viewing000
1980000
1979020
1978010
1977010
1976010
1975010
1974000
1973000
1972000
1971000
1970000

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.