RoadVitals

1985 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.
1
Latest Dec 20, 1985
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 1985 Ford L Series. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 14 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

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
85V168000

PARKING BRAKE:DRIVELINE:AIR

Dec 20, 1985
51,500 units potentially affected
The defect: THE HYDRAULIC PARKING BRAKE CONTROL VALVE MAY INADVERTENTLY ACTIVATE DUE TO MOMENTARY PRESSURE DISRUPTIONS WITHIN THE SYSTEM AND CAUSE THE PARKING BRAKE TO BE APPLIED, STOPPING OR SLOWING THE TRUCK UNEXPECTEDLY. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: THIS UNEXPECTED STOPPING OR SLOWING OF THE TRUCK MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF A REAR END COLLISION SINCE THE BRAKE (STOP) LIGHTS ARE NOT ACTIVATED. ALSO, ON CERTAIN ROAD CONDITIONS THIS OCCURRENCE MAY RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL WHICH WOULD LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT.
The remedy: REPLACE THE PUSH-PULL TYPE BRAKE CONTROL VALVE WITH NEW OVER-CENTER CAM TYPE VALVES.
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.

99196

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

INFORMATION ON IDENTIFYING NON-APPROVED / ALTERNATE REFRIGERANTS WHICH COULD CAUSE SAFETY, AND PERFORMANCE CONCERNS IF INSTALLED IN FORD A/C SYSTEMS. *TT

9852

TIRES

INFORMATION ON TIRE COMPANY TELEPHONE NUMBERS FOR CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE. *YC

9848

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

ANNOUNCING THE FORD OEM AIR CONDITIONING RETROFIT KIT AVAILABILITY. *YC

96246

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

WIRING - ELECTRICAL DIODE IDENTIFICATION AND SERVICE REPLACEMENTS. *TW

96729

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

ON SOME VEHICLES, THE BACK PANEL OF THE CAB MAY CRACK. THE CRACKING OCCURS AT THE SPOT WELDS ON THE TOP LH SIDE OF THE BACK PANEL, ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AIR FAIRINGS. *TT

951212

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

IGNITION SWITCH-OVERLOADING ON SWITCH CONTACTS-VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH CITY DELIVERY INSTRUMENT PANEL-BUILT BEFORE 11/14/94. *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—
1985Viewing010—
1984010—
1983000—
1982000—
1981000—
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.