RoadVitals

1978 Ford LTD

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 6, 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 no NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1978 Ford LTD. 3 safety recalls have 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.

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
78V044000

TIRES

Mar 6, 1978
60 units potentially affected
The defect: SOME OF THE INVOLVED VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN EQUIPPED WITH LR78-15 "C" LOAD RANGE TRUCK TIRES INSTEAD OF LR78-15 "B" LOAD RANGE PASSENGER CAR TIRES. THE WHEELS PRESENTLY ON THE INVOLVED VEHICLES ARE INTENDED FOR USE WITH PASSENGER VEHICLE TIRES AND WERE NOT RATED FOR THE HIGHER MAXIMUM AIR PRESSURE AND LOAD RATINGS MOLDED INTO THE SIDEWALL OF THE LR78-15 "C" LOAD RANGE TRUCK TIRES.
The remedy: THE DEALER WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE "C" LOAD RANGE TIRES WITH "B" LOAD RANGE TIRES, WITHOUT CHARGE.
FORD MOTOR COMPANYView on NHTSA.gov
77V185000

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT

Oct 25, 1977
19,000 units potentially affected
The defect: ON THE INVOLVED VEHICLES, THE PARK ACTUATION SUPPORT PLATES ARE DEFECTIVE DUE TO THEIR SUSCEPTIBILITY TO CRACKING DUE TO IMPROPER HEAT TREATMENT DURING MANUFACTURE. AS A RESULT, FRAGMENTS FROM A BROKEN PLATE CAN BECOME LODGED IN THE TRANSMISSION PARKING PAWL MECHANISM. THIS COULD PREVENT THE TRANSMISSION PARKING PAWL FROM ENGAGING WHEN THE SELECTOR LEVER IS PLACED IN THE "PARK" POSITION, OR PREVENT THE PAWL FROM BEING DISENGAGED FROM THE PARK GEAR.
The remedy: THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THE PARK ACTUATION CAM SUPPORT PLATES, FREE OF CHARGE, ON ALL AFFECTED VEHICLES.
FORD MOTOR COMPANYView on NHTSA.gov
77V140000

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT

Sep 13, 1977
9,000 units potentially affected
The defect: THE INVOLVED VEHICLES WERE FITTED WITH TILT STEERING COLUMNS CONTAINING TRANSMISSION CONTROL INSERTS INTENDED FOR TRUCKS RATHER THAN PASSENGER VEHICLES. THIS MAY CAUSE THE TRANSMISSION SELECTOR POINTER TO BE MISALIGNED AND THE POSSIBILITY OF STARTING THE ENGINE WHEN THE SELECTOR IS BETWEEN THE NEUTRAL (N) AND DRIVE (D) DETENTS AND THE TRANSMISSION IS IN DRIVE.
The remedy: DEALER WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT CONTROL INSERT, WITHOUT CHARGE TO OWNER.
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.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Ford LTD by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2000200—
1999000—
1997000—
1996100—
1995200—
1993100—
1992200—
1991300—
1990200—
1989800—
1988600—
1987100—
1986912—
1985173270.9
1984143370.6
1983522—
1982031—
1981050—
1980030—
1979290—
1978Viewing030—
1977020—
1976011—
1975040—
1974250—
1973050—
1972020—
1971001—
1970100—
1968010—

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.