RoadVitals

1981 Ford LTD Recalls

Safety recall campaigns filed with NHTSA that 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
Recall campaignsA 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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Newest Aug 27, 2007
Carrying an NHTSA advisoryCampaigns where NHTSA told owners not to drive the vehicle, or to park it outside, until the repair is done.
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Open 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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Recall campaigns

5 campaigns cover this model year — what the defect is, what it could cause, and what the remedy is

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

Aug 27, 2007
34,000 units potentially affected
The defect: CERTAIN FEDERAL-MOGUL AFTERMARKET FUEL PUMPS SOLD UNDER THE BRAND NAMES OF CARTER, ACCUFLOW, NAPA, TRUFLOW, PARTS DEPO, AND PARTS MASTER, SHIPPED BETWEEN AUGUST 2006 AND JULY 2007 FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE FUEL PUMP DIAPHRAGM IN CERTAIN PRODUCTION RUNS MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY INSTALLED OR INADEQUATELY TESTED WHICH MAY CAUSE THE FUEL PUMP TO LEAK.
The risk: A LEAKING FUEL PUMP COULD CREATE A VEHICLE FIRE HAZARD.
The remedy: FEDERAL-MOGUL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 15, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FEDERAL-MOGUL AT 248-354-7700.
FEDERAL-MOGUL CORPORATIONView on NHTSA.gov

SUSPENSION:REAR

Dec 28, 1982
4,361 units potentially affected
The defect: THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS MAY HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED FROM STEEL WITH MATERIAL THICKNESS BELOW THE MINIMUM SPECIFICATIONS FOR POLICE DUTY. THIS COULD LEAD TO CRACKS DEVELOPING IN THE CONTROL ARMS, AND EVENTUALLY, THE POSSIBILITY OF FRACTURE OF AN ARM.
The remedy: THE DEALER WILL INSTALL NEW REAR SUSPENSION LOWER CONTROL ARMS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE VEHICLE WITHOUT CHARGE.
FORD MOTOR COMPANYView on NHTSA.gov

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH

Nov 13, 1980
18,154 units potentially affected
The defect: SOME OF THE INVOLVED VEHICLES HAVE ELECTRICAL RELAY SYSTEMS WHICH MAY BE SUSCEPTIBLE TO WATER LEAKAGE INTO THE RELAY CASE. WATER ENTRY MAY CAUSE A SHORT CIRCUIT WITHIN THE RELAY.
The remedy: DEALER WILL INSPECT VEHICLES FOR THE TYPE OF RELAY USED, REORIENT WIRING HARNESSES AS NECESSARY, AND REPLACE SUSPECT RELAYS WITH NEW PARTS.
FORD MOTOR COMPANYView on NHTSA.gov

STRUCTURE:BODY:BUMPERS

Oct 24, 1980
600 units potentially affected
The defect: THE INVOLVED VEHICLES WERE PRODUCED WITHOUT SURLYN-COATED FOIL INSULATORS BETWEEN THE ISOLATOR AND BRACKET ASSEMBLIES AND THE REAR BUMPER REINFORCEMENTS. AN EPOXY COATING WAS ALSO OMITTED FROM THE BRACKET ASSEMBLIES. WHEN EXPOSED TO THE CORROSIVE ACTION OF ROAD SALT, THE ALUMINUM REAR BUMPER REINFORCEMENT COULD EXPERIENCE GALVONIC CORROSION AT THE ATTACHMENT SURFACES. THIS WOULD REDUCE THE STRENGTH OF THE REINFORCEMENTS AND COULD RESULT IN BUMPER SEPARATION.
The remedy: DEALER WILL INSPECT REAR BUMPER ATTACHMENT COMPONENTS AND REPLACE THEM WITHOUT CHARGE, IF NECESSARY.
FORD MOTOR COMPANYView on NHTSA.gov

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

Sep 23, 1980
14,000 units potentially affected
The defect: THE INVOLVED VEHICLES MAY START IN REVERSE GEAR. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 102, "TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER SEQUENCE, STARTER INTERLOCK, AND TRANSMISSION BRAKING AFFECT". SOME OF THESE VEHICLES MAY BE EQUIPPED WITH A DEFECTIVE NEUTRAL START SWITCH THAT OCCASIONALLY PERMITS ENGINE STARTING WITH THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER IN THE REVERSE ("R") POSITION.
The remedy: DEALER WILL INSPECT THE INVOLVED VEHICLES AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION NEUTRAL START SWITCH AT NO CHARGE TO OWNER.
FORD MOTOR COMPANYView on NHTSA.gov

What a recall is

Safety recall
A 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.
Safety investigation
NHTSA 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.
Manufacturer communication
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.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources