Ford C Series Recalls & Complaints by Model Year

NHTSA lists 2 safety recalls and 3 owner complaints across 9 model years of the Ford C Series (1975–1999). The most-complained-about year is 1995.

Pick your Ford C Series model year

• 1975
• 1976
• 1977
• 1978
• 1979
• 1982
• 1995
• 1997
• 1999

What Ford C Series owners complain about

Across all model years, owners have filed 3 complaints with NHTSA. The 1995 model year has the most, with 1.

• Service brakes, air: compressor1
• Tires: tread/belt1
• Unknown or other1
• Visibility: rearview mirrors/devices1

All Ford C Series recalls (2)

Every NHTSA safety campaign that lists a Ford C Series, most recent first, with the model years each one covers.

1. Drum (service brakes)

   NHTSA 83V033000 Reported March 22, 1983 670 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

   Some of the involved vehicles may have been built with left rear brake assemblies that were incorrectly produced and may have one or two automatic brake adjusters that were intended for right rear brake assemblies. The adjuster works backwards and increases the clearance between the brake lining and drum, instead of maintaining it.

   Remedy: Dealer will inspect and, if necessary, replace the left rear brake adjuster assembly at no charge.

   Model years: 1982

2. Service brakes, air: control unit/module

   NHTSA 79V077000 Reported March 29, 1979 65,000 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

   Certain air brake anti-lock modulators could malfunction during operation of the anti-lock system. A nylon piston within the modulator air valve system can swell from exposure to system contaminants. Continued exposure may cause the piston to swell to the extent that interference with the cylinder wall will result, causing momentary…

   Remedy: The pistons in the valve portion of the modulators will be replaced with pistons that do not swell when exposed to air brake system contaminants.

   Model years: 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979

Other Ford models

• F-15037,961 complaints
• Explorer34,566 complaints
• Escape27,430 complaints
• Fusion22,405 complaints
• Focus22,096 complaints
• Taurus18,159 complaints
• Windstar14,158 complaints
• Edge14,065 complaints

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.