1978 Ford E150 Recalls, Complaints & Specs
4 safety recalls list the 1978 Ford E150. Check your own VIN below.
- 1976
- 1978
- 1979
- 1980
- 1981
- 1982
- 1983
- 1984
- 1985
- 1986
- 1987
- 1988
- 1989
- 1990
- 1997
- 1998
- 1999
- 2000
- 2004
- 2006
- 2007
- 2008
- 2009
- 2010
- 2011
- 2012
- 2013
4 safety recalls for the 1978 Ford E150
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Anchorage (seat belts)
Remedy: Install proper mounting hardware and seat belts.
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Column shift (power train)
The shift selector reaction springs may be deformed as a result of improper installation of selector levers during column buildup. Thus the lever may not be able to be moved into the insert detents located in the steering column assembly. This could prevent the "park" gear from being engaged.
Remedy: Dealer will inspect and, if necessary, replace the shift selector reaction spring without charge to owner.
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Carburetor system (fuel system)
On the involved vehicles, leakage may occur at the threaded carburetor-to-fuel filter connection on the suspect carburetors. This is due to an improperly machined carburetor fuel inlet connection.
Remedy: Dealer will inspect and, if necessary, will replace the carburetor without charge to owner.
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Column shift (power train)
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…
Remedy: The dealer will replace the park actuation cam support plates, free of charge, on all affected vehicles.
No owner complaints on file
NHTSA has no owner complaints on file for the 1978 Ford E150. For context, the average model year in NHTSA's database has dozens; a zero can mean a reliable vehicle, a rare one, or both.
Compare Ford E150 model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Ford E150 model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1976 Ford E150 | 1 | 2 |
| 1978 Ford E150 | 4 | 0 |
| 1979 Ford E150 | 5 | 0 |
| 1980 Ford E150 | 3 | 0 |
| 1981 Ford E150 | 1 | 1 |
| 1982 Ford E150 | 2 | 3 |
| 1983 Ford E150 | 1 | 1 |
| 1984 Ford E150 | 2 | 3 |
| 1985 Ford E150 | 0 | 3 |
| 1986 Ford E150 | 0 | 9 |
| 1987 Ford E150 | 0 | 17 |
| 1988 Ford E150 | 0 | 14 |
| 1989 Ford E150 | 2 | 30 |
| 1990 Ford E150 | 3 | 15 |
| 1997 Ford E150 | 1 | 0 |
| 1998 Ford E150 | 1 | 0 |
| 1999 Ford E150 | 1 | 0 |
| 2000 Ford E150 | 1 | 0 |
| 2004 Ford E150 | 1 | 0 |
| 2006 Ford E150 | 1 | 1 |
| 2007 Ford E150 | 1 | 0 |
| 2008 Ford E150 | 1 | 0 |
| 2009 Ford E150 | 1 | 0 |
| 2010 Ford E150 | 1 | 0 |
| 2011 Ford E150 | 1 | 0 |
| 2012 Ford E150 | 1 | 0 |
| 2013 Ford E150 | 1 | 0 |
Checking a specific 1978 Ford E150
How do I know if my 1978 Ford E150 has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 4 campaigns currently list the 1978 Ford E150; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Ford dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 77V185000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
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.