1980 Ford F Series (light) Recalls, Complaints & Specs
3 safety recalls list the 1980 Ford F Series (light). Check your own VIN below.
3 safety recalls for the 1980 Ford F Series (light)
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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Hubcap/cover (wheels)
Certain vehicles were produced with wheel assemblies that may have cracks near the bolt holes in the wheel disc. During vehicle use, the cracks could gradually increase and result in partial or complete separation of the wheel and tire assembly from the vehicle.
Remedy: Dealer will inspect the wheel disc date code and replace those wheels indicating an october 18, 1979 date of manufacture.
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Exhaust system (engine and engine cooling)
Certain vehicles may have been assembled without the specified exhaust system heat shields. The absence of these shields could cause high floor pan temperatures and smoldering of the floor coverings under certain driving or engine malfunction conditions.
Remedy: Dealer will install the necessary heat shield without charge to owner.
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Steering wheel/handle bar (steering)
On certain vehicles, the pinch bolt and nut used to attach the intermediate steeriing shaft to the steering column were omitted during assembly. This could result in separation of the steering shaft from the steering column.
Remedy: Dealer will inspect and, if necessary, tighten existing bolt-nut assemblies or install them, if missing.
No owner complaints on file
NHTSA has no owner complaints on file for the 1980 Ford F Series (light). 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 F Series (light) model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Ford F Series (light) model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1973 Ford F Series (light) | 0 | 1 |
| 1978 Ford F Series (light) | 0 | 1 |
| 1980 Ford F Series (light) | 3 | 0 |
| 1986 Ford F Series (light) | 0 | 1 |
| 1987 Ford F Series (light) | 1 | 0 |
| 1988 Ford F Series (light) | 0 | 6 |
| 1989 Ford F Series (light) | 0 | 6 |
| 1990 Ford F Series (light) | 0 | 8 |
| 1991 Ford F Series (light) | 0 | 9 |
| 1992 Ford F Series (light) | 0 | 9 |
| 1993 Ford F Series (light) | 0 | 12 |
| 1994 Ford F Series (light) | 0 | 16 |
| 1995 Ford F Series (light) | 0 | 1 |
| 1996 Ford F Series (light) | 0 | 2 |
| 1997 Ford F Series (light) | 0 | 15 |
| 1998 Ford F Series (light) | 0 | 1 |
| 1999 Ford F Series (light) | 0 | 6 |
| 2000 Ford F Series (light) | 0 | 3 |
| 2001 Ford F Series (light) | 0 | 10 |
| 2002 Ford F Series (light) | 0 | 13 |
Checking a specific 1980 Ford F Series (light)
How do I know if my 1980 Ford F Series (light) 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. 3 campaigns currently list the 1980 Ford F Series (light); 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 80V032000).
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.