1978 Ford F Series Recalls, Complaints & Specs
3 safety recalls list the 1978 Ford F Series. Check your own VIN below.
- 1971
- 1972
- 1973
- 1974
- 1975
- 1976
- 1977
- 1978
- 1979
- 1984
- 1985
- 1987
- 1988
- 1989
- 1990
- 1991
- 1992
- 1993
- 1994
- 1995
- 1996
- 1997
- 1998
- 1999
- 2000
- 2001
- 2002
- 2003
- 2004
- 2005
- 2006
- 2007
- 2008
3 safety recalls for the 1978 Ford F Series
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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Service brakes, air: control unit/module
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.
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Windshield (visibility)
The involved vehicles were assembled without the intended windshield weatherstrip lower retainer. These vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 219, "windshield zone intrusion".
Remedy: Dealer will install the windshield weatherstrip lower retainer at no cost to owner.
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Markings (tires)
The involved vehicles are equipped with safety compliance certification labels and incomplete vehicle documents that indicate that the gross axle weight rating (gawr) is approximately 0.6 to 6.0 percent greater than the combined load capacity of the tires at the specified tire inflation pressure. This fails to comply with federal motor…
Remedy: Owner will receive correct labels by mail, free of charge.
No owner complaints on file
NHTSA has no owner complaints on file for the 1978 Ford F Series. 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 model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Ford F Series model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 Ford F Series | 1 | 1 |
| 1972 Ford F Series | 1 | 0 |
| 1973 Ford F Series | 1 | 0 |
| 1974 Ford F Series | 2 | 0 |
| 1975 Ford F Series | 3 | 0 |
| 1976 Ford F Series | 2 | 0 |
| 1977 Ford F Series | 2 | 0 |
| 1978 Ford F Series | 3 | 0 |
| 1979 Ford F Series | 1 | 0 |
| 1984 Ford F Series | 1 | 1 |
| 1985 Ford F Series | 1 | 0 |
| 1987 Ford F Series | 0 | 3 |
| 1988 Ford F Series | 1 | 6 |
| 1989 Ford F Series | 2 | 2 |
| 1990 Ford F Series | 2 | 2 |
| 1991 Ford F Series | 0 | 6 |
| 1992 Ford F Series | 0 | 2 |
| 1993 Ford F Series | 0 | 5 |
| 1994 Ford F Series | 0 | 7 |
| 1995 Ford F Series | 0 | 16 |
| 1996 Ford F Series | 0 | 16 |
| 1997 Ford F Series | 0 | 47 |
| 1998 Ford F Series | 0 | 20 |
| 1999 Ford F Series | 0 | 36 |
| 2000 Ford F Series | 1 | 41 |
| 2001 Ford F Series | 1 | 44 |
| 2002 Ford F Series | 1 | 34 |
| 2003 Ford F Series | 1 | 1 |
| 2004 Ford F Series | 0 | 7 |
| 2005 Ford F Series | 0 | 9 |
| 2006 Ford F Series | 0 | 4 |
| 2007 Ford F Series | 0 | 4 |
| 2008 Ford F Series | 0 | 1 |
Checking a specific 1978 Ford F Series
How do I know if my 1978 Ford F Series 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 1978 Ford F Series; 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 77V189000).
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.