Ford F100 Recalls & Complaints by Model Year
NHTSA lists 39 safety recalls and 14 owner complaints across 21 model years of the Ford F100 (1967–1996). The most-complained-about year is 1974.
Pick your Ford F100 model year
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 Ford F100 | 0 | 2 |
| 1990 Ford F100 | 0 | 2 |
| 1988 Ford F100 | 0 | 1 |
| 1987 Ford F100 | 1 | 0 |
| 1986 Ford F100 | 1 | 0 |
| 1985 Ford F100 | 0 | 1 |
| 1984 Ford F100 | 1 | 1 |
| 1983 Ford F100 | 1 | 1 |
| 1981 Ford F100 | 3 | 0 |
| 1980 Ford F100 | 3 | 1 |
| 1979 Ford F100 | 8 | 2 |
| 1978 Ford F100 | 7 | 0 |
| 1977 Ford F100 | 4 | 0 |
| 1976 Ford F100 | 1 | 0 |
| 1974 Ford F100 | 2 | 2 |
| 1973 Ford F100 | 4 | 0 |
| 1972 Ford F100 | 3 | 0 |
| 1971 Ford F100 | 1 | 0 |
| 1970 Ford F100 | 1 | 0 |
| 1969 Ford F100 | 1 | 1 |
| 1967 Ford F100 | 1 | 0 |
What Ford F100 owners complain about
Across all model years, owners have filed 14 complaints with NHTSA. The 1974 model year has the most, with 2.
All Ford F100 recalls (39)
Every NHTSA safety campaign that lists a Ford F100, most recent first, with the model years each one covers.
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Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings (fuel system)
Spring lock fuel line coupling may not be properly engaged.
Remedy: Install retainer clips over the couplings to prevent coupling separation and fuel leakage.
Model years: 1986, 1987
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Carburetor system (fuel system)
The secondary throttle shaft may, with accumulated mileage, become contaminated and may stick in a partially open position while driving.
Remedy: The primary to secondary throttle closure link on the carburetor will be replaced free of charge.
Model years: 1984
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Automatic transmission (power train)
The parking gear may not engage, even though the gear shift lever is placed in the "park" position. This occurs if the linkage inside the transmission that actuates the park gear was improperly manufactured. A pin that retains components on a linkage (actuating) rod could break and the linkage may not engage the parking gear.
Remedy: Dealer will inspect and, if necessary, replace the parking pawl actuating rod assembly.
Model years: 1983
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Carrier/rack (equipment)
The reinforcement for the in-box spare tire carrier may have been attached using incorrect hex head bolts. If the carrier and reinforcement attaching bolts are incorrect, the potential exists for the tire sidewall to be damaged or weakened by extended contact with the sharp edges of the bolt heads.
Remedy: Dealer will replace bolts and any damaged spare tires at no cost to owner.
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Structure
The involved trucks were manufactured with a certain portion of specified floor pan insulation material (beneath the right front passenger seat) omitted. Because of this omission, a section of the sheet metal floor pan was left exposed over the exhaust system in an area of possible passenger contact.
Remedy: The dealer will install a revised design floorpan insulator pad at no charge to owner.
Model years: 1981
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Mounting (fuel system)
During a change in assembly procedures, certain of the mid-ship fuel tank straps may have been improperly installed or mislocated. As a result, they fail to conform to federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 301, "fuel system integrity". In the event of a collision, excessive fuel spillage may occur.
Remedy: Dealer will inspect and, if necessary, relocate fuel tank straps without charge to owner.
Model years: 1981
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Mounting (fuel system)
The involved vehicles were manufactured without the midship fuel tank protective shields. As a result, they do not conform to federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 301, "fuel system integrity", due to excessive fuel spillage upon frontal impact.
Remedy: The involved vehicles will be inspected and, if necessary, a fuel tank shield will be installed at no charge to owner.
Model years: 1980
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Column shift (power train)
The parking pawl actuating rod in the transmission may have an insufficient or cracked weld. This can cause the park cam end to separate from the rod itself, preventing the parking pawl from engaging the parking gear when the selector is placed in the park position.
Remedy: Dealer will replace the defective parking pawl actuating rod free of charge.
Model years: 1980
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Wheels
A number of wheel assemblies on the involved vehicles may have substandard welds in the area where the disc is attached to the rim. Substandard welds can cause cracks to occur in the wheel assembly. Rapid loss of air pressure in the tire or separation of the wheel rim from the disc could result.
Remedy: If separation and loss of air occurs while vehicle is in operation, loss of vehicle control and an accident could occur without prior warning. Corrective action: the dealer will inspect and, if necessary, replace the…
Model years: 1979
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Wheels
The wheel assembly may contain substandard welds in the area where the disc is attached to the rim. As a result, cracks can form in the wheel assembly, causing air loss and an underinflated tire.
Remedy: Dealer will inspect and replace any defective wheels without charge to owner.
Model years: 1979
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Pedals and linkages (service brakes)
The involved vehicles were produced with brake push-rod to brake pedal retaining pins which were not heat-treated as specified. This could allow the brake pedal to become disengaged from the push-rod.
Remedy: Dealer will replace the suspect brake retaining pin.
Model years: 1979
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Mounting (fuel system)
The involved vehicles were manufactured without a fuel tank shield at the front right corner of the midship fuel tank. As a result, the vehicles do not conform to federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 301, "fuel system integrity". In the event of a vehicle accident, excessive fuel spillage could result.
Remedy: The dealer will install the required fuel tank shield without charge to owner.
Model years: 1979
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Windshield (visibility)
The involved vehicles do not conform to federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 212, "windshield mounting", in that some of the vehicles were built without the specified windshield weatherstrip retaining components.
Remedy: The dealer will install the windshield weatherstrip retaining components at no cost to owner.
Model years: 1979
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Automatic transmission (power train)
The involved vehicles were equipped with automatic transmissions in which the parking pawl was not heat-treated. During normal vehicle operation, a parking pawl that has not been heat-treated could become deformed or worn to the point that the transmission will not lock in "park". As a result, the vehicle could roll free if the driver…
Remedy: Dealer will inspect and, if necessary, replace the parking pawl with one that has been heat-treated.
Model years: 1979
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Automatic transmission (power train)
These transmissions may contain improperly manufactured parking pawl actuating rods. Consequently, the unhardened cam surface of these rods can allow the rod to deform during use with resultant increase in shift efforts and difficulty in releasing the parking pawl and engaging the parking gear.
Remedy: Dealer will replace the transmission parking pawl actuating rod without charge to owner.
Model years: 1979
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Mounting (fuel system)
The involved vehicles do not contain a fuel tank shield at the front right corner of the mid-ship fuel tank. In the event of a frontal impact, excessive fuel spillage from the fuel tank may occur. This fails to comply with federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 301, "fuel system integrity".
Remedy: Dealer will install the necessary fuel tank shield without charge to owner.
Model years: 1979
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Retractor (seat belts)
The driver"s side shoulder belt retractor mounting bracket assembly contains a weld nut which was improperly attached to the bracket. This fails to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 210, "seat belt assembly anchorages".
Remedy: The dealer will repair the left side shoulder belt retractor mounting bracket on the involved vehicles free of charge.
Model years: 1978
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Linkages (steering)
These vehicles may be equipped with steering linkages on which cotter pins may not have been installed on castellated nuts to secure the steering drag link and tie-rod connections. Also, these attaching nuts may not have been tightened to specifications. This could allow linkage separation.
Remedy: The dealer will perform necessary corrections to the steering linkage attachments.
Model years: 1978
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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.
Model years: 1978
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Wheels
Some of the steel wheels on the involved vehicles may have been improperly manufactured. These wheels, over a period of time, could crack in the wheel rim area through normal operation, without prior warning.
Remedy: Dealer will inspect and, if necessary, replace the wheels on the involved vehicles.
Model years: 1978
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Gear box (other than rack and pinion) (steering)
On the involved vehicles, the manual steering gears may contain steering gear recirculatory balls that could fracture. This fracturing is a result of improper heat-treatment during manufacture and can eventually cause increased steering effort.
Remedy: The dealer will inspect and, if necessary, replace the ball bearings of the steering gear, without charge to owner.
Model years: 1977
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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.
Model years: 1978
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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.
Model years: 1978
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Linkages (steering)
The pitman arm to steering gear attachment nuts may not have been properly tightened on the involved vehicles. The nut could come off during vehicle operation.
Remedy: Dealer will tighten the pitman arm attaching nut to the correct specifications without charge to owner.
Model years: 1978
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Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings (fuel system)
The involved vehicles may experience fuel leakage at the rubber hose connecting the fuel inlet tube to the carburetor filter. This leakage condition is due to insufficient insertion of the fuel tube into the hose or improper positioning of the hose clamp, causing the clamp to be crimped directly over the fuel tube bead.
Remedy: Dealer will replace the existing fuel hose clamp with a spring-type clamp at the hose-to-fuel inlet tube connection, and adjust the connection where necessary, without charge.
Model years: 1977
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Mounting (fuel system)
The upper support strap nuts, attaching the fuel tank, were not tightened to specifications. This may allow the fuel tank to detach and fall to the ground.
Remedy: Dealer will tighten attaching nuts to proper specifications to secure the fuel tank, at no cost to owner.
Model years: 1977
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Labels (equipment)
Model years: 1977
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Power assist (service brakes)
Model years: 1976
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Tread/belt (tires)
Model years: 1974
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Recliner (seats)
Model years: 1974
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Anchorage (seat belts)
Model years: 1973
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Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings (service brakes)
Model years: 1973
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Hydraulic power assist system (steering)
Model years: 1973
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Gear box (other than rack and pinion) (steering)
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Wheel bearing (suspension)
Model years: 1972
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Anchorage (seat belts)
Model years: 1972
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Tread/belt (tires)
Model years: 1970, 1971
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Latch (latches/locks/linkages)
Model years: 1969
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Master cylinder (service brakes)
Model years: 1967
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.