1978 Ford F150 Recalls, Complaints & Specs
9 safety recalls list the 1978 Ford F150, and owners have filed 4 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
9 safety recalls for the 1978 Ford F150
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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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.
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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.
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Automatic transmission (power train)
Some of these vehicles may be equipped with automatic transmissions that were assembled with improperly manufactured cast iron extension housings. The housings have mislocated cast cam plate stops. A mislocated stop may prevent the transmission from locking in the park position when the gear shift selector lever is placed in the "p"…
Remedy: Dealer will inspect and, if necessary, replace the transmission extension housing without charge to owner.
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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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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.
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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.
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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.
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Vehicle speed control
Some of the involved vehicles may have defective carburetors in which, under certain circumstances, the secondary throttle plates may stick open.
Remedy: Dealer will inspect and, if necessary, replace the carburetor at no charge to owner.
4 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 1978 Ford F150 have filed 4 complaints with NHTSA; 1 describe a crash. Complaints peaked in 1999 with 2 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“Consumer states that while driving at any speed and without warning the headlights will flicker causing a distraction to the consumer view during nighttime. Dealer notified. Ts *dt”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, December 3, 2002 · Exterior lighting
“Suspension system has experienced continued problems with stability and wear. Mjs”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, May 11, 1999 · Suspension
Compare Ford F150 model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Ford F150 model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1955 Ford F150 | 0 | 1 |
| 1966 Ford F150 | 0 | 1 |
| 1968 Ford F150 | 0 | 1 |
| 1973 Ford F150 | 1 | 0 |
| 1975 Ford F150 | 3 | 1 |
| 1976 Ford F150 | 1 | 0 |
| 1977 Ford F150 | 5 | 3 |
| 1978 Ford F150 | 9 | 4 |
| 1979 Ford F150 | 9 | 2 |
| 1980 Ford F150 | 4 | 3 |
| 1981 Ford F150 | 3 | 2 |
| 1982 Ford F150 | 0 | 5 |
| 1983 Ford F150 | 1 | 10 |
| 1984 Ford F150 | 1 | 13 |
| 1985 Ford F150 | 1 | 28 |
| 1986 Ford F150 | 1 | 61 |
| 1987 Ford F150 | 3 | 89 |
| 1988 Ford F150 | 2 | 139 |
| 1989 Ford F150 | 4 | 210 |
| 1990 Ford F150 | 4 | 254 |
Checking a specific 1978 Ford F150
How do I know if my 1978 Ford F150 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. 9 campaigns currently list the 1978 Ford F150; 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 77V161000).
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.