RecallMyCar

1981 Ford F250 Recalls, Complaints & Specs

5 safety recalls list the 1981 Ford F250, and owners have filed 1 complaint with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

5
safety recalls
1
owner complaint to NHTSA
1 / 0
complaints citing a crash / fire

5 safety recalls for the 1981 Ford F250

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Carrier/rack (equipment)

    NHTSA 82V024000 Reported 12,500 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    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.

  2. Multi piece (wheels)

    NHTSA 81V121000 Reported 16,500 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    The owner"s guide may contain an error in the wheel lug nut torque specification chart. Incorrect information could result in improper torque of the lug nuts during wheel replacement. Lug nuts could come loose during vehicle operation.

    Remedy: An adhesive-backed, revised page will be supplied to owners for insertion in the owner"s guide. In addition, dealers will provide torque verification, if one or more wheels have been serviced, at no cost to owners.

  3. Structure

    NHTSA 81V061000 Reported 130 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    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.

  4. Mounting (fuel system)

    NHTSA 81V023000 Reported 26 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    Certain vehicles may have been assembled without the specified fuel tank shield which prevents direct contact between the fuel tank and driveline components. During a 30 MPH frontal barrier impact test, as specified in federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 301, "fuel system integrity", fuel leakage may occur.

    Remedy: Vehicles will have the existing separate skid plate or fuel tank shield removed (whichever was installed on vehicle). A special combination skid plate/fuel tank shield assembly will be installed in its place free of…

  5. Mounting (fuel system)

    NHTSA 80V145000 Reported 6,260 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    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.

1 owner complaint filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 1981 Ford F250 have filed 1 complaint with NHTSA; 1 describe a crash. Reports cite 0 injuries and 1 death. Complaints peaked in 1996 with 1 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“Transmission failure, parked vehicle in driveway in park, left idle position, opened the door, jumped out of the gear and grabbed around the vehicle and flipped out truck and the truck rolled backward”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, August 27, 1996 · Power train

Compare Ford F250 model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Ford F250 model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1967 Ford F25030
1968 Ford F25011
1969 Ford F25010
1970 Ford F25001
1972 Ford F25030
1973 Ford F25050
1974 Ford F25022
1975 Ford F25050
1976 Ford F25020
1977 Ford F25052
1978 Ford F25092
1979 Ford F25081
1980 Ford F25030
1981 Ford F25051
1982 Ford F25030
1983 Ford F25061
1984 Ford F250310
1985 Ford F250221
1986 Ford F250238
1987 Ford F250238
1988 Ford F250362
1989 Ford F2506101
1990 Ford F2506107
2005 Ford F25030
2006 Ford F25030
2007 Ford F25020
2008 Ford F25020

Checking a specific 1981 Ford F250

How do I know if my 1981 Ford F250 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. 5 campaigns currently list the 1981 Ford F250; 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 80V145000).

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

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.