Ford L Series (heavy) Recalls & Complaints by Model Year

NHTSA lists 6 safety recalls and 2 owner complaints across 13 model years of the Ford L Series (heavy) (1972–1991). The most-complained-about year is 1978.

Pick your Ford L Series (heavy) model year

• 1972
• 1973
• 1974
• 1975
• 1976
• 1977
• 1978
• 1979
• 1980
• 1981
• 1982
• 1987
• 1991

What Ford L Series (heavy) owners complain about

Across all model years, owners have filed 2 complaints with NHTSA. The 1978 model year has the most, with 1.

• Tires1
• Tires: tread/belt1

All Ford L Series (heavy) recalls (6)

Every NHTSA safety campaign that lists a Ford L Series (heavy), most recent first, with the model years each one covers.

1. Springs (vehicle speed control)

   NHTSA 87V059000 Reported April 27, 1987 2,060 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

   Diesel engine goveernor lever assemblies may have been improperly assembled so that one or more of three retaining prongs may not be engaged in the governor lever pivot shafts.

   Remedy: Replace governor lever assemblies.

   Model years: 1987

2. Drum (service brakes)

   NHTSA 83V033000 Reported March 22, 1983 670 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

   Some of the involved vehicles may have been built with left rear brake assemblies that were incorrectly produced and may have one or two automatic brake adjusters that were intended for right rear brake assemblies. The adjuster works backwards and increases the clearance between the brake lining and drum, instead of maintaining it.

   Remedy: Dealer will inspect and, if necessary, replace the left rear brake adjuster assembly at no charge.

   Model years: 1982

3. Vehicle speed control

   NHTSA 82V027000 Reported March 26, 1982 3,270 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

   The involved vehicles do not conform to federal motor vehicle standard no. 124, "accelerator control systems", due to failure of the throttle to return completely to idle under certain conditions with one of the two accelerator control return springs inoperative.

   Remedy: Dealer will inspect and modify the throttle to meet the requirements of the standard.

   Model years: 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981

4. Multiple axle (suspension)

   NHTSA 79V255000 Reported December 4, 1979 4 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

   The optional tandem suspension assembly may have been installed using a standard beam end adapter kit, rather than the required special kit. Progressive deterioration could occur to the adapter to beam end bushing joint, possibly resulting in fracture of the beam to axle attaching bolts.

   Remedy: The incorrect beam adapters will be replaced on new units and beam end adapters and bushings will be installed on units in service, free of charge.

   Model years: 1978, 1979, 1980

5. Multi piece (wheels)

   NHTSA 79V200000 Reported September 11, 1979 700 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

   The cast hubs on some of the involved vehicles were improperly manufactured. They may be subject to high mileage fatigue cracks at the inner bearing area or along the flange portions to which the wheels are mounted.

   Remedy: Dealer will inspect aluminum hubs and, if necessary, replace them with cast iron hubs without charge to owner.

   Model years: 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975

6. Service brakes, air: controls, pedals and linkages

   NHTSA 79V066000 Reported March 6, 1979 2,700 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

   Use of an alternate aluminum alloy which has a lower strength in hot state, may allow cracking of brake pedal levers. Repeated braking or high brake pedal loading may result in complete fracture which would prevent application of the service brakes.

   Remedy: Brake pedal levers will be replaced at no cost to owner.

   Model years: 1979

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.