1979 Ford LTD Recalls, Complaints & Specs

8 safety recalls list the 1979 Ford LTD, and owners have filed 2 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

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• 1979
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8 safety recalls for the 1979 Ford LTD

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

1. Pedals and linkages (service brakes)

   NHTSA 79V117000 Reported May 15, 1979 82,000 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

   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.

2. Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings (service brakes)

   NHTSA 79V106000 Reported April 30, 1979 162,000 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

   Some of these vehicles were produced with misindexed front brake hoses which could contact a tire or wheel in a full-turn condition. Chafing and wear to the brake hose could result in loss of brake fluid and front wheel braking capability.

   Remedy: Dealer will inspect and, if necessary, re-index the front brake hose. Those hoses showing signs of abrasion will be replaced, without charge to owner.

3. Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings (service brakes)

   NHTSA 79V107000 Reported April 30, 1979 18 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

   Some vehicles were produced with brake control valves and brake tubes intended for use in vehicles without trailer tow packages.

   Remedy: Dealer will replace brake control valve and connecting brake tube.

4. Labels (equipment)

   NHTSA 79V022000 Reported January 15, 1979 25,453 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

   The word "lights" was omitted from the panel applique identifying the headlamp switch. Without this identification the involved vehicles do not conform to federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 101, "controls and displays".

   Remedy: Owners of the affected vehicles will be mailed adhesive backed labels containing the word "lights", along with instructions for proper installation at no charge.

5. Steering wheel/handle bar (steering)

   NHTSA 78V212000 Reported October 4, 1978 32,000 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

   The lower steering shaft assemblies contain coupling rivet pins which were not riveted securely enough during manufacture. Consequently one or both of the pins could loosen from the flange of the flexible coupling during vehicle operation. If one pin is loose, free play would result. If both pins work loose, loss of steering control…

   Remedy: The dealer will inspect and, if necessary, replace the steering shaft assembly, without charge to owner.

6. Fan (engine and engine cooling)

   NHTSA 78V213000 Reported October 4, 1978 25,600 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

   One or more of the five cooling fan blades may have been improperly riveted to the fan spider. This could allow the blades to separate from the fan during engine operation.

   Remedy: Dealer will inspect and, if necessary, replace the engine cooling fan, without charge.

7. Fuses and circuit breakers (electrical system)

   NHTSA 78V198000 Reported September 11, 1978 5,000 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

   The windshield wiper and washer system contains an incorrect 6 amp circuit breaker instead of the 8.25 amp circuit breaker. If the system is heavily loaded, as in the case of a partially dry windshield, the motor current may exceed the 6 amp breaker"s capacity. This would cause the breaker to open, which would result in wiper/washer…

   Remedy: Dealer will install the correct circuit breaker without charge to owner.

8. Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings (service brakes)

   NHTSA 78V199000 Reported September 11, 1978 8,700 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

   Remedy: Dealer will inspect and, if necessary, install protective shields on the rebound bumper brackets without charge to owner.

2 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 1979 Ford LTD have filed 2 complaints with NHTSA; 1 describe a fire. Complaints peaked in 1997 with 1 filed that year.

Most-reported components

• Tires2
• Electrical system: switch1

What owners are reporting

“When i was driving in las vegas at low speed i heard a noise which was amplified when car was driving faster. When i stoped and i check a whole skin of the tire was gone. I went to replace it and when”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, September 7, 2000 · Tires

“After starting the vehicle, an electrical short in the ignition switch caused the steering column to catch on fire. *ak”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, February 5, 1997 · Electrical system

Compare Ford LTD model years

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

Checking a specific 1979 Ford LTD

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.