1979 Ford Ranchero Recalls, Complaints & Specs
3 safety recalls list the 1979 Ford Ranchero, and owners have filed 2 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
3 safety recalls for the 1979 Ford Ranchero
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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Mid/rear assembly (seats)
The involved vehicles may have been built with incorrect weld nuts that attach the rear portion of the front outboard seat track to the floor pan. The incorrect nuts have an oversize diameter and thread, and upon front seat track anchor bolt installation, the threads may have been stripped.
Remedy: The dealer will inspect and, if necessary, repair any stripped weld nuts and install larger size bolts to anchor the seat track to the floor at no cost to owner.
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Shaft sector (steering)
The steering gears on the involved vehicles may have been built with improperly manufactured sector shafts from which the threaded portions of the shafts may fracture and separate. Should the sector shaft fracture, the pitman arm may disengage from the splined portion of the sector shaft.
Remedy: The dealer will inspect and, if necessary, replace the steering gear assembly or install a new sector shaft in the steering gear assembly.
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Wheels
Due to an error in the vehicle assembly computer broadcast program, the involved vehicles were equipped with 14x5.5 inch wheel rims which were intended for use on passenger cars. The tires were not marked with the information specified by federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 120, "tire selection and rims for motor vehicles other…
Remedy: The existing 14x5.5 inch wheels will be replaced with 14x6.0 inch wheels.
2 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 1979 Ford Ranchero have filed 2 complaints with NHTSA. Complaints peaked in 1998 with 2 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“When pushing the switch to activate the windshield wipwr/washer, the back of the switch fell off, shorting out the system. *ak”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, November 23, 1998 · Visibility
“Parking light switch disconnected and lenses fell off with minimal shock. *ak”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, March 23, 1998 · Exterior lighting
Compare Ford Ranchero model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Ford Ranchero model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1968 Ford Ranchero | 1 | 0 |
| 1970 Ford Ranchero | 1 | 0 |
| 1971 Ford Ranchero | 1 | 0 |
| 1972 Ford Ranchero | 3 | 0 |
| 1973 Ford Ranchero | 4 | 1 |
| 1974 Ford Ranchero | 1 | 0 |
| 1975 Ford Ranchero | 2 | 0 |
| 1976 Ford Ranchero | 1 | 0 |
| 1977 Ford Ranchero | 2 | 0 |
| 1979 Ford Ranchero | 3 | 2 |
Checking a specific 1979 Ford Ranchero
How do I know if my 1979 Ford Ranchero 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. 3 campaigns currently list the 1979 Ford Ranchero; 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 78V237000).
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.