RecallMyCar

1979 Ford Thunderbird Recalls, Complaints & Specs

3 safety recalls list the 1979 Ford Thunderbird, and owners have filed 1 complaint with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

3
safety recalls
1
owner complaint to NHTSA

3 safety recalls for the 1979 Ford Thunderbird

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 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. Mid/rear assembly (seats)

    NHTSA 79V013000 Reported 4,000 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    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.

  3. Shaft sector (steering)

    NHTSA 78V269000 Reported 20,000 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    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.

1 owner complaint filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 1979 Ford Thunderbird have filed 1 complaint with NHTSA. Complaints peaked in 1999 with 1 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“Fuel line bursed causing the vehicel to catich fire. Please provide further information.”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, October 27, 1999 · Fuel system, gasoline

Compare Ford Thunderbird model years

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

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1960 Ford Thunderbird01
1965 Ford Thunderbird01
1967 Ford Thunderbird40
1970 Ford Thunderbird11
1971 Ford Thunderbird10
1972 Ford Thunderbird30
1973 Ford Thunderbird40
1974 Ford Thunderbird10
1975 Ford Thunderbird40
1976 Ford Thunderbird10
1977 Ford Thunderbird41
1978 Ford Thunderbird31
1979 Ford Thunderbird31
1980 Ford Thunderbird13
1983 Ford Thunderbird33
1984 Ford Thunderbird126
1985 Ford Thunderbird114
1986 Ford Thunderbird123
1987 Ford Thunderbird161
1988 Ford Thunderbird292
1989 Ford Thunderbird4124
1990 Ford Thunderbird3140
1991 Ford Thunderbird3112
1992 Ford Thunderbird3184
1993 Ford Thunderbird3423
1994 Ford Thunderbird0300
1995 Ford Thunderbird0261
1996 Ford Thunderbird2233
1997 Ford Thunderbird0169
1998 Ford Thunderbird03
1999 Ford Thunderbird02
2002 Ford Thunderbird193
2003 Ford Thunderbird033
2004 Ford Thunderbird134
2005 Ford Thunderbird127

Checking a specific 1979 Ford Thunderbird

How do I know if my 1979 Ford Thunderbird 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 Thunderbird; 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 78V269000).

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.