VehicleVerdict

1978 Ford F-150 problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

Limited data — recalls on file

NHTSA has just 13 complaints on file for the 1978 Ford F-150 — too few to judge reliability from owner reports alone — but 10 recall campaigns apply to this year, so any used example should have its VIN checked for completed recall work.

13

NHTSA complaints

10

Recalls

0

Investigations

1

Crash-involved

0

Fires reported

0

Injuries

0

Deaths

—

NCAP overall

How does 1978 compare to other F-150 years?

F-150 NHTSA complaints by model year, 1978 highlighted3,920 complaints1955: 1 complaints1966: 1 complaints1968: 1 complaints1973: 0 complaints1975: 1 complaints1976: 0 complaints1977: 3 complaints1978: 13 complaints1979: 2 complaints1980: 3 complaints1981: 2 complaints1982: 5 complaints1983: 12 complaints1984: 16 complaints1985: 45 complaints1986: 78 complaints1987: 109 complaints1988: 170 complaints1989: 260 complaints1990: 315 complaints1991: 357 complaints1992: 553 complaints1993: 753 complaints1994: 908 complaints1995: 788 complaints1996: 383 complaints1997: 3,285 complaints1998: 1,624 complaints1999: 1,323 complaints2000: 1,274 complaints2001: 1,451 complaints2002: 964 complaints2003: 523 complaints2004: 2,429 complaints2005: 1,364 complaints2006: 741 complaints2007: 623 complaints2008: 455 complaints2009: 397 complaints2010: 1,134 complaints2011: 2,962 complaints2012: 2,431 complaints2013: 3,920 complaints2014: 1,898 complaints2015: 2,129 complaints2016: 2,500 complaints2017: 1,735 complaints2018: 2,758 complaints2019: 1,635 complaints2020: 850 complaints2021: 1,233 complaints2022: 768 complaints2023: 558 complaints2024: 237 complaints2025: 161 complaints2026: 1 complaints
F-150 NHTSA complaints by model year, 1978 highlighted. Red bars are years to avoid.

See all F-150 years to avoid →

What are the most common 1978 Ford F-150 problems?

ComponentComplaintsShare
Steering323%
Engine215%
Transmission215%
Fuel System215%
Electrical System215%
Lighting18%
Suspension18%

Does the 1978 Ford F-150 have recalls?

10 NHTSA recall campaigns on file. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.

07E064000Fuel SystemAugust 27, 2007 · 34,000 units

Defect

CERTAIN FEDERAL-MOGUL AFTERMARKET FUEL PUMPS SOLD UNDER THE BRAND NAMES OF CARTER, ACCUFLOW, NAPA, TRUFLOW, PARTS DEPO, AND PARTS MASTER, SHIPPED BETWEEN AUGUST 2006 AND JULY 2007 FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE FUEL PUMP DIAPHRAGM IN CERTAIN PRODUCTION RUNS MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY INSTALLED OR INADEQUATELY TESTED WHICH MAY CAUSE THE FUEL PUMP TO LEAK.

Consequence

A LEAKING FUEL PUMP COULD CREATE A VEHICLE FIRE HAZARD.

Remedy

FEDERAL-MOGUL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 15, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FEDERAL-MOGUL AT 248-354-7700.

78V168000Seat BeltsAugust 7, 1978 · 7 units

Defect

THE DRIVER"S SIDE SHOULDER BELT RETRACTOR MOUNTING BRACKET ASSEMBLY CONTAINS A WELD NUT WHICH WAS IMPROPERLY ATTACHED TO THE BRACKET. THIS FAILS TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 210, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY ANCHORAGES".

Remedy

THE DEALER WILL REPAIR THE LEFT SIDE SHOULDER BELT RETRACTOR MOUNTING BRACKET ON THE INVOLVED VEHICLES FREE OF CHARGE.

78V109000SteeringMay 15, 1978 · 77 units

Defect

THESE VEHICLES MAY BE EQUIPPED WITH STEERING LINKAGES ON WHICH COTTER PINS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN INSTALLED ON CASTELLATED NUTS TO SECURE THE STEERING DRAG LINK AND TIE-ROD CONNECTIONS. ALSO, THESE ATTACHING NUTS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN TIGHTENED TO SPECIFICATIONS. THIS COULD ALLOW LINKAGE SEPARATION.

Remedy

THE DEALER WILL PERFORM NECESSARY CORRECTIONS TO THE STEERING LINKAGE ATTACHMENTS.

78V096000TransmissionApril 28, 1978 · 61,417 units

Defect

SOME OF THESE VEHICLES MAY BE EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS THAT WERE ASSEMBLED WITH IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED CAST IRON EXTENSION HOUSINGS. THE HOUSINGS HAVE MISLOCATED CAST CAM PLATE STOPS. A MISLOCATED STOP MAY PREVENT THE TRANSMISSION FROM LOCKING IN THE PARK POSITION WHEN THE GEAR SHIFT SELECTOR LEVER IS PLACED IN THE "P" (PARK) POSITION. IF THIS OCCURS A DRIVER MAY RELY UPON THE READING ON THE GEARSHIFT SELECTOR LEVER INDICATOR AND MAY ASSUME THAT THE TRANSMISSION PARKING GEAR IS ENGAGED.

Remedy

DEALER WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION EXTENSION HOUSING WITHOUT CHARGE TO OWNER.

78V035000TransmissionFebruary 16, 1978 · 47,339 units

Defect

THE SHIFT SELECTOR REACTION SPRINGS MAY BE DEFORMED AS A RESULT OF IMPROPER INSTALLATION OF SELECTOR LEVERS DURING COLUMN BUILDUP. THUS THE LEVER MAY NOT BE ABLE TO BE MOVED INTO THE INSERT DETENTS LOCATED IN THE STEERING COLUMN ASSEMBLY. THIS COULD PREVENT THE "PARK" GEAR FROM BEING ENGAGED.

Remedy

DEALER WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE SHIFT SELECTOR REACTION SPRING WITHOUT CHARGE TO OWNER.

78V023000Tires & WheelsJanuary 30, 1978 · 17,000 units

Defect

SOME OF THE STEEL WHEELS ON THE INVOLVED VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED. THESE WHEELS, OVER A PERIOD OF TIME, COULD CRACK IN THE WHEEL RIM AREA THROUGH NORMAL OPERATION, WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

Remedy

DEALER WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE WHEELS ON THE INVOLVED VEHICLES.

77V198000Fuel SystemNovember 15, 1977 · 30,000 units

Defect

ON THE INVOLVED VEHICLES, LEAKAGE MAY OCCUR AT THE THREADED CARBURETOR-TO-FUEL FILTER CONNECTION ON THE SUSPECT CARBURETORS. THIS IS DUE TO AN IMPROPERLY MACHINED CARBURETOR FUEL INLET CONNECTION.

Remedy

DEALER WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, WILL REPLACE THE CARBURETOR WITHOUT CHARGE TO OWNER.

77V185000TransmissionOctober 25, 1977 · 19,000 units

Defect

ON THE INVOLVED VEHICLES, THE PARK ACTUATION SUPPORT PLATES ARE DEFECTIVE DUE TO THEIR SUSCEPTIBILITY TO CRACKING DUE TO IMPROPER HEAT TREATMENT DURING MANUFACTURE. AS A RESULT, FRAGMENTS FROM A BROKEN PLATE CAN BECOME LODGED IN THE TRANSMISSION PARKING PAWL MECHANISM. THIS COULD PREVENT THE TRANSMISSION PARKING PAWL FROM ENGAGING WHEN THE SELECTOR LEVER IS PLACED IN THE "PARK" POSITION, OR PREVENT THE PAWL FROM BEING DISENGAGED FROM THE PARK GEAR.

Remedy

THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THE PARK ACTUATION CAM SUPPORT PLATES, FREE OF CHARGE, ON ALL AFFECTED VEHICLES.

77V169000SteeringOctober 12, 1977 · 13,707 units

Defect

THE PITMAN ARM TO STEERING GEAR ATTACHMENT NUTS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PROPERLY TIGHTENED ON THE INVOLVED VEHICLES. THE NUT COULD COME OFF DURING VEHICLE OPERATION.

Remedy

DEALER WILL TIGHTEN THE PITMAN ARM ATTACHING NUT TO THE CORRECT SPECIFICATIONS WITHOUT CHARGE TO OWNER.

77V161000Speed ControlSeptember 23, 1977 · 16,000 units

Defect

SOME OF THE INVOLVED VEHICLES MAY HAVE DEFECTIVE CARBURETORS IN WHICH, UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, THE SECONDARY THROTTLE PLATES MAY STICK OPEN.

Remedy

DEALER WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE CARBURETOR AT NO CHARGE TO OWNER.

Consumer complaints filed with NHTSA

Representative excerpts, cleaned of personal information. These are consumer statements, not verified defects.

“VEHICLE AT INSPECTION STATION. VEHICLE WAS PARKED & MECHANIC WAS CHECKING BRAKE FLUID. VEHICLE SUDDENLY JUMPED OUT OF PARK AND WENT INTO REVERSE. DOOR WAS BENT TOWARDS THE FRONT OF VEHICLE & THEN SWUNG BACK & CLOSED. VEHICLE WENT ACROSS THE STREET & STRUCK LIGHT POST. NO INJURIES. DRIVER'S DOOR…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Transmission · February 27, 1999 · crash

1978 Ford F-150 — common questions

Is the 1978 Ford F-150 reliable?

The record is thin — 13 NHTSA complaints — so owner-report data can't strongly confirm reliability either way, though 10 recalls should be verified as completed.

What are the most common 1978 F-150 problems?

According to NHTSA complaint data, the leading problem areas are steering (3 complaints), electrical system (2 complaints), transmission (2 complaints).

Does the 1978 Ford F-150 have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 10 recall campaigns affecting the 1978 Ford F-150. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.

Which Ford F-150 years should you avoid?

Based on complaint rates and open investigations, the F-150 years to avoid are 2013, 1997, 2011, 2018, 2016, 2012, 2004, 2015, 2014, 2017, 2019, 1998, 2001, 2005, 1999, 2000, 2021, 2010, 2002, 1994, 2020. The cleanest record among F-150 years belongs to 1976.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.