VehicleVerdict

1979 Ford F-150 problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

Limited data — recalls on file

NHTSA has just 2 complaints on file for the 1979 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.

2

NHTSA complaints

10

Recalls

0

Investigations

0

Crash-involved

0

Fires reported

0

Injuries

0

Deaths

—

NCAP overall

How does 1979 compare to other F-150 years?

F-150 NHTSA complaints by model year, 1979 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, 1979 highlighted. Red bars are years to avoid.

See all F-150 years to avoid →

What are the most common 1979 Ford F-150 problems?

ComponentComplaintsShare
Steering150%
Tires & Wheels150%

Does the 1979 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.

79V208000Tires & WheelsSeptember 17, 1979 · 40,000 units

Defect

A NUMBER OF WHEEL ASSEMBLIES ON THE INVOLVED VEHICLES MAY HAVE SUBSTANDARD WELDS IN THE AREA WHERE THE DISC IS ATTACHED TO THE RIM. SUBSTANDARD WELDS CAN CAUSE CRACKS TO OCCUR IN THE WHEEL ASSEMBLY. RAPID LOSS OF AIR PRESSURE IN THE TIRE OR SEPARATION OF THE WHEEL RIM FROM THE DISC COULD RESULT.

Remedy

IF SEPARATION AND LOSS OF AIR OCCURS WHILE VEHICLE IS IN OPERATION, LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT COULD OCCUR WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. CORRECTIVE ACTION: THE DEALER WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE WHEELS WITHOUT CHARGE TO OWNER.

79V185000Tires & WheelsAugust 7, 1979 · 22,500 units

Defect

THE WHEEL ASSEMBLY MAY CONTAIN SUBSTANDARD WELDS IN THE AREA WHERE THE DISC IS ATTACHED TO THE RIM. AS A RESULT, CRACKS CAN FORM IN THE WHEEL ASSEMBLY, CAUSING AIR LOSS AND AN UNDERINFLATED TIRE.

Remedy

DEALER WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE ANY DEFECTIVE WHEELS WITHOUT CHARGE TO OWNER.

79V117000BrakesMay 15, 1979 · 82,000 units

Defect

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.

79V035000SteeringJanuary 29, 1979 · 62,000 units

Defect

THE INVOLVED VEHICLES WERE ASSEMBLED WITH IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED STEERING ARM KNUCKLES. SHOULD AN IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED STEERING ARM KNUCKLE FRACTURE AND SEPARATE, THE STEERING LINKAGE TIE ROD MAY DISENGAGE FROM THE KNUCKLE.

Remedy

THE DEALER WILL INSPECT FOR CRACKING IN THE STEERING ARM KNUCKLES ON ALL VEHICLES AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THEM FREE OF CHARGE.

79V038000Fuel SystemJanuary 26, 1979 · 105 units

Defect

THE INVOLVED VEHICLES WERE MANUFACTURED WITHOUT A FUEL TANK SHIELD AT THE FRONT RIGHT CORNER OF THE MIDSHIP FUEL TANK. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLES DO NOT CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 301, "FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITY". IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE ACCIDENT, EXCESSIVE FUEL SPILLAGE COULD RESULT.

Remedy

THE DEALER WILL INSTALL THE REQUIRED FUEL TANK SHIELD WITHOUT CHARGE TO OWNER.

79V023000Visibility & WipersJanuary 15, 1979 · 12 units

Defect

THE INVOLVED VEHICLES DO NOT CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 212, "WINDSHIELD MOUNTING", IN THAT SOME OF THE VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITHOUT THE SPECIFIED WINDSHIELD WEATHERSTRIP RETAINING COMPONENTS.

Remedy

THE DEALER WILL INSTALL THE WINDSHIELD WEATHERSTRIP RETAINING COMPONENTS AT NO COST TO OWNER.

78V256000TransmissionNovember 27, 1978 · 7,000 units

Defect

THE INVOLVED VEHICLES WERE EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS IN WHICH THE PARKING PAWL WAS NOT HEAT-TREATED. DURING NORMAL VEHICLE OPERATION, A PARKING PAWL THAT HAS NOT BEEN HEAT-TREATED COULD BECOME DEFORMED OR WORN TO THE POINT THAT THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT LOCK IN "PARK". AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE COULD ROLL FREE IF THE DRIVER DOES NOT SET THE PARKING BRAKE WHEN PARKING OR LEAVING VEHICLE UNATTENDED.

Remedy

DEALER WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE PARKING PAWL WITH ONE THAT HAS BEEN HEAT-TREATED.

78V201000TransmissionSeptember 15, 1978 · 22,000 units

Defect

THESE TRANSMISSIONS MAY CONTAIN IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED PARKING PAWL ACTUATING RODS. CONSEQUENTLY, THE UNHARDENED CAM SURFACE OF THESE RODS CAN ALLOW THE ROD TO DEFORM DURING USE WITH RESULTANT INCREASE IN SHIFT EFFORTS AND DIFFICULTY IN RELEASING THE PARKING PAWL AND ENGAGING THE PARKING GEAR.

Remedy

DEALER WILL REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION PARKING PAWL ACTUATING ROD WITHOUT CHARGE TO OWNER.

78V197000Fuel SystemSeptember 11, 1978 · 103 units

Defect

THE INVOLVED VEHICLES DO NOT CONTAIN A FUEL TANK SHIELD AT THE FRONT RIGHT CORNER OF THE MID-SHIP FUEL TANK. IN THE EVENT OF A FRONTAL IMPACT, EXCESSIVE FUEL SPILLAGE FROM THE FUEL TANK MAY OCCUR. THIS FAILS TO COMPLY WITH FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 301, "FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITY".

Remedy

DEALER WILL INSTALL THE NECESSARY FUEL TANK SHIELD WITHOUT CHARGE TO OWNER.

Consumer complaints filed with NHTSA

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

“WHILE WASHING THE VEHICLE HE NOTICED THAT THE FRONT TIRE HAS STRESS MARKS AND THE TIRE IS SPLIT ON THE SIDE. FIRESTONE FIREHAWKSS20 P25570R15 #DOT NUMBER VDM2F204100302L. NLM”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Tires & Wheels · April 17, 2002

“LOWER INNER TIE ROD HAS BROKEN, PREVENTING ANY/ AND ALL MOVEMENT OF STEERING WHEEL. DRIVER SIDE ROD CAME OUT THE SOCKET. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Steering

1979 Ford F-150 — common questions

Is the 1979 Ford F-150 reliable?

The record is thin — 2 NHTSA complaints — so owner-report data can't strongly confirm reliability either way, though 10 recalls should be verified as completed.

Does the 1979 Ford F-150 have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 10 recall campaigns affecting the 1979 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.