VehicleVerdict

1978 Ford F-250 problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

Limited data — recalls on file

NHTSA has just 3 complaints on file for the 1978 Ford F-250 — 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.

3

NHTSA complaints

10

Recalls

0

Investigations

0

Crash-involved

0

Fires reported

0

Injuries

0

Deaths

NCAP overall

How does 1978 compare to other F-250 years?

See all F-250 years to avoid →

What are the most common 1978 Ford F-250 problems?

ComponentComplaintsShare
Engine133%
Fuel System133%
Transmission133%

Does the 1978 Ford F-250 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.

78V024000Tires & WheelsJanuary 30, 1978 · 9,000 units

Defect

THE WHEEL RIM DIAMETERS ON THESE VEHICLES MAY EXCEED DIMENSIONAL SPECIFICATIONS. THIS MAY CAUSE THE TIRES AND TUBES TO BE OVERSTRESSED DURING MOUNTING OR IMPROPERLY MOUNTED.

Remedy

THE DEALER WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE WHEELS, AND THE TIRES AND TUBES MOUNTED ON THESE WHEELS.

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.

WE HAVE A 1978 F250 AND ACCORDING TO WHAT I CAN TELL THERE ARE SEVERAL SAFETY RECALLS. HOW CAN I KNOW WHETHER OR NOT THEY WERE FIXED. THIS WAS BEFORE FORD KEPT COMPUTER RECORDS (MAYBE). ANY HELP YOU COULD BE WOULD BE APPRECIATED. *TR THANKS MARK ASKREN

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Transmission · May 1, 2007

WE HAVE A 1978 F250 AND ACCORDING TO WHAT I CAN TELL THERE ARE SEVERAL SAFETY RECALLS. HOW CAN I KNOW WHETHER OR NOT THEY WERE FIXED. THIS WAS BEFORE FORD KEPT COMPUTER RECORDS (MAYBE). ANY HELP YOU COULD BE WOULD BE APPRECIATED. *TR THANKS MARK ASKREN

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Fuel System · May 1, 2007

1978 Ford F-250 — common questions

Is the 1978 Ford F-250 reliable?

The record is thin — 3 NHTSA complaints — so owner-report data can't strongly confirm reliability either way, though 10 recalls should be verified as completed.

Does the 1978 Ford F-250 have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 10 recall campaigns affecting the 1978 Ford F-250. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.

Which Ford F-250 years should you avoid?

Based on complaint rates and open investigations, the F-250 years to avoid are 2019, 2017, 1999, 2018, 2016, 2015, 2012, 2000, 2011, 2020, 1997, 2006, 2001, 2008, 1995, 2014. The cleanest record among F-250 years belongs to 1982.

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.