1979 Ford F250
NHTSA lists 8 recall campaigns for the 1979 Ford F250, covering service brakes, hydraulic, steering and fuel system, gasoline, and 1 consumer complaint received since 2011.
The component named most often is fuel system, gasoline: 1,000 of every 1,000 component mentions for this year, above the 62.2 per 1,000 across all 1979 model-year vehicles and against 170.7 per 1,000 for the Ford F250 line as a whole.
That is fewer than the average of 14.4 complaints per model year across the 27 Ford F250 model years on this register.
Complaints were received in the largest number in 2011 (1); the most recent in the file is dated 26 May 2011.
Complaints are consumer reports and have not been verified by NHTSA. Recall text is the manufacturer's Part 573 report as filed with NHTSA. Complaint file through 15 May 2019; recall file through 29 Sep 2026.
Recalls by model year:
Recall campaigns
Defect, as filed: Dimensional differences in the 1980 versus the 1979 assemblies may allow the inner brake lining/shoe to move outward to a position where it is no longer retained in the shoe slot when the front brake inner linings become worn to the point of needing replacement. The inner brake shoe could then wedge between the rotor and spindle, possibly causing a sudden lock-up of one front wheel. This can occur without brake application and would adversely affect steering control. These dimensional differences could also allow additional travel of the brake piston such that a loss of brake fluid from the front brake system may occur. This would result in increased stopping distances.
Remedy: The dealer will inspect and, if necessary, replace the hub and rotor assemblies and spindle seals.
Filed by FORD MOTOR COMPANY.
Defect, as filed: 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.
Filed by FORD MOTOR COMPANY.
Defect, as filed: 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.
Filed by FORD MOTOR COMPANY.
Defect, as filed: 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.
Filed by FORD MOTOR COMPANY.
Defect, as filed: 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.
Filed by FORD MOTOR COMPANY.
Defect, as filed: 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.
Filed by FORD MOTOR COMPANY.
Defect, as filed: 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.
Filed by FORD MOTOR COMPANY.
Defect, as filed: 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.
Filed by FORD MOTOR COMPANY.
Each entry links to the NHTSA record. NHTSA states that safety recall repairs are free of charge at an authorised dealer; check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Complaints by component
Component mentions per 1,000 for the 1979 Ford F250 (black) against all 1979 model-year vehicles in the file (yellow). A complaint can name more than one component.
| Per 1,000 component mentions | 1979 | F250 line | All 1979 vehicles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1,000 | 170.7 | 62.2 |
| Component | Mentions | Per 1,000 | Line | All 1979 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 | 1,000 | 170.7 | 62.2 |
1 unique complaints, 1 component mentions; 0 injuries and 0 deaths reported by complainants. Complaint narratives are not republished.
Complaints by year received
Investigations
No NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation action in the current file names this model year.
Other Ford F250 model years
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints | Units in campaigns |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1967 | 3 | 0 | 21,386 |
| 1968 NHTSA | 1 | 1 | 13,490 |
| 1969 NHTSA | 1 | 0 | 80,700 |
| 1970 NHTSA | 0 | 1 | — |
| 1972 | 3 | 0 | 1,064,209 |
| 1973 | 5 | 0 | 1,052,700 |
| 1974 | 2 | 2 | 13,744 |
| 1975 | 5 | 0 | 337,209 |
| 1976 | 2 | 0 | 10,919 |
| 1977 | 5 | 2 | 177,428 |
| 1978 | 9 | 2 | 196,547 |
| 1979 | 8 | 1 | 173,720 |
| 1980 | 3 | 0 | 45,070 |
| 1981 | 5 | 1 | 35,416 |
| 1982 | 3 | 0 | 91,538 |
| 1983 | 6 | 1 | 212,597 |
| 1984 | 3 | 10 | 121,578 |
| 1985 | 2 | 21 | 976 |
| 1986 | 2 | 38 | 3,600,730 |
| 1987 | 2 | 38 | 3,601,220 |
| 1988 | 3 | 62 | 8,424,400 |
| 1989 | 6 | 101 | 8,831,300 |
| 1990 | 6 | 107 | 9,699,870 |
| 2005 | 3 | 0 | 26,934 |
| 2006 | 3 | 0 | 26,934 |
| 2007 | 2 | 0 | 219 |
| 2008 | 2 | 0 | 219 |
Model years with a single campaign and fewer than 25 complaints have no page here; the NHTSA link opens the agency's record for that year.
All Ford F250 model years · Ford: 201 model lines
Questions and answers
How many recalls does the 1979 Ford F250 have?
8 NHTSA recall campaigns name this model year; the most recent, 79V201000, was reported to NHTSA on 2 Nov 1979 and concerns service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:disc:rotor. Across all model years the Ford F250 line has 73 campaigns.
Is there an open NHTSA investigation into the 1979 Ford F250?
No NHTSA investigation in the current file names this model year.
What component do owners of the 1979 Ford F250 complain about most?
Fuel System, Gasoline: 1 of 1 component mentions (1,000 per 1,000). Complaints are consumer reports and have not been verified by NHTSA.
How do I get a recall repaired?
NHTSA states that safety recall repairs are performed free of charge by the manufacturer's authorised dealers. Each campaign's remedy text above is the manufacturer's statement as filed with NHTSA. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether a specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.
Where does this data come from?
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation recall, complaint and investigation flat files, public domain, downloaded 29 Sep 2026. Complaint counts are unique complaint numbers per make, model and model year; component figures count each component a complaint names. The NHTSA record linked from each campaign is authoritative.
Provenance
Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Office of Defects Investigation flat files (recalls, complaints, investigations), public domain, files dated 29 Sep 2026 (recalls) and 15 May 2019 (complaints). Complaints since 1 Jan 1995. Counts are unique complaint numbers per make, model and model year; per-1,000 rates divide a component's mentions by all mentions for the same group. Errors in processing are corrected at the next daily build; see corrections and the methodology.