1978 Ford Fairmont: recalls and complaints

NHTSA lists 9 recall campaigns for the 1978 Ford Fairmont. The newest campaign is 78V203000. NHTSA received the report on 21 Sep 1978. The NHTSA record gives the component Engine and Engine Cooling / Exhaust System / Emission Control / Crankcase (Pcv). NHTSA has 2 complaints on file for this model year. 1 NHTSA investigation names this model year.

The NHTSA recall file shows no do-not-drive advisory and no park-outside advisory on these campaigns.

This page cannot show if a recall applies to one vehicle. The NHTSA VIN lookup shows the unrepaired recalls of one vehicle.

Remedy of the newest campaign, 78V203000, in the NHTSA record

The dealer will replace the pulse air system reed valve and silencer without charge.

NHTSA VIN lookup

Complaint information entered into NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation vehicle owner's complaint database is used with other data sources to identify safety issues that warrant investigation and to determine if a safety-related defect trend exists.
NHTSA publishes these words. Source: NHTSA Datasets and APIs, section Complaints, read on 1 Oct 2026. Complaint file through 30 Sep 2026. Recall file through 30 Sep 2026.

Since the last update

No tracked figure of this page changed in a data update. What the log tracks

All updates to the register

Recall campaigns

9 campaigns, newest first. 889,700 units in total.

78V20300021 Sep 1978Engine and Engine Cooling / Exhaust System / Emission Control / Crankcase (Pcv)
78V1670007 Aug 1978Visibility / Windshield Wiper/Washer / Linkages
78V15000027 Jun 1978Fuel System, Gasoline / Delivery / Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings
78V14400019 Jun 1978Power Train / Automatic Transmission / Lever and Linkage / Column Shift
78V00400010 Jan 1978Electrical System / Wiring / Interior/Under Dash
77V22100015 Dec 1977Equipment / Appliance / Air Conditioner
77V17000012 Oct 1977Power Train / Automatic Transmission / Lever and Linkage / Column Shift
77V15800022 Sep 1977Service Brakes, Hydraulic / Foundation Components / Disc / Rotor
77V15900022 Sep 1977Suspension / Rear

78V203000Received 21 Sep 1978. 218,500 units.
Engine and Engine Cooling / Exhaust System / Emission Control / Crankcase (Pcv)
Defect, in the NHTSA record
The involved vehicles contain emission control systems that utilize a pulse air reed valve to permit air flow from the air cleaner to the exhaust manifold on negative pressure pulsations. These reed valves may fail under cold weather conditions, causing a backflow of exhaust gas into the air cleaner and fuel induction system on positive exhaust pulses. This causes an overly rich air/fuel mixture, reduced fuel economy and reduced engine performance. Continued vehicle operation may result in engine stalling or overheating of the exhaust system.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
The dealer will replace the pulse air system reed valve and silencer without charge.
Report filed by FORD MOTOR COMPANY. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 17 Nov 1978.
78V167000Received 7 Aug 1978. 400,000 units.
Visibility / Windshield Wiper/Washer / Linkages
Defect, in the NHTSA record
The windshield wiper drive linkage on the affected vehicles may fracture due to metal fatigue as a result of repeated flexing of the drive arm across a stress sensitive area. This condition will render the windshield wiper system inoperative.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
The dealer will install an improved windshield wiper linkage without cost to owner.
Report filed by FORD MOTOR COMPANY. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 6 Oct 1978.
78V150000Received 27 Jun 1978. 180 units.
Fuel System, Gasoline / Delivery / Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings
Defect, in the NHTSA record
An improper transmission shift bracket was installed which, because of its design, could contact and abrade the fuel hose. Fuel leakage and possible accumulation of fuel on a surface beneath a parked vehicle could result.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
The dealer will replace the transmission shift bracket and its related parts, including the fuel hose if found necessary, free of charge.
Report filed by FORD MOTOR COMPANY. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 30 Jun 1979.
78V144000Received 19 Jun 1978. 358 units.
Power Train / Automatic Transmission / Lever and Linkage / Column Shift
Defect, in the NHTSA record
Transmission shift control rods were installed that were intended for use with the steering columns of a prior design level. Attachment of the shift control rod with the steering column shift lever grommet will allow relative movement between these parts. Continued usage could result in grommet wear and deterioration of the shift control function, with the potential for starting in gear or an inability to engage the parking gear.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
Driver will inspect and, if necessary, install new transmission shift linkage parts, without charge to owner.
Report filed by FORD MOTOR COMPANY. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 14 Aug 1978.
78V004000Received 10 Jan 1978. 185,000 units.
Electrical System / Wiring / Interior/Under Dash
Defect, in the NHTSA record
Because of its position, the wiring assembly may chafe against the cowl-to-brake pedal support brace which is located under the instrument panel.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
The dealer will install protective shields on the brake pedal support brace and perform repairs, if necessary.
Report filed by FORD MOTOR COMPANY. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 17 Jan 1978.
77V221000Received 15 Dec 1977. 6 units.
Equipment / Appliance / Air Conditioner
Defect, in the NHTSA record
The involved vehicles are equipped with air conditioning units which contain blower motor resistor wires which are improperly positioned. As a result, under certain conditions the polypropylene case material could become overheated and eventually ignite, especially if the blower motor switch is in the low or medium position.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
Dealer will modify the involved units as found necessary.
Report filed by FORD MOTOR COMPANY.
77V170000Received 12 Oct 1977. 41,000 units.
Power Train / Automatic Transmission / Lever and Linkage / Column Shift
Defect, in the NHTSA record
On some of the involved vehicles, the transmission parking pawl may not engage the parking gear when the transmission selector lever is placed in the "park" position. This condition is attributable to excessive free play in the transmission shift linkage adjustment.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
Dealer will inspect and properly adjust the shift linkage, at no charge.
Report filed by FORD MOTOR COMPANY. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 22 Oct 1977.
77V158000Received 22 Sep 1977. 44,638 units.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic / Foundation Components / Disc / Rotor
Defect, in the NHTSA record
The front disc brake rotors installed on the involved vehicles may have been improperly manufactured so that they contain cracks. These cracked rotors could fracture during vehicle braking and cause brake pull and affect vehicle directional control.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
Dealer will replace both front disc brake rotors on involved vehicles, without charge to owners.
Report filed by FORD MOTOR COMPANY.
77V159000Received 22 Sep 1977. 18 units.
Suspension / Rear
Defect, in the NHTSA record
The involved vehicles may be in non-compliance to federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 105, "hydraulic brake systems", due to installation of incorrect rear axle assemblies. Consequently, early rear wheel lock-up under light loading conditions could result causing vehicle directional instability. Rear braking effectiveness would also be reduced.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
Dealer will inspect and, if necessary, install the correct rear axle assembly without charge to owner.
Report filed by FORD MOTOR COMPANY.

The campaign number opens the NHTSA record. Each quotation is the text of the NHTSA recall file.

Recall campaign: One recall in the NHTSA recall file, with one campaign number. A campaign can name many makes, models and model years.

Units: The number of vehicles or products that a recall can include. The manufacturer or the firm reports the number to the agency.

Complaints by component

2 complaints, 2 component mentions.

A complaint can name more than one component. Each component that a complaint names is one component mention. This model year has fewer than 50 component mentions, so the table shows the number of mentions only.

1978 Ford Fairmont: component mentions in complaints
Component		Mentions
Power Train		2

Complaints that report a crash: 0
Complaints that report a fire: 0
Injuries in the complaints: 0
Deaths in the complaints: 0
Date of the newest complaint: 25 Feb 1998

These figures are the entries of the persons who sent the complaints.

Complaint: A report about a possible safety problem that a person sends to NHTSA. This site shows the number of complaints and not their text.

Complaints about the 1978 Ford Fairmont, by the year NHTSA received them. The largest year is 1998, with 2 complaints.

Investigations

NHTSA investigations that name the 1978 Ford Fairmont
Number	Type	Subject	Component	Opened	Closed	Campaign
DP84010	Defect petition	REAR SEATBELTS	Seat Belts / Rear/Other	18 Jan 1984	9 Jul 1984

Investigation: A study of a possible safety defect by the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. An investigation with no closing date in the NHTSA file is open.

Other model years

The number under each year is the number of recall campaigns.

19789
19793
19801
19811
19821
19832

A year without a link has fewer than 2 campaigns and fewer than 25 complaints. It has no page.

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Official channels

NHTSA VIN lookupNHTSA shows the unrepaired recalls of one vehicle from its VIN or its license plate.
NHTSA: report a safety problemThe NHTSA form for a complaint about a vehicle, a tire, a child seat or equipment.
NHTSA page of the 1978 Ford FairmontThe recalls, the complaints and the investigations that NHTSA shows for this model year.

Cite this page

Recall Register. 1978 Ford Fairmont: recalls and complaints. https://recallregister.com/vehicle/ford/fairmont/1978/. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, recall, complaint and investigation files. Data through 30 Sep 2026.

Sources

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation
Licence: US government work, public domain
Recall file through: 30 Sep 2026
Complaint file through: 30 Sep 2026
First complaint in the file: 1 Jan 1995
Manufacturer in the recall file: FORD MOTOR COMPANY

The NHTSA record is the authority. A complaint count is the number of different complaint numbers for the make, the model and the model year. How the register is made. Report an error.

Questions

How many units are in the recall campaigns for the 1978 Ford Fairmont?: 889,700 units in 9 campaigns. A campaign can name other models and model years, and its units include them.
How many recall campaigns does the Ford Fairmont have for all model years?: NHTSA lists 16 recall campaigns for the Ford Fairmont, model years 1978 to 1983. 9 of them name the 1978 model year.
Which component do the complaints about the 1978 Ford Fairmont name most often?: Power Train: 2 of 2 component mentions.
Is an NHTSA investigation of the 1978 Ford Fairmont open?: No. The 1 investigation that names this model year has a closing date in the NHTSA file.