vehicle signal
U.S. public vehicle records

Ford LTD problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

52 owner complaints analyzed

35 distinct recall campaigns

60,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1968 to 2000 model years. Data snapshot: . 3 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Electrical System:Ignition:Switch is the most frequently named component, appearing in 10 of 52 complaints (19.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Engine operation917.3%
Electrical and battery issues47.7%
Transmission and shifting23.8%
Braking behavior23.8%
Steering behavior11.9%
Fuel system concerns11.9%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Electrical System:Ignition:Switch
10
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
7
Electrical System:Ignition:Module
4
Power Train:Automatic Transmission
4
Electrical System:Ignition
3
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood
2
Seat Belts:Front:Webbing
2
Vehicle Speed Control
2
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch10
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline7
Electrical System:Ignition:Module4
Power Train:Automatic Transmission4
Electrical System:Ignition3
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood2
Seat Belts:Front:Webbing2
Vehicle Speed Control2

Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 10; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 7; Electrical System:Ignition:Module: 4; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 4; Electrical System:Ignition: 3; Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood: 2; Seat Belts:Front:Webbing: 2; Vehicle Speed Control: 2

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
0
25,000 to 49,999
0
50,000 to 74,999
2
75,000 to 99,999
0
100,000 to 149,999
1
150,000 and above
0
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0000
25,000 to 49,9990
50,000 to 74,9992
75,000 to 99,9990
100,000 to 149,9991
150,000 and above0

Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0

50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (2). 49 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

1995
14
1996
20
2000
8
2001
5
2005
1
2007
1
2010
2
2019
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
199514
199620
20008
20015
20051
20071
20102
20191

1995: 14; 1996: 20; 2000: 8; 2001: 5; 2005: 1; 2007: 1; 2010: 2; 2019: 1

Pattern summary

Electrical System:Ignition:Switch leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 9 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 4 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 558173 · 2000-11-29 (November 29, 2000)

CONSUMERS VEHICLE EXHIBITED STALLING CONDITION AND HAD IT REPAIRED, CONSUMER BELIEVES THIS PROBLEM WAS DIRECTLY RELATED THE THE TFI MODULE BEING RECALLED IN CALIFORNIA, CONSUMER REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT. NLM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 558173 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 556357 · 2000-10-23 (October 23, 2000)

IGNITION MODULE FAILED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL INTERMITTENTLY. NLM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 556357 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 505049 · 1996-01-05 (January 5, 1996)

ELECTRICAL FIRE. (RICE LAKE FIRE DEPARTMENT) *SD

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 505049 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 983235 · 1996-04-22 (April 22, 1996)

ELECTRICAL SHORT, IGNITION SWITHCH FAILURE, VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN OPEN DOOR SAW SMOKE AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 983235 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 468989 · 1995-02-22 (February 22, 1995)

TRANSMISSION FAILED PRIOR TO SERVICE RECALL (93V-031). *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 468989 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 487194 · 1995-10-21 (October 21, 1995)

ERRATIC SHIFTING, SHUDDERING IN/OUT OF OVERDRIVE, ALSO NOISY. *DSH

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 487194 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10314430 · 2010-02-25 (February 25, 2010)

JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT CRUISE CONTROL MECHANISMS SHOULD BE LOOKED AT CAREFULLY AS PART OF THE "UNINTENDED ACCELERATION" ISSUE - IN 1973 WE WERE DRIVING A 1970 FORD LTD THRU' TENN. ON A HOT AUGUST DAY WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL STUCK IN FULL ACCELERATION MODE. A FEW DAYS LATER IT DID IT AGAIN DRIVING ACROSS ILLINOIS. IN EACH CASE THE CAR COULD ONLY BE STOPPED BY STOMPING ON THE BRAKES HARD AND THEN TURNING THE ENGINE OFF. THE DEALERS AT THE TIME SAID IT WASN'T POSSIBLE AND WOULDN'T EVEN LOOK AT IT. LUCKILY THERE WAS NO DAMAGE OR INJUR…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10314430 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 481870 · 1995-02-25 (February 25, 1995)

INTERMITTENT SUDDEN ACCELERATION, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL, ALSO EXCESSIVE PRESSURE APPLIED TO BRAKES DURING SUDDEN ACCELERATION CAUSED BRAKES TO BURN OUT. *SKD

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 481870 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 979422 · 1996-02-20 (February 20, 1996)

CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE IN STEERING COLUMN WHILE PARKED. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 979422 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 480022 · 1995-01-25 (January 25, 1995)

FUEL PUMP REPLACED MANY TIMES OVER LAST TWO YEARS DUE TO FAILURES. *SKD

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 480022 at NHTSA ↗

Compare model years

Recalls by model year

All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.

Recall campaigns

Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.

1984
2
1985
2
1986
0
1987
0
1988
0
1989
0
1991
0
1992
0
1993
0
1995
0
1996
0
2000
0
Recall campaigns data
CategoryCount
19842
19852
19860
19870
19880
19890
19910
19920
19930
19950
19960
20000

1984: 2; 1985: 2; 1986: 0; 1987: 0; 1988: 0; 1989: 0; 1991: 0; 1992: 0; 1993: 0; 1995: 0; 1996: 0; 2000: 0

Year-by-year records

Ford LTD model-year comparison
Model yearComplaintsRecallsChange in recalls
196801Not available
197010Not available
197202Not available
197305+3
1974150
197503-2
197701Not available
197803+2
197918+5
198001-7
198104+3
198202-2
198321-1
1984102+1
19851120
198680-2
1987100
1988500
1989400
199120Not available
1992100
1993100
199510Not available
1996100
200020Not available