1978 Ford F250: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
2 owner complaints analyzed
9 distinct recall campaigns
120,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1978 model year. Data snapshot: . 1 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1 of 2 complaints (50.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 1 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe: 1; Fuel System, Gasoline: 1; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 1 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1996 | 1 |
| 2009 | 1 |
1996: 1; 2009: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe leads the component reports. 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10296306 · 2009-12-17 (December 17, 2009)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 120,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10296306 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 505548 · 1996-06-24 (June 24, 1996)
WARPED ENGINE EXHAUST MANIFOLD DUE TO DESIGN FLAW. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 505548 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
9 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
77V161000 · Vehicle Speed Control
Reported: 1977-09-23 (September 23, 1977)
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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗77V169000 · Steering:Linkages
Reported: 1977-10-12 (October 12, 1977)
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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗77V185000 · Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Lever And Linkage:Column Shift
Reported: 1977-10-25 (October 25, 1977)
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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗77V198000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Carburetor System
Reported: 1977-11-15 (November 15, 1977)
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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗78V024000 · Wheels:Multi Piece
Reported: 1978-01-30 (January 30, 1978)
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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗78V035000 · Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Lever And Linkage:Column Shift
Reported: 1978-02-16 (February 16, 1978)
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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗78V096000 · Power Train:Automatic Transmission
Reported: 1978-04-28 (April 28, 1978)
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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗78V109000 · Steering:Linkages
Reported: 1978-05-15 (May 15, 1978)
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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗78V168000 · Seat Belts:Front:Retractor
Reported: 1978-08-07 (August 7, 1978)
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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗