Complaints over time
Complaints about the 1981 Ford F-150 peaked in 1999, with 1 filed
Owner complaints about this model year, by the year they were filed with NHTSA.
Source: NHTSA ODI complaints file. The lighter column runs through October.
Model year
1981 Ford F-150
Body and fuel not decoded. Owner complaints on file from Sep 28, 1999 to Jan 24, 2011.
Recall campaigns covering this model year319k vehicles or units across those campaigns
Owner complaints22.0 times the median 1981 vehicle
Severity index0.0Crash, fire, injury or death per 100
First 24 months0Complaints in its first two years
Components
50% of complaints about the 1981 Ford F-150 name fuel system
Owner complaints by component. Hover or focus a bar for the crash, fire, injury or death count.
Source: NHTSA ODI complaints file. A complaint can name more than one component; it is counted under the first.
Recalls
3 recall campaigns cover the 1981 Ford F-150
Check a specific vehicle by VIN on NHTSA's site: a campaign may cover only part of a model year's production.
| Campaign | Filed | Subject | Component | Vehicles | Remedy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 82V-024 | Mar 15, 1982 | Reinforcement for the in-box spare tire carrier may have been attached using incorrect hex head bolts | Equipment | 12,500 | Part replacement |
| 81V-061 | May 21, 1981 | Involved trucks were manufactured with a certain portion of specified floor pan insulation material (beneath the right front passenger seat) omitted | Structure | 130 | Repair or modification |
| 80V-145 | Nov 10, 1980 | During a change in assembly procedures, certain of the mid-ship fuel tank straps may have been improperly installed or mislocated | Fuel system | 6,260 | Repair or modification |
Source: NHTSA ODI recalls file.
Owner complaints
What owners reported about the 1981 Ford F-150
The full text of every complaint filed with NHTSA about this model year, newest first. Complaints are filed by owners and are not verified by NHTSA; NHTSA removes personal details before publishing.
2 complaints on file, page 1 of 1.
- Filed Jan 24, 2011Failure Jul 1, 2010Austin, TXTires
I PURCHASED FOUR USED SX 5000 STARFIRE (COOPER) 255/70-15 TIRES FOR MY 1981 FORD F-150 IN MARCH OF 2010. THE TIRES WERE MOUNTED TO WHAT I BELIEVE ARE 15X8 STEEL WHEELS BY THE INDEPENDENT TIRE SHOP THAT I PURCHASED THE TIRES FROM. I THEN DROVE FROM SAINT PETERSBURG, FL TO AUSTIN, TX ON THE TIRES WITH NO PROBLEMS. OVER THE NEXT TWO OR THREE MONTHS, I DROVE ABOUT 500 MILES ON THE TIRES WITH NO ISSUES, UNTIL ONE DAY ONE OF THE FRONT TIRES WAS FLAT IN MY DRIVEWAY, WITH THE TREAD SEPARATED IN ONE AREA. I REPLACED BOTH FRONT WHEELS WITH SPARE WHEELS AND TIRES (UNKNOWN EXACT SPECIFICATIONS, BUT SMALLER), AND WITHIN A COUPLE OF WEEKS, ONE OF THE REAR TIRES (AGAIN, IN MY DRIVEWAY) WAS FLAT, WITH THE TREAD SEPARATED. I PLACED TWO OTHER SPARE WHEELS/TIRES ON THE REAR AND PLACED THE SX 5000S IN MY GARAGE. WITHIN A WEEK, THE TWO SX5000S THAT HAD AIR IN THEM HAD BLOWN, AGAIN WITH THE TREAD SEPARATED. THE FAILURES OCCURRED WHEN THE WEATHER OUTSIDE TURNED HOT (SUMMER). TIRE PRESSURES WERE MAINTAINED NEAR (UNDER) THE MAXIMUM SIDEWALL SPECIFICATIONS, AND THE F-150 WAS NEVER OVERLOADED. THE TRUCK IS PRIMARILY USED FOR FAMILY TRANSPORTATION. I CALLED COOPER AT 1-800-854-6288 BECAUSE RECALL # 147 CLOSELY MATCHED THE PROBLEMS I EXPERIENCED, BUT I WAS TOLD MY TIRES WERE MANUFACTURED IN 2003 AND WERE NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL. THE TIRE INFORMATION IS: DOT 3DM2 B7W3903 C14R. I WAS ADMONISHED BY THE COOPER REPRESENTATIVE ABOUT PURCHASING AND USING USED TIRES, BUT GIVEN THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF ALL FOUR TIRES ESSENTIALLY BLOWING OUT WITH TREAD SEPARATION IN UNEXPECTED FASHION WITHIN A FEW WEEKS (OF SUMMER TEMPERATURES), I FEEL THAT THE UNDERLYING PROBLEM IS THE DESIGN OF THE TIRES, AND NOT THAT THE TIRES WERE ABUSED. UNTIL THE FAILURES, THE AIR PRESSURE IN THE TIRES DID NOT FALL OR RISE EXCEPT DUE TO AIR TEMPERATURES AND DRIVING FORCES, AND THE TREAD LIFE WAS AT LEAST 50%. *TR
NHTSA complaint 10378457 - Filed Sep 28, 1999James Town, TNFuel system, Tank assembly
THERE IS A HOLE IN THE GAS TANK. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
NHTSA complaint 848872
Source: NHTSA ODI complaints file.
Investigations
NHTSA has not opened an investigation on this model year
Source: NHTSA ODI investigations file.
Service bulletins
8 manufacturer communications cover this model year
Technical service bulletins and other notices the manufacturer sent to dealers. A bulletin is not a recall.
- 01157 Aug 6, 2001 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
INFORMATION REGARDING TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE CHARTS. *SLC - 98246 Dec 7, 1998 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS RELEASED A NEW ELECTRICAL GREASE ( F8AZ - 19G208-AA ) TO REDUCE THE POSSIBILITY OF MOISTURE CORROSION AT THE TERMINALS. *YC - 9888 Apr 27, 1998 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
INFORMATION ON A NEW TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE CHART. *YC - 83-16-23 Aug 1, 1983 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
UNKNOWN - 97511 Mar 3, 1997 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
FLUID- TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE CHARTS. *JD - 9747 Feb 17, 1997 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
FRAME- RIVET REPLACEMENT WITH BOLTS- SERVICE TIPS. *JD - 97310 Feb 3, 1997 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
NOISE- "POPPING/CREAKING"- FRONT FRAME OR SUSPENSION BRACKETS- FRAME- "POPPING/CREAKING"- FASTENER REPLACEMENT. *JD - 9597 May 1, 1995 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
UNKNOWN
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications files.