1979 Ford LTD: complaints, problems and recalls

WHEN I WAS DRIVING IN LAS VEGAS AT LOW SPEED I HEARD A NOISE WHICH WAS AMPLIFIED WHEN CAR WAS DRIVING FASTER. WHEN I STOPED AND I CHECK A WHOLE SKIN OF THE TIRE WAS GONE. I WENT TO REPLACE IT AND WHEN THEY LIFT UP THE CAR ANOTHER TIRE HAD A BIG BUBBLE(12" LONG). I DONT REMEMBER IF A THIRD OR FORTH HAD SAME PROBLEM BUT I END UP REPLACING ALL 4 (DEFINETLY NOT FIRESTONE). SINCE THAN I ALLWAYS CHECK THE TIRES I HAD ON MY CAR. I BELIEVE I WAS LUCKY. BUT THE EXPERIENCE EVEN TODAY GIVE ME THE GUSS BUMPS.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 15 )

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 730648 at NHTSA ↗

AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE IGNITION SWITCH CAUSED THE STEERING COLUMN TO CATCH ON FIRE. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 808636 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 1978-09-11 (September 11, 1978)

THE WINDSHIELD WIPER AND WASHER SYSTEM CONTAINS AN INCORRECT 6 AMP CIRCUIT BREAKER INSTEAD OF THE 8.25 AMP CIRCUIT BREAKER. IF THE SYSTEM IS HEAVILY LOADED, AS IN THE CASE OF A PARTIALLY DRY WINDSHIELD, THE MOTOR CURRENT MAY EXCEED THE 6 AMP BREAKER"S CAPACITY. THIS WOULD CAUSE THE BREAKER TO OPEN, WHICH WOULD RESULT IN WIPER/WASHER FAILURE.

Remedy: DEALER WILL INSTALL THE CORRECT CIRCUIT BREAKER WITHOUT CHARGE TO OWNER.

Reported: 1978-09-11 (September 11, 1978)

Remedy: DEALER WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, INSTALL PROTECTIVE SHIELDS ON THE REBOUND BUMPER BRACKETS WITHOUT CHARGE TO OWNER.

Reported: 1978-10-04 (October 4, 1978)

THE LOWER STEERING SHAFT ASSEMBLIES CONTAIN COUPLING RIVET PINS WHICH WERE NOT RIVETED SECURELY ENOUGH DURING MANUFACTURE. CONSEQUENTLY ONE OR BOTH OF THE PINS COULD LOOSEN FROM THE FLANGE OF THE FLEXIBLE COUPLING DURING VEHICLE OPERATION. IF ONE PIN IS LOOSE, FREE PLAY WOULD RESULT. IF BOTH PINS WORK LOOSE, LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL WOULD OCCUR. ALSO, THE SHAFT ASSEMBLY MAY NOT CONTAIN A METAL REINFORCEMENT BETWEEN ONE OR BOTH OF THE RIVET PINS AND THE RUBBER FLEXIBLE COUPLING. AS A RESULT, THE RUBBER FLEXIBLE COUPLING COULD TEAR AND PRODUCE A NOISE OR LOOSE FEELING IN THE STEERING SYSTEM.

Remedy: THE DEALER WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE STEERING SHAFT ASSEMBLY, WITHOUT CHARGE TO OWNER.

Reported: 1978-10-04 (October 4, 1978)

ONE OR MORE OF THE FIVE COOLING FAN BLADES MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY RIVETED TO THE FAN SPIDER. THIS COULD ALLOW THE BLADES TO SEPARATE FROM THE FAN DURING ENGINE OPERATION.

Remedy: DEALER WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE ENGINE COOLING FAN, WITHOUT CHARGE.

Reported: 1979-01-15 (January 15, 1979)

THE WORD "LIGHTS" WAS OMITTED FROM THE PANEL APPLIQUE IDENTIFYING THE HEADLAMP SWITCH. WITHOUT THIS IDENTIFICATION THE INVOLVED VEHICLES DO NOT CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 101, "CONTROLS AND DISPLAYS".

Remedy: OWNERS OF THE AFFECTED VEHICLES WILL BE MAILED ADHESIVE BACKED LABELS CONTAINING THE WORD "LIGHTS", ALONG WITH INSTRUCTIONS FOR PROPER INSTALLATION AT NO CHARGE.

Reported: 1979-04-30 (April 30, 1979)

SOME OF THESE VEHICLES WERE PRODUCED WITH MISINDEXED FRONT BRAKE HOSES WHICH COULD CONTACT A TIRE OR WHEEL IN A FULL-TURN CONDITION. CHAFING AND WEAR TO THE BRAKE HOSE COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID AND FRONT WHEEL BRAKING CAPABILITY.

Remedy: DEALER WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, RE-INDEX THE FRONT BRAKE HOSE. THOSE HOSES SHOWING SIGNS OF ABRASION WILL BE REPLACED, WITHOUT CHARGE TO OWNER.

Reported: 1979-04-30 (April 30, 1979)

SOME VEHICLES WERE PRODUCED WITH BRAKE CONTROL VALVES AND BRAKE TUBES INTENDED FOR USE IN VEHICLES WITHOUT TRAILER TOW PACKAGES.

Remedy: DEALER WILL REPLACE BRAKE CONTROL VALVE AND CONNECTING BRAKE TUBE.

Reported: 1979-05-15 (May 15, 1979)

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.