1981 Ford F250
Only 1 complaint on file — too few for a fair verdict.
This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.
Only 1 complaint on file — too few for a fair verdict. The data below is complete but unranked.
- Complaints
- 1
- Recalls
- 5
- Investigations
- 0
- Top problem
- —
Too few to rank
Campaigns on file for 1981
None on file
Not enough data
Complaints per year
1981: 1 complaint
View as data table
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 1980 | 0 |
| 1981 | 1 |
| 1982 | 0 |
| 1983 | 1 |
| 1984 | 10 |
| 1985 | 21 |
| 1986 | 38 |
| 1987 | 38 |
| 1988 | 62 |
| 1989 | 103 |
| 1990 | 108 |
| 2005 | 0 |
| 2006 | 0 |
| 2007 | 0 |
| 2008 | 0 |
Known problem areas
Only 1 complaint on file for this model year — too few to rank by share. Raw counts only, below.
Power train
1 of 1 total report mentions: power train, most commonly citing automatic transmission.
Show complaint excerpts
Transmission failure, parked vehicle in driveway in park, left idle position, opened the door, jumped out of the gear and grabbed around the vehicle and flipped out truck and the truck rolled backward, causing fatality.
NHTSA ODI report, 1996-08-27
Safety timeline
5 recalls · 0 investigations · oldest first
To check one car, enter its VIN on the NHTSA recall page. Check a VIN →
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1980-12-01Fuel system, gasoline80V145000 During a change in assembly procedures, certain of the mid-ship fuel tank straps may have been improperly installed or mislocated. As a result, they fail to conform to federal motor vehicle safety…
Remedy: Dealer will inspect and, if necessary, relocate fuel tank straps without charge to owner.
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1981-04-15Fuel system, gasoline81V023000 Certain vehicles may have been assembled without the specified fuel tank shield which prevents direct contact between the fuel tank and driveline components. During a 30 MPH frontal barrier impact…
Remedy: Vehicles will have the existing separate skid plate or fuel tank shield removed (Whichever was installed on vehicle). A special combination skid plate/fuel tank shield assembly will be installed in…
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1981-06-18Structure81V061000 The involved trucks were manufactured with a certain portion of specified floor pan insulation material (Beneath the right front passenger seat) omitted. Because of this omission, a section of the…
Remedy: The dealer will install a revised design floorpan insulator pad at no charge to owner.
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1981-11-09Wheels81V121000 The owner"S guide may contain an error in the wheel lug nut torque specification chart. Incorrect information could result in improper torque of the lug nuts during wheel replacement. Lug nuts could…
Remedy: An adhesive-backed, revised page will be supplied to owners for insertion in the owner"S guide. In addition, dealers will provide torque verification, if one or more wheels have been serviced, at no…
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1982-05-10Equipment82V024000 The reinforcement for the in-box spare tire carrier may have been attached using incorrect hex head bolts. If the carrier and reinforcement attaching bolts are incorrect, the potential exists for…
Remedy: Dealer will replace bolts and any damaged spare tires at no cost to owner.
Buy-smart checklist
1981 Ford F250 — pre-purchase inspection
Inspect
- Power train: 1 report on file for this year.
Verify these recalls were completed
- Recall 80V145000 · Fuel system, gasoline
- Recall 81V023000 · Fuel system, gasoline
- Recall 81V061000 · Structure
- Recall 81V121000 · Wheels
- Recall 82V024000 · Equipment
FAQ
- Is the 1981 Ford F250 reliable?
- There isn't enough NHTSA complaint data on file yet to give this model year a verdict.
- What are the most common problems with the 1981 Ford F250?
- The most-reported component is power train, accounting for 100% of complaints on file.
- How many recalls does the 1981 Ford F250 have?
- 5 recalls on file for this model year.
Data updated 2026-11-01 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.