Total Complaints
6 filings
FORD FAIRMONT · model year
1981 FORD FAIRMONT
6 NHTSA complaints. A VIN lookup is required to determine whether a specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1981FORDFAIRMONT carries 6 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 3 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
The most frequently selected component label in reports for the 1981 FAIRMONT is electrical system:ignition:switch with 2 filings, followed by steering: steering wheel/handle bar (2) and engine and engine cooling:exhaust system (1). Complaint categories reflect owner reports and intake categorization; they do not establish a defect pattern or cause.
NHTSA currently has 179 investigation files overlapping the 1981 FAIRMONT, and 6 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should read the complaint-by-year trend as report volume, not a causal diagnosis. Use the related-complaint feed and the official recall lookup when researching a specific vehicle.
6
Complaints
0
Crashes
3
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH | 2 |
| STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR | 2 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM | 1 |
| TIRES | 1 |
Recent Complaints
19980518TIRES
TIRES REPLACED.
19970918FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
AIR CONTROL MODULE-AIR PUMP DEVERTER VALVE CLOSED, CAUSING HOT GASSES AND AIR RETURNING FROM EXHAUST TO EXPLODE/MELT/IGNITE THE PLASTIC VALVE, DAMAGING VACUUM LINES/VALVE COVER SURFACE, RESULTING IN A FIRE. *AK
19960430STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
WHILE DRIVING A PIECE IN THE STEERING WHEEL BROKE OFF AND CASUED LOSS OF STEERING. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
19960430STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
WHILE DRIVING A PIECE IN THE STEERING WHEEL BROKE OFF AND CASUED LOSS OF STEERING. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
19960429FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CAUSED THE IGNITION SWITCH TO CATCH ON FIRE WHILE PARKED. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
19960429FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CAUSED THE IGNITION SWITCH TO CATCH ON FIRE WHILE PARKED. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
Compare 1981FORDFAIRMONT to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 6 Open
EA26004Engineering AnalysisOpen
Timing Belt Failure
DP26004Defect PetitionOpen
Anti-lock brake system (ABS) Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) illuminated
EA26001Engineering AnalysisOpen
Unintended Transmission Downshift and Rear Wheel Lock-up
PE25020Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Timing Belt Failure
DP25001Defect PetitionClosed
Underbody shields detachment
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1981 FORD FAIRMONT have?▼
The 1981 FORD FAIRMONT has 6 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 3 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1981 FORD FAIRMONT?▼
The most-complained component for the 1981 FORD FAIRMONT is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR and ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM.
Is the 1981 FORD FAIRMONT safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data vintage: August 2026. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Every figure on PlainCars is rendered directly from NHTSA complaint and safety data, no number is typed in by an editor. This year-specific record is rendered from NHTSA ODI, recall, and NCAP rows for the 1981 FORD FAIRMONT; no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.