Total Complaints
1 filings
FORD FORD TRUCK AND VAN · model year
1979 FORD FORD TRUCK AND VAN
1 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1979FORDFORD TRUCK AND VAN carries 1 consumer safety complaint in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 1 crash, 0 fires, 1 injury, and 1 fatality. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1979 FORD TRUCK AND VAN is steering:linkages:drag:link:connection with 1 filings. Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 177 investigation files overlapping the 1979 FORD TRUCK AND VAN, and 8 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
1
Complaints
1
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries
1
Deaths
Crashes Reported
1 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 |
|---|---|
| STEERING:LINKAGES:DRAG:LINK:CONNECTION | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20020708CrashFatalSTEERING:LINKAGES:DRAG:LINK:CONNECTION
SEPT 2000 I HAD OUR TRUCK'S STEERING REPAIRED. A CENTER DRAG LINK WAS INSTALLED AT THAT TIME. A FEW WEEKS LATER WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIFHWAY, THE CENTER LINK DRAG SOME HOW BECAME DETACHED FROM THE PITMAN ARM. THIS LEFT MY HUSBAND WITH NO WAY TO CONTROL THIS TRUCK. IT LEFT THE ROAD AND HIT A POLE. HE WAS KILLED AND THE TRUCK WAS A TOTAL LOSS. IN THE CHP VEHICAL INSPECTION REPORT, THIS LINK DRAG WAS LISTED AS BEING DETACHED FROM THE PIT MAN ARM, WITH ALL OTHER SYSTEMS BEING OK .*AK
Compare 1979FORDFORD TRUCK AND VAN to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 8 Open
EA26001Engineering AnalysisOpen
Unintended Transmission Downshift and Rear Wheel Lock-up
PE25020Preliminary EvaluationOpen
Timing Belt Failure
DP25001Defect PetitionOpen
Underbody shields detachment
PE25007Preliminary EvaluationOpen
B-Pillar Trim Detachment
PE25002Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Unintended Transmission Downshift and Rear Wheel Lock-up
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1979 FORD FORD TRUCK AND VAN have?▼
The 1979 FORD FORD TRUCK AND VAN has 1 NHTSA complaints, 1 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, and 1 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1979 FORD FORD TRUCK AND VAN?▼
The most-complained component for the 1979 FORD FORD TRUCK AND VAN is STEERING:LINKAGES:DRAG:LINK:CONNECTION with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include various components.
Is the 1979 FORD FORD TRUCK AND VAN 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 as of 2025. 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.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.