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FORD · vehicle model

FORD L8501

1 NHTSA complaints and 0 safety recalls across model years 1998–1998.

Complaints
1
Recalls
0
Model years
1

The FORDL8501 appears in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database with 1 consumer safety complaints and 0 recall campaigns across 1 model year (1998–1998). That averages roughly 1 complaint per model year. Report counts can differ between model years for many reasons; this dataset does not establish the cause of a difference.

Complaint volume on a nameplate alone is not a reliability verdict: a long-running bestseller can accumulate more filings than a low-volume niche model because more vehicles are on the road. The table below shows report counts and published NHTSA crash-test ratings side by side for each model year.

NHTSA has 179 investigation files tied to this model, with 6 currently open. Investigation records, complaint reports, and recall campaigns each provide different context. Use the official NHTSA VIN lookup and the underlying notices to research a specific vehicle; PlainCars does not infer a vehicle-risk or pricing conclusion from these records.

Complaints by Year

YearComplaints
19981

Compare FORDL8501 to Similar Vehicles

FORDL8501 vs VOLVONO SUCH MODEL YEAR C40 → FORDL8501 vs VOLVO944 → FORDL8501 vs VOLVO945 → FORDL8501 vs VOLVOWCA →

NHTSA Investigations 6 Open

EA26004Engineering AnalysisOpen2026-07-31

Timing Belt Failure

DP26004Defect PetitionOpen2026-04-09

Anti-lock brake system (ABS) Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) illuminated

EA26001Engineering AnalysisOpen2026-01-30

Unintended Transmission Downshift and Rear Wheel Lock-up

PE25020Preliminary EvaluationClosed2025-12-18

Timing Belt Failure

DP25001Defect PetitionClosed2025-09-05

Underbody shields detachment

PE25007Preliminary EvaluationClosed2025-08-07

B-Pillar Trim Detachment

PE25002Preliminary EvaluationClosed2025-03-21

Unintended Transmission Downshift and Rear Wheel Lock-up

EA25001Engineering AnalysisOpen2025-01-17

Collisions Involving Ford BlueCruise

RQ24015Recall QueryClosed2024-11-15

Seat Belt Retractor Pretensioner Inadvertent Deployment

RQ24014Recall QueryClosed2024-11-15

Loss of Motive Power

View all 179 investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How reliable is the FORD L8501?▼
The FORD L8501 has received 1 NHTSA complaints spanning model years 1998 to 1998, with 0 recalls. That averages about 1 complaints per model year.
What years of FORD L8501 are available?▼
PlainCars has complaint and recall data for the FORD L8501 from 1998 to 1998 (1 model years). Select any year to see component-level complaint breakdowns and safety ratings.
Does the FORD L8501 have safety ratings?▼
NHTSA safety ratings (NCAP 5-star program) are available for many FORD L8501 model years from 2011 onward. Select a specific year to see front crash, side crash, and rollover ratings where available.
What are the most common FORD L8501 complaints?▼
NHTSA complaints for the FORD L8501 are categorized by component, common areas include engine, transmission, electrical system, airbags, and brakes. Select a model year for a detailed component-by-component breakdown.
How do I check if my FORD L8501 has been recalled?▼
Visit the year-specific page on PlainCars to see all recalls for your model year, or enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov for official recall status and available remedies.
Data sources

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. FORD L8501 totals are aggregated from the linked NHTSA model-year rows; 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.