Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 1985 Ford LTD
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Electrical System
844.4%
0 crashes, 4 fires
Seat Belts
316.7%
1 crashes, 0 fires
Acceleration & Cruise Control
211.1%
1 crashes, 0 fires
Engine & Cooling
211.1%
0 crashes, 1 fires
Tires
15.6%
Brakes
15.6%
Steering
15.6%
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Mar 1995peak 2Mar 2001
NHTSA investigations into the 1985 Ford LTD
An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough
complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks
something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.
PE87028Opened 1 May 1987Closed 21 Jan 1988ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
STALLING
NO SAFETY DEFECT TREND HAS BEEN DETECTED.===
EA86010Opened 26 Mar 1986Closed 28 Jul 1989SEATS
SEATBACK FAILURE
SUMMARY OF INFORMATION FROM MANUFACTURER:FORD BELIEVES THAT THE AL-LEGED DEFECT ONLY OCCURS IN A SMALL NUMBER OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ANDRECALLED ABOUT 195,732 1984 TEMPO/TOPAZ VEHICLES IN JUNE 1986.ANALYSIS: VEHICLES POTENTIALLY INVOLVED INCLUDE TEMPO/TOPAZ, ESCORT/LYNX/EXP, MUSTANG/CAPRI, LTD/MARQUIS, AND THUNDERBIRD/COUGAR.FORD SOLD ABOUT 110,000 REPLACEMENT MIO BOLTS, MAINLY FOR 1983 AND 1984MODELS. LOW CLAMPING FORCE APPEARS TO BE A LARGE PART OF THE PROBLEM.FORD INCREASED THE TORQUE REQUIREMENTS AND REQUIRED THE USE OF A MANUALTORQUE TOOL IN MARCH AND SEPTEMBER 1985 PRODUCTION CHANGES. 1...
Recalls on the 1985 Ford LTD
A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which
the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous
enough to fix for free — however old the car is.
Canada — Transport Canada
Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not
always mirror the American ones.
Recall 1985077332 units in Canada
VEHICLES WERE PRODUCED WITHOUT HEAT SHIELDS INTENDED FOR THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER OUTLET PIPES. AFTER SOME TYPES OF SEVERE HEAVY USAGE, THE SURFACE TEMPERATURES OF THE EXPOSED OUTLET PIPES COULD BECOME UNUSUALLY HIGH. IF THIS SHOULD OCCUR AND CERTAIN TYPES OF GROUND COVER WERE TO COME IN CONTACT WITH THE OUTLET PIPE, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE GROUND COVER COULD IGNITE AND RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE. (VEHICLES WITH OPTIONAL POLICE PACKAGES EQUIPED WITH 5.0 LITRE FUEL INJECTED HIGH OUTPUT ENGINES).
Recall 19850701,112 units in Canada
THE TANDEM POWER BRAKE BOOSTER REAR SHELLS MAY HAVE BEEN PRODUCED WITH REDUCED WALL THICKNESSES. REPEATED BRAKE APPLICATIONS COULD CAU SE SUCH A SHELL TO CRACK AND THE BOOSTER ASSEMBLY TO COME APART.THIS COULD RESULT IN A TOTAL LOSS OF BRAKING CAPABILTY WITHOUT PRIOR WARN ING AND PRESENT THE POSSIBILITY FOR LOSS OF CONTROL AND VEHICLE CRAS H.
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
Louisville, KYFire
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
TUBE RUNNING FROM THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER HAD 1/2 SPARKS COMING FROM UNDERNEATH FLOORBOARD ON DRIVER'S SIDE. CONSUMER WILL CONTACT THE DEALER. ADD MORE INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #882945 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Waco, TXFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
VEHICLE FIRE DUE TO FAILURE OF THE IGNITION SWITCH, PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE.
NHTSA complaint #510813 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Waco, TXFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
IGNITION SWITCH FAILED 3 TIMES, ONCE CAUSING FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #514765 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Dayton, OHFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE WIRING HARNESS, CAUSED THE WIRING UNDER THE HOOD TO CAUGHT FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #808869 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Branford, CTCrash3 injured
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
FAILURE ON THE THROTTLE, CONSUMER WAS PLACING THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE WITH HIS FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED IN REVERSE, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT. *AK
NHTSA complaint #803693 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Barlow, KY2 killed
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
STEERING WHEEL COLLAPSED DURING HEAD ON COLLISION PINNING DRIVER IN VEHICLE FOR 1 HOUR AND 45 MINUTES, CAUSING DRIVER TO BLEED TO DEATH.
NHTSA complaint #457726 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
Louisville, KYFire
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
TUBE RUNNING FROM THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER HAD 1/2 SPARKS COMING FROM UNDERNEATH FLOORBOARD ON DRIVER'S SIDE. CONSUMER WILL CONTACT THE DEALER. ADD MORE INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #882945 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Sacramento, CA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
THE THICK FILM MODULE FAILED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL INTERMITTENTLY. NLM
NHTSA complaint #559396 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Mount Vern, KY
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
THE CONSUMER HAS SPENT HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS TRYING TO FIND OUT WHY THE VEHICLE CONTINUALLY STALLS, CONSUMER BELIEVES THE STALLING IS RELATED TO THE IGNITION SWITCH. *MJS
NHTSA complaint #557804 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
North Hills, CA
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, TREAD ON RIGHT REAR FIRESTONE TIRE SEPARATED. *AK DOT # EJR1DEK116, TIRE SIZE P215 75 R15. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #872259 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Indianapolis, IN
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE VEHICLE BECAME VERY HOT/STALLED OUT DUE TO TFI IGNITION MODULE BEING TOO CLOSE AND MOUNTED ON THE SIDE OF THE DISTRIBUTOR. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #861485 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
West Colinton Height, NY
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
WHEN DRIVING AT 40 MPH AND MAKING ANY TYPE OF TURN, VEHICLE IS CUTTING OFF WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT.
NHTSA complaint #838220 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Waco, TXFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
VEHICLE FIRE DUE TO FAILURE OF THE IGNITION SWITCH, PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE.
NHTSA complaint #510813 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SAN Diego, CA
PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL
PARKING BRAKE DOESN'T RELEASE AUTOMATICALLY, RESULTING IN VACUUM LEAK.
NHTSA complaint #523015 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Waco, TXFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
IGNITION SWITCH FAILED 3 TIMES, ONCE CAUSING FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #514765 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Dayton, OHFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE WIRING HARNESS, CAUSED THE WIRING UNDER THE HOOD TO CAUGHT FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #808869 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Branford, CTCrash3 injured
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
FAILURE ON THE THROTTLE, CONSUMER WAS PLACING THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE WITH HIS FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED IN REVERSE, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT. *AK
NHTSA complaint #803693 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Barlow, KY2 killed
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
STEERING WHEEL COLLAPSED DURING HEAD ON COLLISION PINNING DRIVER IN VEHICLE FOR 1 HOUR AND 45 MINUTES, CAUSING DRIVER TO BLEED TO DEATH.
NHTSA complaint #457726 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Barlow, KY2 killed
SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER
TWO POINT SEAT BELT SEVERED OCCUPANT AT THE DIAPHRAGM IN ACCIDENT, CAUSING FATALITY.
NHTSA complaint #457726 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ST. Petersbu, FLFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
AFTER PARKING, MOMENTS LATER FOUND UNDERNEATH DASH IN FLAMES, NO PRIOR WARNING.
NHTSA complaint #984371 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Colma, CA
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING
THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE SHOULDER BELTS HANG LOOSE SOMETIMES. *AK .
NHTSA complaint #968025 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Oxford, 00Crash2 injured
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING
THE FRONT PASSENGER SHOULDER BELT SNAPPED WHEN INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE EXPLAIN. TT
NHTSA complaint #967309 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Merrimack, NH
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
INTERMITTENT SUDDEN ACCELERATION, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL, ALSO EXCESSIVE PRESSURE APPLIED TO BRAKES DURING SUDDEN ACCELERATION CAUSED BRAKES TO BURN OUT. *SKD
NHTSA complaint #481870 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Inverness, FL
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE FAILED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL. *SKD
NHTSA complaint #481205 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.