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Ford FairmontYears to avoid, problems & recalls

NHTSA has 10 owner complaints and 16 safety recalls on record for the Ford Fairmont.

Years to avoidNoneBased on weighted complaintsBest years—Fewest complaints for their ageOwner complaints10Top: Engine and engine coolingSafety recalls161978–1983 model years

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports. Updated daily. How we score years.

Best & worst years

Ford Fairmont years to avoid

Complaints by model year, colored by the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Fairmont median. Tap a year for its full report.

'78'79'80'81'82'83
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
1983Not rated–/1003 complaints · 2 recalls1982Not rated–/1001 complaint · 1 recall1981Not rated–/1004 complaints · 1 recall1980Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1979Not rated–/1000 complaints · 3 recalls1978Not rated–/1002 complaints · 9 recalls
Complaints by system

Most common Ford Fairmont problems

All model years combined: 10 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Engine and engine cooling41
Power train31
Electrical system21
Steering10
Tires10
16 recalls

Ford Fairmont recalls

Newest first. The ring shows the share of affected vehicles repaired, from the manufacturer's latest report to NHTSA.

–Lever and linkage: column shift83V-017 · 1983 · Feb 24, 1983 · 36,000 vehicles–Power train: automatic transmission82V-100 · 1982–1983 · Oct 13, 1982 · 2,089 vehicles–Service brakes, hydraulic: pedals and linkages80V-152 · 1981 · Nov 19, 1980 · 1,500 vehicles–Visibility: windshield79V-272 · 1979 · Dec 27, 1979 · 56 vehicles–Drum: wheel cylinders79V-262 · 1980 · Dec 18, 1979 · 3,000 vehicles–Service brakes, hydraulic: pedals and linkages79V-117 · 1979 · May 15, 1979 · 82,000 vehicles–Other: labels79V-039 · 1979 · Jan 26, 1979 · 9,500 vehicles–Emission control: crankcase (pcv)78V-203 · 1978 · Sep 21, 1978 · 218,500 vehicles–Windshield wiper/washer: linkages78V-167 · 1978 · Aug 7, 1978 · 400,000 vehicles–Delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings78V-150 · 1978 · Jun 27, 1978 · 180 vehicles–Lever and linkage: column shift78V-144 · 1978 · Jun 19, 1978 · 358 vehicles–Wiring: interior/under dash78V-004 · 1978 · Jan 10, 1978 · 185,000 vehicles

Showing the 12 newest of 16 recalls. Each model-year page lists all recalls for that year.

1 investigation

NHTSA investigations of the Fairmont

  1. REAR SEATBELTSDP84010 · 1978 · closed Jul 9, 1984
    No recall