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Ford L SeriesYears to avoid, problems & recalls

NHTSA has 3 owner complaints and 5 safety recalls on record for the Ford L Series.

Years to avoidNoneBased on weighted complaintsBest years—Fewest complaints for their ageOwner complaints3Top: Exterior lightingSafety recalls51975–1998 model years

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

Best & worst years

Ford L Series 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 L Series median. Tap a year for its full report.

'75'76'77'78'79'84'85'90'91'94'97'98
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
1998Not rated–/1001 complaint · 0 recalls1997Not rated–/1001 complaint · 0 recalls1994Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1991Not rated–/1001 complaint · 0 recalls1990Not rated–/1000 complaints · 2 recalls1985Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1984Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1979Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1978Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1977Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1976Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1975Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall
Complaints by system

Most common Ford L Series problems

All model years combined: 3 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
Exterior lighting10
Structure10
Suspension11
5 recalls

Ford L Series recalls

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

–Supply: reservoir/tank97V-150 · 1994 · Sep 9, 1997 · 575 vehicles–Steering: steering wheel/handle bar90V-009 · 1990 · Jan 22, 1990 · 500 vehicles–Steering: steering wheel/handle bar89V-189 · 1990 · Nov 7, 1989 · 39 vehicles–Driveline: air85V-168 · 1984–1985 · Dec 20, 1985 · 51,500 vehicles–Antilock: control unit/module79V-077 · 1975–1979 · Mar 29, 1979 · 65,000 vehicles
2 investigations

NHTSA investigations of the L Series

  1. AIR BRAKE RESERVOIRRQ98014 · 1994–1995 · still open
    Led to recall 97V-150
  2. THROTTLE NOT RETURNINGPE93069 · 1993 · closed Sep 30, 1993
    Led to recall 93V-160