1981 Ford E-350 — Problems, Recalls & Complaints

THERE ARE THREE PINCH BOLTS THAT CONNECT TWO UNIVERSAL JOINTS IN THE STEERING COLUMN AND GEARBOX. PINCH BOLTS MAY NOT BE PROPERLY TIGHTENED. STEERING MAY BIND OR LOCK UP.

Remedy: THE STEERING COLUMN SHAFT COVER WILL BE REMOVED BY DISENGAGING AND REMOVING THE SELF TAPPING SCREWS IN ORDER TO SECURELY FASTEN THE PINCH BOLTS.

ATTACHING BOLTS ON FUEL TANK SUPPORTS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN ADEQUATELY TIGHTENED; ALSO, THE SUPPORTS ARE TOO THIN. HIGH LEVELS OF STRESS, WHICH COULD OCCUR UNDER NORMAL OPERATING CONDITIONS, COULD CAUSE CRACKS TO DEVELOP IN THE SUPPORT STRAPS. IF THE FUEL TANK SUPPORTS FRACTURE, THE FUEL TANK WILL SLIP FROM THE NORMAL POSITION, AND FUEL LEAKAGE COULD RESULT.

Remedy: FUEL TANK SUPPORTS AND FASTENERS WILL BE REPLACED WITHOUT CHARGE.

CERTAIN FEDERAL-MOGUL AFTERMARKET FUEL PUMPS SOLD UNDER THE BRAND NAMES OF CARTER, ACCUFLOW, NAPA, TRUFLOW, PARTS DEPO, AND PARTS MASTER, SHIPPED BETWEEN AUGUST 2006 AND JULY 2007 FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE FUEL PUMP DIAPHRAGM IN CERTAIN PRODUCTION RUNS MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY INSTALLED OR INADEQUATELY TESTED WHICH MAY CAUSE THE FUEL PUMP TO LEAK.

Remedy: FEDERAL-MOGUL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 15, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FEDERAL-MOGUL AT 248-354-7700.

THE GEAR POSITION INDICATORS ON CERTAIN VEHICLES MAY BE TOO SHORT TO BE READILY VISIBLE TO SOME DRIVERS. THIS IS NOT IN COMPLIANCE WITH FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 101, "CONTROLS AND DISPLAY", WHICH STATES THAT THE GEAR POSITION DISPLAY MUST BE VISIBLE TO DRIVER.

Remedy: IF POINTER OF GEAR POSITION INDICATOR IS FOUND TO BE TOO SHORT, IT WILL BE REPLACED WITHOUT CHARGE TO OWNER.