1981 Ford F-250 Super Duty — Problems, Recalls & Complaints

THE REINFORCEMENT FOR THE IN-BOX SPARE TIRE CARRIER MAY HAVE BEEN ATTACHED USING INCORRECT HEX HEAD BOLTS. IF THE CARRIER AND REINFORCEMENT ATTACHING BOLTS ARE INCORRECT, THE POTENTIAL EXISTS FOR THE TIRE SIDEWALL TO BE DAMAGED OR WEAKENED BY EXTENDED CONTACT WITH THE SHARP EDGES OF THE BOLT HEADS.

Remedy: DEALER WILL REPLACE BOLTS AND ANY DAMAGED SPARE TIRES AT NO COST TO OWNER.

DURING A CHANGE IN ASSEMBLY PROCEDURES, CERTAIN OF THE MID-SHIP FUEL TANK STRAPS MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY INSTALLED OR MISLOCATED. AS A RESULT, THEY FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 301, "FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITY". IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION, EXCESSIVE FUEL SPILLAGE MAY OCCUR.

Remedy: DEALER WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, RELOCATE FUEL TANK STRAPS WITHOUT CHARGE TO OWNER.

THE INVOLVED TRUCKS WERE MANUFACTURED WITH A CERTAIN PORTION OF SPECIFIED FLOOR PAN INSULATION MATERIAL (BENEATH THE RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER SEAT) OMITTED. BECAUSE OF THIS OMISSION, A SECTION OF THE SHEET METAL FLOOR PAN WAS LEFT EXPOSED OVER THE EXHAUST SYSTEM IN AN AREA OF POSSIBLE PASSENGER CONTACT.

Remedy: THE DEALER WILL INSTALL A REVISED DESIGN FLOORPAN INSULATOR PAD AT NO CHARGE TO OWNER.

CERTAIN VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN ASSEMBLED WITHOUT THE SPECIFIED FUEL TANK SHIELD WHICH PREVENTS DIRECT CONTACT BETWEEN THE FUEL TANK AND DRIVELINE COMPONENTS. DURING A 30 MPH FRONTAL BARRIER IMPACT TEST, AS SPECIFIED IN FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 301, "FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITY", FUEL LEAKAGE MAY OCCUR.

Remedy: VEHICLES WILL HAVE THE EXISTING SEPARATE SKID PLATE OR FUEL TANK SHIELD REMOVED (WHICHEVER WAS INSTALLED ON VEHICLE). A SPECIAL COMBINATION SKID PLATE/FUEL TANK SHIELD ASSEMBLY WILL BE INSTALLED IN ITS PLACE FREE OF CHARGE.

THE OWNER"S GUIDE MAY CONTAIN AN ERROR IN THE WHEEL LUG NUT TORQUE SPECIFICATION CHART. INCORRECT INFORMATION COULD RESULT IN IMPROPER TORQUE OF THE LUG NUTS DURING WHEEL REPLACEMENT. LUG NUTS COULD COME LOOSE DURING VEHICLE OPERATION.

Remedy: AN ADHESIVE-BACKED, REVISED PAGE WILL BE SUPPLIED TO OWNERS FOR INSERTION IN THE OWNER"S GUIDE. IN ADDITION, DEALERS WILL PROVIDE TORQUE VERIFICATION, IF ONE OR MORE WHEELS HAVE BEEN SERVICED, AT NO COST TO OWNERS.