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1981 Ford Fairmont

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

About this comparison →
4Owner complaints

Model-year median: 1.5

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
2
19780
19790
19804
19811
19823
1983
Compare all Fairmont years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Electrical System
1Engine And Engine Cooling
1Steering
1Tires
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 0 of 4 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Electrical System. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Steering. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports2 fire reports0 injury reports

What owners actually said

4 reports
Mileage unknown · Oct 14, 1997
Tires

TIRES REPLACED.

NHTSA ODI #604455

Mileage unknown · Sep 18, 1997
Engine And Engine CoolingFire

AIR CONTROL MODULE-AIR PUMP DEVERTER VALVE CLOSED, CAUSING HOT GASSES AND AIR RETURNING FROM EXHAUST TO EXPLODE/MELT/IGNITE THE PLASTIC VALVE, DAMAGING VACUUM LINES/VALVE COVER SURFACE, RESULTING IN A FIRE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #520867

Mileage unknown · Apr 30, 1996
Steering

WHILE DRIVING A PIECE IN THE STEERING WHEEL BROKE OFF AND CASUED LOSS OF STEERING. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #983777

Mileage unknown · Apr 29, 1996
Electrical SystemFire

AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CAUSED THE IGNITION SWITCH TO CATCH ON FIRE WHILE PARKED. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #983731

Official recalls

1

80V152000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:pedals And Linkages

Nov 19, 1980

ON SOME OF THE INVOLVED VEHICLES, THE BRAKE PUSHROD TO BRAKE PEDAL RETAINING PINS MAY BE MISSING OR LOOSE. INSECURELY INSTALLED OR MISSING RETAINERS COULD RESULT IN DISENGAGEMENT OF THE BRAKE PUSHROD AND TOTAL LOSS OF SERVICE BRAKING.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Not supplied

Remedy: DEALER WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, INSTALL A BRAKE PEDAL RETAINING PIN.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.