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#BS-1978-FORF25-376F

1978 Ford F-250Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Based on reports from 3 owners and 10 recalls for this exact model.

Data updated ·checked October 30, 2026 · NHTSA complaints through October 28, 2026

Complaints
3
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Recalls
10
TSBs
0
✅

Preliminary Verdict

Green Light

Based on 3 complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, and 10 recalls.

See full verdict with buy/skip conditions

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Mechanic Inspection Checklist

!Check the Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System:manifold/header/muffler/tail PipeHIGH

1 owners reported engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe issues — failures commonly reported around 120K miles.

!Inspect the Fuel SystemMED
Look for symptoms of wear and premature failure
+ 3 more items in full checklistUnlock

30,000-Mile Cost Projection

Best Case

$X,XXX

Most Likely

$X,XXX

Worst Case

$X,XXX

Top cost driver: Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System:manifold/header/muffler/tail Pipe (1 reports).

Includes fuel costs, common repairs, and recall riskUnlock

Also in your report

Owner Intelligence

AI-synthesized themes from real complaints

Buyer Lot Checklist

Questions, test drive checks, walk-away triggers

Negotiation Talking Points

Data-backed dollar deductions

Buy / Skip Verdict

Final recommendation with conditions

10 sections total in the full reportUnlock all

Where the complaints fall

Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System:manifold/header/muffler/tail Pipe1 (33%)
Fuel System1 (33%)
Power Train:automatic Transmission1 (33%)

1978 Ford F-250: Known Issues & Problem Areas

Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System:manifold/header/muffler/tail Pipe Issues

Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System:manifold/header/muffler/tail Pipe complaints account for 33% of all reports filed for the 1978 Ford F-250, with 1 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. The median mileage at time of complaint is 120,000 miles, suggesting issues tend to surface around the 120K-mile mark.

Fuel System Issues

Fuel System complaints account for 33% of all reports filed for the 1978 Ford F-250, with 1 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to fuel system-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Power Train:automatic Transmission Issues

Power Train:automatic Transmission complaints account for 33% of all reports filed for the 1978 Ford F-250, with 1 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to power train:automatic transmission-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Data sourced from NHTSA owner complaints and community reports. The full report analyzes severity, repair costs, and failure patterns for each category.

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Repair costs • Negotiation scripts • Mechanic checklist • Buy/skip verdict

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Recall History (10 recalls)

07E064000Oct 2007

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

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.

77V161000Oct 1977

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

SOME OF THE INVOLVED VEHICLES MAY HAVE DEFECTIVE CARBURETORS IN WHICH, UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, THE SECONDARY THROTTLE PLATES MAY STICK OPEN.

77V169000Oct 1977

STEERING:LINKAGES

THE PITMAN ARM TO STEERING GEAR ATTACHMENT NUTS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PROPERLY TIGHTENED ON THE INVOLVED VEHICLES. THE NUT COULD COME OFF DURING VEHICLE OPERATION.

77V185000Nov 1977

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT

ON THE INVOLVED VEHICLES, THE PARK ACTUATION SUPPORT PLATES ARE DEFECTIVE DUE TO THEIR SUSCEPTIBILITY TO CRACKING DUE TO IMPROPER HEAT TREATMENT DURING MANUFACTURE. AS A RESULT, FRAGMENTS FROM A BROKEN PLATE CAN BECOME LODGED IN THE TRANSMISSION PARKING PAWL MECHANISM. THIS COULD PREVENT THE TRANSMISSION PARKING PAWL FROM ENGAGING WHEN THE SELECTOR LEVER IS PLACED IN THE "PARK" POSITION, OR PREVENT THE PAWL FROM BEING DISENGAGED FROM THE PARK GEAR.

77V198000Jan 1978

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:CARBURETOR SYSTEM

ON THE INVOLVED VEHICLES, LEAKAGE MAY OCCUR AT THE THREADED CARBURETOR-TO-FUEL FILTER CONNECTION ON THE SUSPECT CARBURETORS. THIS IS DUE TO AN IMPROPERLY MACHINED CARBURETOR FUEL INLET CONNECTION.

+ 5 more recalls in the full report

Recall severity analysis & seller scripts

The full report rates each recall's severity and gives you scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.

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The worst model year for the Ford F-250 is the 2006 — worth knowing if you're cross-shopping years. The biggest problem area is engine.

About this data

NHTSA Complaints

Federal database of owner-filed safety complaints. 3 records for this vehicle.

NHTSA Recalls

Manufacturer-issued safety recalls. 10 recalls found for this vehicle.

Repair Cost Data

Real-world repair costs from owner reports and independent databases.

Last updated (checked October 30, 2026). NHTSA complaints received through October 28, 2026.

Other Ford F-250 Model Years

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View all Ford F-250 years →

1978 Ford F-250: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common problem with the 1978 Ford F-250?
The most commonly reported issue with the 1978 Ford F-250 is related to the engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe, with 1 complaints filed with NHTSA.
Is the 1978 Ford F-250 reliable?
The 1978 Ford F-250 has 3 complaints, 0 crash reports, and 0 fire reports filed with NHTSA. The full report analyzes whether these numbers indicate real risk or are proportional to the vehicle’s popularity.
How much does it cost to fix 1978 Ford F-250 problems?
Repair costs vary by issue. The full BumperScan report includes detailed repair cost estimates (low/median/high) for every major issue, plus a 30,000-mile total cost of ownership projection.
Does the 1978 Ford F-250 have any recalls?
Yes, the 1978 Ford F-250 has 10 recalls on record. The full report includes recall severity analysis and scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.
What mileage do Ford F-250 problems start?
Based on 2 complaints with mileage data, the median mileage at time of complaint is 120,000 miles. The highest concentration of reported issues occurs in the 120–150K mile range. The full report breaks down exactly which components fail at each mileage bracket.
When was the 1978 Ford F-250 data last updated?
BumperScan last checked this vehicle against NHTSA on October 30, 2026, covering owner complaints received through October 28, 2026 plus the latest recalls, investigations and technical service bulletins. Its numbers last changed on October 4, 2026.
What’s in the full report?
10 sections of AI analysis: severity-ranked issues, component scores (0-100), 30K-mile cost projection, failure timeline by mileage, recall details with seller scripts, owner sentiment analysis, mechanic checklist, buyer lot checklist, negotiation ammo with dollar figures, and a buy/skip verdict.
How is this different from free NHTSA data?
NHTSA gives you raw complaint text. BumperScan cross-references 2.1M+ complaints with community repair cost data, EPA fuel data, and recall records — then uses AI to synthesize it into actionable advice with dollar figures.
How is this different from Carfax?
Carfax is VIN-specific history ($45/report). BumperScan is model-level reliability intelligence — what problems this car is known for, what they cost, and whether you should buy it. Complementary, not competing.
What if the report isn’t useful?
100% money-back guarantee. If the report doesn’t help you make a more informed decision, we’ll refund you — no questions asked.
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