The 1979 Ford Ranchero has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 24,800 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 2 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the exterior lighting. Last updated July 5, 2026.
THE INVOLVED VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN BUILT WITH INCORRECT WELD NUTS THAT ATTACH THE REAR PORTION OF THE FRONT OUTBOARD SEAT TRACK TO THE FLOOR PAN. THE INCORRECT NUTS HAVE AN OVERSIZE DIAMETER AND THREAD, AND UPON FRONT SEAT TRACK ANCHOR BOLT INSTALLATION, THE THREADS MAY HAVE BEEN STRIPPED.
THE DEALER WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPAIR ANY STRIPPED WELD NUTS AND INSTALL LARGER SIZE BOLTS TO ANCHOR THE SEAT TRACK TO THE FLOOR AT NO COST TO OWNER.
THE STEERING GEARS ON THE INVOLVED VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN BUILT WITH IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED SECTOR SHAFTS FROM WHICH THE THREADED PORTIONS OF THE SHAFTS MAY FRACTURE AND SEPARATE. SHOULD THE SECTOR SHAFT FRACTURE, THE PITMAN ARM MAY DISENGAGE FROM THE SPLINED PORTION OF THE SECTOR SHAFT.
THE DEALER WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY OR INSTALL A NEW SECTOR SHAFT IN THE STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY.
DUE TO AN ERROR IN THE VEHICLE ASSEMBLY COMPUTER BROADCAST PROGRAM, THE INVOLVED VEHICLES WERE EQUIPPED WITH 14X5.5 INCH WHEEL RIMS WHICH WERE INTENDED FOR USE ON PASSENGER CARS. THE TIRES WERE NOT MARKED WITH THE INFORMATION SPECIFIED BY FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 120, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS FOR…
THE EXISTING 14X5.5 INCH WHEELS WILL BE REPLACED WITH 14X6.0 INCH WHEELS.
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.
“When pushing the switch to activate the windshield wipwr/washer, the back of the switch fell off, shorting out the system. *ak”
“Parking light switch disconnected and lenses fell off with minimal shock. *ak”
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1979 Ford Ranchero as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.