Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1981 F.
The 1981 Ford F is built on the 350 platform/chassis, reflecting the generation's underlying architecture. It recorded just a single owner complaint, which was related to the engine, and suffered no recalls that year. This minimal issue record positions the 1981 model as a notably dependable entry in the F‑series lineage. Consequently, the year stands out for its limited problems and lack of recall actions.
Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.
| Overall length | 165 in |
| Overall width | 65.7 in |
| Overall height | 53.1 in |
| Wheelbase | 94.1 in |
| Curb weight | 2072 lb |
Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.
Owner complaints about the 1981 Ford F dominate in one area — the engine, 1 of 1 reports (100%), well ahead of the next concern. NHTSA has issued no recalls for this vehicle, so these are owner-reported concerns only. 0 of the reports describe a crash and 1 a fire — a small share of the total, but worth weighing against the engine pattern above. These are tallies of what owners actually reported to the federal government, not an editorial score — and higher-selling models naturally rack up more reports.
All 1 complaints on record, top 1 components.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.
No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.
Showing 1 of 1 bulletins on record with NHTSA.
| Bulletin | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 98246 | 1998-12-07 | Electrical System | FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS RELEASED A NEW ELECTRICAL GREASE ( F8AZ - 19G208-AA ) TO REDUCE… |
The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.
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Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.
NHTSA lists 0 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.