The 1979 Ford Club Wagon has 3 recalls, the most serious involving wheel rims that can develop fatigue cracks and lose air, leading to tire underinflation or a sudden blowout while driving.
On vehicles equipped with C-6 automatic transmissions, a parking pawl rod inside the transmission can deform over time, making the shift lever increasingly stiff and difficult to move. If the transmission cannot be fully shifted into Park, the vehicle may roll freely when left unattended. There is also a heat shield concern on vehicles with the 300 or 460 cubic inch engines: certain units left the factory without the full complement of body-mounted heat shields, which are meant to protect the floor area from exhaust heat. Without them, the rear floor mats sit closer to a heat source than intended, raising the risk of scorching or fire.
At a glance
What can fail
Spot welds connecting the wheel disc to the rim may be defective, causing metal fatigue cracks. This can lead to air loss, tire underinflation, blowouts, or complete rim separation.
What the fix does
No remedy description available.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
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At a glance
What can fail
Some vehicles with 300 or 460 cubic inch engines lack heat shields on the body near the rear floor. During extended idling, especially with engine conditions that raise exhaust temperatures, the floor pan can overheat and char the floor covering, causing smoke or burns.
What the fix does
No remedy description available.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Some C-6 automatic transmissions have parking pawl rods that weren't heat treated and can bend during use. This makes the shift lever harder to move and makes it difficult to engage or release park, potentially allowing the vehicle to roll.
What the fix does
No remedy description available.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
