The 1979 Ford Econoline has 3 recalls, the most serious involving the power steering gear, where a sector shaft can fracture and allow the pitman arm to detach, causing sudden and complete loss of steering control.
On the safety equipment side, vehicles with optional outboard seat belts can have the belt webbing trapped in the seat-to-bed folding mechanism when the seat is converted into a bed, which can cut or fray the belt and weaken it as a restraint in a crash. The third recall is a compliance matter affecting incomplete vehicles shipped to final-stage manufacturers with improperly applied statement of compliance labels.