# NHTSA recall 81V121000

A recall listed here may apply to a vehicle of this year, make and model. Only the manufacturer can say whether it applies to one vehicle: check the VIN with the official lookups.

- Published by: NHTSA \(United States\)
- Campaign number: 81V121000
- Manufacturer: FORD MOTOR COMPANY
- Reported: 1981\-10\-06
- Owners notified: 1981\-11\-09
- Component: WHEELS:MULTI PIECE
- Units potentially affected: 16500

## What is wrong

THE OWNER"S GUIDE MAY CONTAIN AN ERROR IN THE WHEEL LUG NUT TORQUE SPECIFICATION CHART. INCORRECT INFORMATION COULD RESULT IN IMPROPER TORQUE OF THE LUG NUTS DURING WHEEL REPLACEMENT. LUG NUTS COULD COME LOOSE DURING VEHICLE OPERATION.


## The remedy

AN ADHESIVE\-BACKED, REVISED PAGE WILL BE SUPPLIED TO OWNERS FOR INSERTION IN THE OWNER"S GUIDE. IN ADDITION, DEALERS WILL PROVIDE TORQUE VERIFICATION, IF ONE OR MORE WHEELS HAVE BEEN SERVICED, AT NO COST TO OWNERS.


## Notes

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT TRUCKS.SYSTEM: LABELS AND INFORMATION; OWNER"S GUIDE.CONSEQUENCES OF DEFECT: THIS DEFECT COULD LEAD TO WHEEL DETACHMENT, LOSS OFVEHICLE CONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT.NOTE: VEHICLE VIBRATION, WHEEL CLUNKING OR OTHER NOISES ARE INDICATORS OF THEDEFECT. IF ONE OR MORE WHEELS HAVE BEEN SERVICED, OWNER IS ADVISED TO HAVE THEPROPER LUG NUT TORQUE VERIFIED.


## Vehicles this campaign lists

- [1981 FORD F250](/makes/ford/f-250/1981/recalls.md). Built 1980\-08\-01 to 1981\-09\-01.
- [1982 FORD F250](/makes/ford/f-250/1982/recalls.md). Built 1980\-08\-01 to 1981\-09\-01.

## Investigated as EA78118

This recall followed 1 NHTSA investigation. An investigation is NHTSA looking into a possible defect. It is not a finding that a defect exists, and it does not say that any one vehicle is affected.

- EA78118: Engineering analysis, opened 1984\-05\-10, closed 1985\-09\-30. DUAL REAR WHEELS.

From NHTSA's investigation file, as of 2026-10-19. JSON: [/v1/recalls/nhtsa/81V121000/investigations](/v1/recalls/nhtsa/81V121000/investigations)

## Check a VIN

- [NHTSA recall lookup by VIN, United States](https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls)
- [Transport Canada recall search, Canada](https://wwwapps.tc.gc.ca/Saf-Sec-Sur/7/VRDB-BDRV/search-recherche/menu.aspx?lang=eng)

JSON: [/v1/recalls/nhtsa/81V121000](/v1/recalls/nhtsa/81V121000)

[Report an error on this page](https://github.com/wenmar-pro/wenmar-open/issues/new?template=data_correction.yml&title=Data%20correction%3A%20NHTSA%20recall%2081V121000&page=https%3A%2F%2Fopen.wenmarpro.com%2Frecalls%2Fnhtsa%2F81V121000&vehicle=NHTSA%20recall%2081V121000)