The Ford Granada spans 1981–1982 with 5 recorded NHTSA recalls and a 3.5/5 ForCar reliability score. The years to approach with caution are 1982, 1981 (most owner complaints); the cleanest are 1981, 1982. It delivers competitive fuel economy and NHTSA-rated safety.
How we score: NHTSA crash-test safety (40%), recall frequency across all years (25%) and the share of owner complaints involving a crash, fire or injury (35%). Based on NHTSA & EPA data — not user reviews.
Overview
The Ford Granada is one of the most popular vehicles in its class, produced from 1981 to 1982 across multiple generations.
How to read a Ford Granada VIN — every digit explained
Every Ford Granada carries a unique 17-character VIN stamped at the factory. Each position is a code — together they spell out where, when and how your car was built. Here's exactly what every digit means.
- WMI (1–3) — country & manufacturer. Tells you it's a Ford and the country it was built in (real Ford codes below).
- VDS (4–8) — model, body style, engine, trim & restraints. The 8th digit is the engine code.
- Check digit (9) — a math check that proves the VIN is genuine.
- Model year (10) — the year it was built (e.g. R = 2024, S = 2025).
- Plant (11) — which factory assembled this Granada.
- Serial (12–17) — the unique sequential production number.
- USA1F1 · 1F7 · 1FA · 1FB · 1FM · 1FT
- Canada2FA · 2FM · 2FT · 2LM · 2LN · 2ME
- Mexico3FA · 3FB · 3FM · 3FT · 3LN · 3MA
- GermanyWF0 · WF1
- Norway1FL
Digits 4–17 — the engine code (8th), model-year letter (10th) and plant — follow the universal SAE standard, identical on every car. For the full year-code table (2001–2026), country codes and where the VIN is stamped on your Granada, see the complete guide to reading a VIN.
How many recalls does the Ford Granada have?
The Ford Granada has 5 recorded NHTSA recalls across 1981–1982. Pick a year below to see its recalls — then verify open recalls against your specific VIN.
1982 Ford Granada recalls 4
Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly:mounting
What's wrong. Some of the involved vehicles may have been produced with improperly welded fuel tank support straps. Under certain collision conditions, these straps may not be able to support the fuel tank and leaks could develop.
Fix. Dealer will inspect the fuel tank retaining straps for type of welds and, if necessary, replace them at no charge to owner.
Fuel System, Other:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
What's wrong. Some of the suspect vehicles may have been produced with improperly tightened propane fuel system fittings in the engine compartment; fuel leakage could occur.
Fix. Dealer will inspect, replace, and seal certain fuel system connections at no cost to owner.
Equipment:other:labels
What's wrong. Incorrect information on tire placards constitutes a failure to comply with federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 110, "tire selection and rims". The information concerning tire sizes and inflation pressures is applicable to both two and four door sedans. The statement covers four door but fails to specify two door sedans.
Fix. Revised placards will be installed by owners, or by dealers without charge.
Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump
What's wrong. Certain federal-mogul aftermarket fuel pumps sold under the brand names of carter, accuflow, napa, truflow, parts depo, and parts master, shipped between august 2006 and july 2007 for use on the vehicles listed above. The fuel pump diaphragm in certain production runs may have been improperly installed or inadequately tested which may cause the fuel pump to leak.
Risk. A leaking fuel pump could create a vehicle fire hazard.
Fix. Federal-mogul will notify owners and replace the defective fuel pumps free of charge. The recall began on october 15, 2007. Owners can contact federal-mogul at 248-354-7700.
1981 Ford Granada recalls 1
Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump
What's wrong. Certain federal-mogul aftermarket fuel pumps sold under the brand names of carter, accuflow, napa, truflow, parts depo, and parts master, shipped between august 2006 and july 2007 for use on the vehicles listed above. The fuel pump diaphragm in certain production runs may have been improperly installed or inadequately tested which may cause the fuel pump to leak.
Risk. A leaking fuel pump could create a vehicle fire hazard.
Fix. Federal-mogul will notify owners and replace the defective fuel pumps free of charge. The recall began on october 15, 2007. Owners can contact federal-mogul at 248-354-7700.
Best and worst years for the Ford Granada
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint volume across 2 tracked years, the worst years are 1982, 1981 and the best (fewest complaints) are 1981, 1982.
ForCar aggregate — our own analysis of complaint volume, not published by NHTSA.
| Year | Owner complaints | Top issue | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 Granada | Steering | Avoid | |
| 1982 Granada | Visibility | Avoid |
What are the most common Ford Granada problems?
The most-reported Ford Granada problems are Steering (1 reports), Visibility (1 reports) — out of 2 owner complaints NHTSA holds for the model. Here's how they break down:
Most-reported components — tap a category to read what owners actually experienced:
Visibility 1 Read
Steam and liquid came out of heater system and scalded driver's leg and foot, can not use heater. *cj
Steering 1 Read
An electrical short caused wires to burn and smoke to come out of the steering column. Please describe. *ak
Source: NHTSA owner complaints, all model years. Bar = share of total complaints. Full reports searchable on NHTSA.gov.
Ford Granada specifications & dimensions
The 1982 Ford Granada. Full dimensions below — engine, horsepower and trim decode from your VIN. For the original factory build — MSRP, trim and standard equipment — rebuild the Ford Granada window sticker.
| Specs cache warming… |
Source: NHTSA vPIC / Transport Canada vehicle specifications. Metric values converted to imperial; generation ranges approximate.
Ford Granada cargo space, seating & interior room
How much the Granada holds — passengers and cargo. Seating, cargo and interior dimensions vary by trim and seat configuration — decode your VIN for the exact build.
Exact seating capacity, third-row availability, legroom and headroom decode from your VIN or vary by trim — the original factory equipment & options list shows what each trim included.
Passenger & cargo volume from EPA fueleconomy.gov (largest configuration). Seats, legroom and headroom from NHTSA vPIC on VIN decode.
Ford Granada tire size, oil type & owner specs
The fitment owners look up most — tires, wheels, oil and batteries. Exact wheel and tire sizes decode from your VIN or the driver's door-jamb placard; the universal items are listed below.
Exact tire, wheel, oil grade, capacity and battery group are added per trim and model year — decode your VIN above for the factory fitment. Universal items shown as-is.
What MPG does the Ford Granada get?
MPG cache warming… reload in a moment.
What engines does the Ford Granada have? Power & range
Powertrain data warming… reload in a moment.
How much does a Ford Granada cost to own?
A Ford Granada holds its value well. A typical example keeps roughly 56% of its value after five years — losing about 44% to depreciation. Check what a used Granada is worth today or browse current used-market prices before you buy or sell. Fuel, maintenance and insurance add to the total cost to own.
| Age | Value retained | Est. resale value | Lost to depreciation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 84% | $25,200 | −$4,800 |
| Year 2 | 76% | $22,800 | −$7,200 |
| Year 3 | 68% | $20,400 | −$9,600 |
| Year 4 | 61% | $18,300 | −$11,700 |
| Year 5 | 56% | $16,800 | −$13,200 |
What goes into the five-year cost to own:
- Depreciation — the biggest cost: this Granada loses about 44% of its value over five years. See the full depreciation curve by age.
- Fuel — based on EPA economy at roughly 15,000 miles a year.
- Maintenance & repairs — routine service, tires and wear items as the Granada ages.
- Insurance — varies by driver, state and trim; get a quote for your exact figure.
Resale & depreciation are ForCar estimates from typical segment value-retention curves — not a live market quote. Fuel from EPA fueleconomy.gov at ~15k mi/yr.
Is the Ford Granada safe?
NHTSA crash-test ratings aren't published for the Granada yet — see the top-rated safest cars instead.
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How many miles does a Ford Granada last?
A well-maintained Ford Granada typically lasts 250,000–300,000+ miles. It's exceptionally durable — with routine maintenance many owners report 250k+ on the original powertrain. Its ForCar Reliability Score is 3.5/5.
Check your Ford Granada’s VIN — history, recalls & specs
Title records, open recalls, build details and paint code — straight from the VIN. Free.
Check this Granada’s VIN free →All Ford Granada model years
A year-by-year snapshot of the Ford Granada — recalls, best EPA fuel economy and NHTSA safety. Tap a year for full details.
| Year | Recalls | Best MPG | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 Granada | 4 recalls | — | — |
| 1981 Granada | 1 recall | — | — |
Recalls = NHTSA campaigns that year · MPG = best EPA combined · Safety = NHTSA overall stars (tested years).
Frequently asked questions
What are the worst years for the Granada?
By owner-complaint volume, 1982, 1981 drew the most reports. 1981, 1982 have the cleanest records.
How many recalls does the Granada have?
5 recorded NHTSA recalls across 1981–1982. Always check open recalls by your VIN.
How many miles does a Granada last?
A well-maintained Granada typically reaches 200,000–300,000 miles with regular maintenance.
Is the Granada reliable?
Our ForCar Reliability Score for the Granada is 3.5/5, based on NHTSA safety, recall history and complaint severity.
What's the Ford Granada warranty?
New Ford models carry a 3 years / 36,000 miles basic (bumper-to-bumper) warranty and a 5 years / 60,000 miles powertrain warranty. Coverage can vary by model year and market — confirm with a Ford dealer.
Where is the Ford Granada made?
The assembly plant is encoded in the VIN — the 11th character. Decode your Granada's VIN above to see exactly where it was built; Ford may build it at more than one plant depending on the year.
How much ground clearance does the Granada have?
Ground clearance varies by trim and drivetrain — AWD/4WD versions often sit higher. Decode your VIN or check the specific trim for the exact figure.