Half of all complaints arrive by 0 years of age, so 100% land after the 3-year basic warranty ends. The system owners report most is Electrical System, with 13 complaints.
Ford LTD years to avoid — and the best ones
| Model year | Per run | Complaints | Runs | Enough history? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | 3 | 3 | yes |
What actually fails — and at what age
Systems by number of complaints, with the age at which each typically goes. The age column is the useful one — it tells you what to expect next on a car you already own, and what to inspect on one you are about to buy.
| System | Complaints | Typical age | Crash | Fire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | — | — | 8 | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | — | — | 1 | |
| Vehicle Speed Control | — | 1 | — | |
| Structure | — | 1 | — | |
| Visibility | — | — | 1 | |
| Tires | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belts | — | — | — |
What else in this class
6 models share the LTD's vehicle class. Per production run, the Toyota Camry draws 5.65, the Honda Accord 4.02 and the Dodge Challenger 3.27, against 1 for the LTD. That is the fewest complaints of the group.
| Same class as the LTD | Complaints on record | Recall campaigns | Years built |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota Camry | 161 | 1983–2026 | |
| Honda Accord | 415 | 1981–2026 | |
| Dodge Challenger | 77 | 1981–2026 | |
| Toyota Prius | 109 | 2001–2026 | |
| Hyundai Elantra | 117 | 1992–2026 | |
| Nissan Altima | 148 | 1993–2026 |
The table shows totals on record; the rates per production run are in the sentence above.
Good year or bad year — the VIN settles it.
- Check any VIN against complaints for its exact build year and plant
- Exact value for that car, adjusted for its mileage
- Full research report as a PDF you can hand to a mechanic
- Alerts if a recall lands on a car in your garage
- No ads, on every page
- No ads, no tracking — and much more
Frequently asked questions
Is the Ford LTD reliable?
By complaints per production run it is better than typical: 1 against 3.73 for the average car, and fewer than each of the 3 class rivals we compared.
When do LTD problems usually start?
Half of all complaints arrive by 0 years of age. The most reported system is Electrical System, followed by Engine and Engine Cooling.
Will the warranty cover LTD problems?
Mostly not: basic cover is 3 years / 36,000 miles, and only 0% of reported failures fall inside it.
Is the LTD more reliable than the Toyota Camry?
Yes: 1 complaints per production run for the LTD against 5.65 for the Toyota Camry.
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