The most-reported Fairmont run is 1FABP21B2BK (1981 builds) with 1 complaints, 1× the typical run. Engine and engine cooling problems make up 67% of reports; NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for Fairmont model years 1981–1983.
Which build runs owners report most
A production run is the first 11 characters of the VIN: plant, model year, body and engine. The Ford Fairmont has 3 of them on record. The five runs at the top of this table hold 100% of every Fairmont complaint on file.
| Production run (VIN 1–11) | Year | Complaints | Involved a crash | Fire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1FABP21B2BK•••••• | 1981 | — | 1 | |
| 1FABP23A8BK•••••• | 1981 | — | — | |
| 1FABP36X3DK•••••• | 1983 | — | — |
What to inspect on this car
One system accounts for 67% of everything Ford Fairmont owners report: Engine And Engine Cooling, 2 of 3 complaints. Start the pre-purchase inspection there.
| System | Complaints | Involved a crash | Fire |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling | — | 1 | |
| Tires | — | — |
Recalls to check against your VIN
NHTSA has 4 recall campaigns on the Ford Fairmont; the 4 below cover build years 1981 to 1983. These are for the model and year; whether one is still open on a given car, only that VIN can tell.
| Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|
| 07E064000 | Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump | 1981–1983 |
| 82V100000 | Power Train:automatic Transmission | 1982–1983 |
| 83V017000 | Power Train:automatic Transmission:lever And Linkage:column Shift | 1983 |
| 80V152000 | Service Brakes, Hydraulic:pedals And Linkages | 1981 |
The Fairmont against its rivals
The Fairmont draws 1 complaints per production run; the Chevrolet Malibu Classic 2. That is the lowest rate of the 2.
| Model | Complaints | Runs | Per run | Involved a crash |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ford Fairmont | 3 | 3 | 0% | |
| Chevrolet Malibu Classic | 254 | 129 | 5.5% |
How serious were they
| Outcome | Ford Fairmont | All vehicles |
|---|---|---|
| Complaints filed | 3 | 1,115,966 |
| Involved a crash | 0 (0%) | 64,194 (5.8%) |
| Involved a fire | 1 (33.3%) | 26,974 (2.4%) |
| Injuries reported | 0 | 58,013 |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 2,728 |
Crash-related reports run 100% below the all-vehicle rate.
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How this check works
The file behind this page holds 1,115,966 complaints filed with NHTSA between 1981 and 2026, across 298,921 production runs. The Ford Fairmont share of that is 3 complaints over 3 runs, 0% of everything on record.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check a Ford Fairmont VIN for free?
Enter the 17 characters above. ForCar matches the first eleven, the production run, against 3 NHTSA complaints from 3 Fairmont runs and 4 recall campaigns. No account, no card.
Which Fairmont production run has the most complaints?
1FABP21B2BK, a 1981 build, with 1 complaints. The typical Fairmont run has 1.
Does the Fairmont get more complaints than the Chevrolet Malibu Classic?
No: 1 complaints per production run for the Fairmont against 2 for the Chevrolet Malibu Classic.
How many Fairmont complaints involve a crash?
0% of 3 reports, against 5.8% across all vehicles; 1 involved a fire.
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