1990 Ford F150 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
167 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
102,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1990 model year. Data snapshot: . 25 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Auxillary Tank:Selector Devices is the most frequently named component, appearing in 27 of 167 complaints (16.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel system concerns | 43 | 25.7% |
| Braking behavior | 9 | 5.4% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 9 | 5.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 6 | 3.6% |
| Steering behavior | 5 | 3.0% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 1.8% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Auxillary Tank:Selector Devices | 27 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly | 22 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump | 10 |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 9 |
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 9 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 8 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Auxillary Tank | 8 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 7 |
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Auxillary Tank:Selector Devices: 27; Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly: 22; Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump: 10; Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 9; Tires:Tread/Belt: 9; Electrical System:Ignition: 8; Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Auxillary Tank: 8; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 7
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 2 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 3 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 6 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 10 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 6; 100,000 to 149,999: 10; 150,000 and above: 3
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (10). 142 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 27 |
| 1996 | 34 |
| 2000 | 37 |
| 2001 | 21 |
| 2002 | 15 |
| 2003 | 6 |
| 2004 | 7 |
| 2005 | 5 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 6 |
| 2008 | 4 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2011 | 1 |
1995: 27; 1996: 34; 2000: 37; 2001: 21; 2002: 15; 2003: 6; 2004: 7; 2005: 5; 2006: 2; 2007: 6; 2008: 4; 2009: 2; 2011: 1
Pattern summary
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Auxillary Tank:Selector Devices leads the component reports. Fuel system concerns appears in 43 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 9 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 9 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10066824 · 2004-04-08 (April 8, 2004)
FUEL TANK CRACKED ON THE UPPER PORTION OF THE TANK IN THE AREA WHERE THE MIDDLE STRAP CROSSED THE TANK. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 141,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10066824 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10094310 · 2004-10-22 (October 22, 2004)
CONSUMER STATED THAT HER HUSBAND'S TRUCK WAS LEAKING GAS FROM THE FRONT TANK. THEY TRIED USING ONLY THE BOTTOM TANK, BUT FOUND THAT THE FRONT TANK STILL FILLED UP AND LEAKED. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, WHO TOLD CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM WAS THE FUEL PUMP THAT PUMPED GAS FROM ONE TANK TO ANOTHER.*AK *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10094310 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10036997 · 2003-09-01 (September 1, 2003)
AN ACCIDENT DID NOT HAPPEN BECAUSE I WAS BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVE WAY WHEN THE STEEL BRAKE LINES BLEW OUT ON MY 1990 F-150 PICK-UP TRUCK. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 106,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10036997 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 730623 · 2000-09-07 (September 7, 2000)
THE BRAKE LINE TO THE REAR BRAKES CORRODED THROUGH AND FAILED. THIS OCCURED AT LOW SPEED IN MY DRIVEWAY. I KNOW OF ONE OTHER FAILURE OF THE LINE ON A F250
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 730623 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 490686 · 1995-12-19 (December 19, 1995)
DEFECTIVE WIRING HARNESS STARTED FIRE. *DSH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 490686 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 739335 · 2001-01-14 (January 14, 2001)
AUTO DEALERSHIP INDICATED ON MY PURCHASE CONTRACT THEY WOULD REPAIR THE HEATER UNIT. (HEATER UNIT AND AIR CONDITIONER WOULD WORK FOR A SHORT TIME (HEATER COLD AIR; AC-HOT AIR). I REPEATEDLY COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER ABOUT THE HEATER AND THEY NEVER RETURNED MY CALL. IN MAY 2000, THEY SAID I HAD THE PU TOO LONG AND THEY DIDN'T OWE ME ANYTHING. 1 NOV 2000, I PURCHASED A NEW BATTER AT AUTOZONE AND A MECHANIC INSTALLED IT FOR ME. ON 4 JAN 2001, 5-10 MINUTES AFTER I EXITED THE TRUCK, THEIR WAS AN EXPLOSION IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND IT THEN BEC…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 739335 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 482322 · 1995-03-13 (March 13, 1995)
TRANSMISSION VACUUM LEAKED 2 TIMES. *SD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 482322 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 486113 · 1995-09-29 (September 29, 1995)
TRANSMISSION DRAGS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 486113 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10181013 · 2007-01-29 (January 29, 2007)
THE PIN THAT POSITIONS THE TILT STEERING WHEEL BROKE ALLOWING THE STEERING WHEEL TO FLOP UP AND DOWN. THIS OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 53,227 miles reported. Look up ODI 10181013 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 980620 · 1996-03-12 (March 12, 1996)
IGNITION BREAKS OFF, CAUSING STEERING TO LOCK UP. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 980620 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 503881 · 1996-04-24 (April 24, 1996)
IGNITION SHORTS, CAUSING BURNING SMELL AS WELL AS ENGINE STALLING/ACCESSORIES TO FAIL.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 503881 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 886074 · 2001-04-17 (April 17, 2001)
VEHICLE WAS STALLING AT 45 MPH, NOT ABLE TO START AGAIN UNTIL VEHICLE HAD COOLED DOWN, 35-45 MINUTES. THEN, VEHICLE WOULD RUN FOR 20-25 MINUTES AND STALL AGAIN. DEALER REPLACED IGNITION MODULE AND COIL.*AK *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 886074 at NHTSA ↗