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U.S. public vehicle records

Ford FORD TRUCK problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

241 owner complaints analyzed

8 distinct recall campaigns

67,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1967 to 2003 model years. Data snapshot: . 78 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Tires is the most frequently named component, appearing in 39 of 241 complaints (16.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior2510.4%
Transmission and shifting229.1%
Steering behavior125.0%
Electrical and battery issues93.7%
Fuel system concerns83.3%
Engine operation62.5%

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.

Tires
39
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
17
Power Train:Automatic Transmission
17
Tires:Tread/Belt
17
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
13
Vehicle Speed Control
7
Engine And Engine Cooling
6
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly
6
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Tires39
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine17
Power Train:Automatic Transmission17
Tires:Tread/Belt17
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline13
Vehicle Speed Control7
Engine And Engine Cooling6
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly6

Tires: 39; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 17; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 17; Tires:Tread/Belt: 17; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 13; Vehicle Speed Control: 7; Engine And Engine Cooling: 6; Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly: 6

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
9
25,000 to 49,999
16
50,000 to 74,999
22
75,000 to 99,999
13
100,000 to 149,999
9
150,000 and above
9
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0009
25,000 to 49,99916
50,000 to 74,99922
75,000 to 99,99913
100,000 to 149,9999
150,000 and above9

Under 25,000: 9; 25,000 to 49,999: 16; 50,000 to 74,999: 22; 75,000 to 99,999: 13; 100,000 to 149,999: 9; 150,000 and above: 9

50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (22). 163 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.

1995
8
1996
15
2000
51
2001
38
2002
20
2003
17
2004
5
2005
47
2006
1
2007
19
2008
6
2009
2
2010
4
2011
3
2014
2
2016
1
2021
1
2022
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
19958
199615
200051
200138
200220
200317
20045
200547
20061
200719
20086
20092
20104
20113
20142
20161
20211
20221

1995: 8; 1996: 15; 2000: 51; 2001: 38; 2002: 20; 2003: 17; 2004: 5; 2005: 47; 2006: 1; 2007: 19; 2008: 6; 2009: 2; 2010: 4; 2011: 3; 2014: 2; 2016: 1; 2021: 1; 2022: 1

Pattern summary

Tires leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 25 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 22 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 12 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 486306 · 1995-05-19 (May 19, 1995)

MASTER CYLINDER MOFIFIED BY INSERTION OF FLARE FITTING ,NECCESSARY TO ASSIST IN LENGHTENING OF OPERATING SHAFT, CAUSED BRAKE FAILURE.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 486306 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 486028 · 1995-05-17 (May 17, 1995)

BRAKES OVERHEATED, CAUSING DIFFICULTY PULLING TRAILER. (OTHER VEHICLE ON 479631) *AW

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 486028 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 501742 · 1996-02-18 (February 18, 1996)

TRANSMISSION CAUGHT FIRE. *SD

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 501742 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 752502 · 2001-09-24 (September 24, 2001)

STATE TROOPERS FIREMEN AND POLICE WITNESSED TRANSMISSION FIRE, TOTALLY DESTROYED MY VAN. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 752502 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 984000 · 1996-05-03 (May 3, 1996)

CONSUMER STATES HE SMELLS SMOKE INSIDE VEHICLE COMING FROM UNDER THE DASH WHERE THE STEERING COLUMN IS. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 984000 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10006386 · 2003-01-23 (January 23, 2003)

ENGINE STALLS IN TRAFFIC. STANADYNE PUMP HAS FAILED AND GMC HAS EXTENDED WARRANTY TO 120,000 AND 11 YEARS BUT STANADYNE WILL NOT HONOR. THIS IS EXTREME AS STEERING AND BRAKES FAIL WHEN ENGINE STALLS. *JB ****DIMSII IVOQ POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS****739846

Owner-reported narrative. 878,672 miles reported. Look up ODI 10006386 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 9003635 · 2001-12-10 (December 10, 2001)

IGNITION SWITCH SHORTED CAUSING A FIRE UNDER THE DASH, RESULTED IN DAMAGE WIRING, SAME PROBLEM IS EXISTING AGAIN.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 9003635 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 9006130 · 2002-02-11 (February 11, 2002)

WITHOUT ANY WARNING, NO SMELL OR SMOKE, THREE HOURS LATER AFTER IT WAS PARKED IT IGNITED, OPENED THE DOOR AND SPRAYED WATER ON THE FIRE TO PUT IT OUT. OPENED HOOD AND DISCONNECTED BATTERY. FIRE STARTED IN THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR, APPEARS TO BE ELECTRICAL.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 9006130 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 558950 · 2001-01-17 (January 17, 2001)

WHILE DRIVING THE TRUCK, FUEL FROM THE FIRST FUEL TANK CROSSOVERED TO THE SECOND FUEL, OVERFLOWING THE TANK, THE OVERAGE OF FUEL SPILLED OUT ONTO THE GROUND, PROBLEM RELATED TO RECALL CAMPAIGN 93V-125, CONSUMER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF RECALL AND IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. *CJ

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 558950 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 9003231 · 2001-07-18 (July 18, 2001)

VAN WOULD BACKFIRE AND STALL WHEN I CAM TO A STOP AFTER BEING ON THE HIGHWAY SAY FOR 20 MILES OR SO. AT THE FUEL PUMP WE FOUND BURNT WIRE ON THE PUMP IN THE FUEL TANK.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 9003231 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 750818 · 2001-08-20 (August 20, 2001)

ONE SHOULD BE ABLE TO INVESTIGATE THE MILLIONS OF PROBLEMS FORD HAS HAD WITH THEIR IGNITION SWITCHES. THIS IS NOT A NEW PROBLEM BY ANY MEANS. ANYONE WHO KNOWS ANYTHING ABOUT CARS KNOWS FORDS IGNITION SWITCHES HAVE BEEN PROBLEMATIC, TO SAY THE LEAST. THEYRE FAMOUS FOR THIS. ITS PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE. NOT A SECRET. ITS BEEN GOING ON FOR 30 YEARS THAT I KNOW OF AND FRIENDS TELL ME STORIES OF EVEN EARLIER THAN THIS. FORDS IGNITION SWITCHES TEND TO EITHER HAVE STALLING PROBLEMS OR THEY TEND TO CATCH FIRE. SERIOUSLY, WHY IS THERE A SAYING FIRE ON ROA…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 750818 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 734453 · 2000-10-16 (October 16, 2000)

CONSTANT STALLING OF VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING AT 50 M/H WITH HIGH OUTSIDE TEMPERATURES (80+ DEGREES). SYMPTOMS SIMILAR TO VAPOR LOCK. MUST BE TOWED OFF HIGHWAY AND ALLOWED TO COOL DOWN. PROBLEM DOES NOT SEEM TO EXIST IN COOL WEATHER. HAS STALLED ON OFF-RAMPS BLOCKING TRAFFIC COMING OFF HIGHWAY. ALSO STOPPED ON SIDE OF ROAD ON INTERSTATE. THE FORD TRUCK IS ON A CLASS C MOTORHOME. WORRIED ABOUT SAFETY OF OUR YOUNG GRANDCHILDREN WHEN THIS HAPPENS. WE NEVER ARRIVED AT OUR DESTINATION THE LAST TIME THIS HAPPENED. COULD NOT KEEP THE MOTOR RUNNI…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 734453 at NHTSA ↗

Compare model years

Recalls by model year

All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.

Recall campaigns

Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.

1987
0
1988
0
1989
0
1990
0
1991
0
1992
0
1993
0
1994
0
1995
0
1996
0
1997
0
1998
0
1999
0
2000
0
2001
0
2002
0
2003
0
Recall campaigns data
CategoryCount
19870
19880
19890
19900
19910
19920
19930
19940
19950
19960
19970
19980
19990
20000
20010
20020
20030

1987: 0; 1988: 0; 1989: 0; 1990: 0; 1991: 0; 1992: 0; 1993: 0; 1994: 0; 1995: 0; 1996: 0; 1997: 0; 1998: 0; 1999: 0; 2000: 0; 2001: 0; 2002: 0; 2003: 0

Year-by-year records

Ford FORD TRUCK model-year comparison
Model yearComplaintsRecallsChange in recalls
196701Not available
196812+1
196903+1
197002-1
1971020
197204+2
197301-3
1974210
1975010
1976010
1977110
1978010
1979010
1980010
198310Not available
1984100
1985200
198720Not available
1988500
1989300
1990400
1991600
1992900
1993500
19941100
19951300
19961300
19972500
19982100
19992400
20002300
20012000
20023700
20031200