1990 Ford F150: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10020302 · 2003-07-03 (July 3, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING THE GAS TANKS LEAKED FUEL. THE VEHICLE HAD TWO FUEL TANKS AND GASOLINE WOULD CROSS FLOW BETWEEN TANKS PRESSURING AND FORCING GAS TO OVER FLOW OUT FUEL FILL CAPS. *NLM *CB *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 94,615 miles reported. Look up ODI 10020302 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10022604 · 2003-06-06 (June 6, 2003)
VEHICLE HAS DUAL TANKS. THE FIRST TANK WILL PUMP GASOLINE INSIDE OF THE SECOND TANK AND WILL RUN OUT ONTO THE GROUND. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10022604 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10034089 · 2003-08-18 (August 18, 2003)
WHEN GETTING INTO THE VEHICLE INTERIOR LIGHT ON THE ROOF BURNED THE CONSUMER'S SHOULDER. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10034089 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 10039924 · 2003-09-12 (September 12, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT WARNING, THE RIGHT REAR TIRE EXPLODED INTO FLAMES. THE RIM OF THE WHEEL WAS SO HOT YOU COULD NOT TOUCH IT BY HAND. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER TO CHANGE THE TIRE. THE TIRE WAS A FIRESTONE #ATX P2335R75/R15 PLEASE FILL IN THE DOT # AND FURTHER INFORMATION ON THIS INCIDENT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES OR FATALITY TO REPORT. *PH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10039924 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10044120 · 2003-10-16 (October 16, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING FUEL SWITCHES FROM ONE TANK TO ANOTHER, RESULTING IN FUEL LEAKS. A RECALL WAS ISSUED, HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 88,610 miles reported. Look up ODI 10044120 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10066255 · 2004-04-15 (April 15, 2004)
MY 1990 F-150 HAS TWO GAS TANKS. FOR THE PAST WEEK THE GAS HAS BEEN GOING BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN THE TWO TANKS. I KNOW THIS BECAUSE I CAN FILL THE FRONT TANK AND PUT 1/4 TANK OF GAS IN THE REAR TANK. THEN AN HOUR LATER THE REAR TANK IS HOLDING THE GAS FROM THE FRONT TANK. THE BIG PROBLEM HAPPENED TODAY WHEN I FILLED THE REAR TANK AND THEN PUT $5 WORTH IN THE FRONT TANK. I HAD A 70 MILE DRIVE HOME. WITHIN THE FIRST 20 MILES THE REAR TANK WHICH I HAD FILLED, WAS READING 1/4 FULL! SO I SWITCHED TO THE FRONT TANK WHICH WAS EMPTY EXCEPT FOR TH…
Owner-reported narrative. 48,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10066255 at NHTSA ↗
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 ↗
Recall history
4 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
89V141000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Auxillary Tank:Selector Devices
Reported: 1989-08-15 (August 15, 1989)
INCORRECTLY INSTALLED FUEL LINE CONNECTORS HAVE FUEL SUPPLY AND RETURN LINES CROSSED.
Consequence: FUEL COULD BE TRANSFERRED FROM ONE TANK TO THE OTHER,POSSIBLY RESULTING IN FUEL OVERFLOW AND SPILLAGE, IN PRESENCE OF AN IGNITIONSOURCE, A FIRE COULD OCCUR.
Remedy: REPLACE FUEL LINE ASSEMBLY.
NHTSA campaign record ↗90V101000 · Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Gear Position Indication (Prndl)
Reported: 1990-06-01 (June 1, 1990)
UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, THE SNAP RING THAT LOCATES THE PARK GEAR ON THE OUTPUT SHAFT OF THE TRANSMISSION MAY FRACTURE.
Consequence: WHEN THE GEAR IS PLACED IN PARK, THE PARK GEAR WOULD NOTENGAGE, ALLOWING THE TRUCK TO ROLL FREELY IF THE PARKING BRAKE IS NOT PROPERLYSET. THIS COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy: INSTALL IMPROVED SNAP RING AND REVISED TRANSMISSION EXTENSION HOUSING.
NHTSA campaign record ↗93V125000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly
Reported: 1993-08-02 (August 2, 1993)
A MALFUNCTIONING CHECK VALVE WITHIN THE FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY CAUSES A PORTION OF THE UNUSED FUEL FROM ONE TANK TO BE RETURNED TO THE SECOND TANK. WHEN THIS OCCURS, THE CAPACITY OF THE SECOND TANK CAN BE EXCEEDED, CAUSING FUEL SPILLAGE.
Consequence: SPILLED FUEL CAN RESULT IN A FIRE WHEN EXPOSED TO ASOURCE OF IGNITION.
Remedy: REPLACEMENT OF THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR AND INSTALLATION OF REDUNDANT CHECK VALVES.
NHTSA campaign record ↗96V071000 · Electrical System:Ignition
Reported: 1996-04-25 (April 25, 1996)
THE IGNITION SWITCH COULD EXPERIENCE AN INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT.
Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE OVERHEATING, SMOKE, AND POSSIBLY FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN AREA OF THE VEHICLE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH.
NHTSA campaign record ↗