1985 Ford F250: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
16 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
Not available median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1985 model year. Data snapshot: . 0 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 16 complaints (12.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 4 | 25.0% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 12.5% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 6.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 6.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 6.3% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 2 |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Module | 1 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 1 |
| Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Auxillary Tank | 1 |
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 2; Electrical System:Ignition:Module: 1; Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 1; Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner: 1; Fuel System, Gasoline: 1; Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Auxillary Tank: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
No usable failure mileage is recorded. 16 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 | 5 |
| 1996 | 5 |
| 2000 | 3 |
| 2001 | 2 |
| 2003 | 1 |
1995: 5; 1996: 5; 2000: 3; 2001: 2; 2003: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 1 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 10006837 · 2003-02-10 (February 10, 2003)
THE FIREWALL CRACKED, WHICH REDUCED THE BRAKING CAPABILITY OF THE VEHICLE.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10006837 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 488327 · 1995-10-22 (October 22, 1995)
HEAD GASKETS CRACKED. *SD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 488327 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 501477 · 1995-10-03 (October 3, 1995)
BRAKE LINE RUSTED OUT AND PEDAL FADED TO THE FLOOR. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 501477 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 504135 · 1996-05-06 (May 6, 1996)
STEERING COLUMN BECOMES VERY WARM TO THE TOUCH WHEN DRIVING FOR A LENGTH OF TIME. *DSH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 504135 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 504345 · 1996-04-29 (April 29, 1996)
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE. *SD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 504345 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 726849 · 2000-08-07 (August 7, 2000)
THE RIGHT REAR AXLE BROK.E, CAUSED US TO HIT THE BRIDGE ON THE RIGHT AND THEN RICHOCHETED US TO THE LEFT AND WE HIT A 5 TON TOW TRUCK. WHICH TOTALED THE PICKUP INTO A MILLION PIECES. WE HAVE PICTURES OF THE ACCIDENT SCENE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 726849 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 728124 · 2000-08-16 (August 16, 2000)
FIRESTONE HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH THESE TIRES FOR MORE THAN JUST THE PAST FEW YEARS BUT HAS ALWAYS REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM. WHEN THE 1ST TIRE CAME APART, I WAS TRAVELING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WITH A CAB-OVER CAMPER ON THE TRUCK AND TOWING A MOTORCYCLE TRAILER. THE ONLY DAMAGE WAS TO THE RIM FROM RIDING ON THE PAVEMENT TO A STOP. WHEN THE 2ND TIRE CAME APART THE TRUCK WAS SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY AND I WAS INSPECTING THE TIRE .HALF OF THE SKIN FROM THE LEFT SIDE OF MY FACE WAS REMOVED, MY LEFT EYE WAS SEVERLY ABRADED AND THE EYE SOCKET WAS BR…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 728124 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 785681 · 2001-09-20 (September 20, 2001)
THE HAULING CAMPER HAD NUMEROUS ENGINE SHUT OFFS AT VARIOUS SPEEDS DUE TO IGNITION MODULE FAILURE. THIS FAILURE CAUSED LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. THE CONSUMER STATES THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD CORRECT THIS DESIGN DEFECT. *YH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 785681 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
84V162000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System:Fuel Rail
Reported: 1984-12-26 (December 26, 1984)
METAL BURRS AND SHARP EDGES ON FUEL RAILS MAY HAVE DAMAGED ADJACENT O-RING SEALS DURING ASSEMBLY. THE DEFECT COULD CAUSE FUEL LEAKAGE WHEN ENGINE IS OPERATING.
Remedy: FUEL RAILS WILL BE INSPECTED FOR LEAKS, WETNESS OR SEEPAGE OF FUEL AND, IF NECESSARY, FUEL RAILS AND RELATED COMPONENTS WILL BE REPLACED WITHOUT COST TO THE OWNER.
NHTSA campaign record ↗86V111000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly:Mounting
Reported: 1986-08-14 (August 14, 1986)
TRUCKS FAIL TO MEET REQUIREMENT OF FMVSS NO. 301, FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITY, IN A 30 MPH FRONT ANGULAR BARRIER TEST IMPACT BECAUSE OF THE OMISSION OF THE NOSE SHIELD ON MIDSHIP FUEL TANK. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT, FUEL SPILLAGE IN THE TRUCKS WHICH DO NOT MEET THE FMVSS INCREASES THE RISK OF A FIRE.
Remedy: INSTALL NOSE SHIELD ON THE MIDSHIP FUEL TANK. FUEL TANK.
NHTSA campaign record ↗