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1990 Ford F-150

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1990 Ford F-150 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 676.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 13 of 21 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel/propulsion System. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports2 fire reports0 injury reports

What owners actually said

21 reports
100,800 miles · Aug 17, 2014
Fuel System, Gasoline

I WAS ON MY WAY HOME SMELLED GAS COMING FROM THE TRUCK. I HAVE DUEL TANKS ON MY TRUCK. I JUST FILLED THE FRONT TANK, AND ONLY WENT 10 MILES AND NOTICE THE TANK WAS ON LITTLE OVER HALF FULL. SO I SWITCH TO THE BACK TANK AND IT WAS WAY OVER FULL AND GAS COMING OUT OF THE FILLER TUBE. I HAVE OWNED THIS TRUCK FROM NEW AND HAVE NEVER…

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I WAS ON MY WAY HOME SMELLED GAS COMING FROM THE TRUCK. I HAVE DUEL TANKS ON MY TRUCK. I JUST FILLED THE FRONT TANK, AND ONLY WENT 10 MILES AND NOTICE THE TANK WAS ON LITTLE OVER HALF FULL. SO I SWITCH TO THE BACK TANK AND IT WAS WAY OVER FULL AND GAS COMING OUT OF THE FILLER TUBE. I HAVE OWNED THIS TRUCK FROM NEW AND HAVE NEVER RECEIVED A NOTICE TO BRING IN THE TRUCK FOR PROBLEMS WITH THE TANKS RUNNING OVER. FORD DID PUT OUT A FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM BY ADDING OUTSIDE CHECK VALVES TO THE TANKS F3TA-9J274-AA, I COULD HAVE BEEN BURNED OR BLOWN UP AND MY FAMILY. THANK GOD I FOUND THE PROBLEM BEFORE THAT HAPPENED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10625850

138,456 miles · Aug 19, 2011
Fuel System, Gasoline

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1990 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THE FUEL FUMES WERE EMITTED INTO THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE HE SAW FUEL LEAKING OUT OF THE FUEL TANK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE V…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1990 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THE FUEL FUMES WERE EMITTED INTO THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE HE SAW FUEL LEAKING OUT OF THE FUEL TANK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 138,456.

NHTSA ODI #10420709

Mileage unknown · Apr 8, 2004
Fuel System, Gasoline

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A FUEL LEAK PROBLEM. FUEL WAS RUNNING FROM THE FRONT TANK TO THE BACK TANK, CAUSING FUEL TO SPILL OUT OF THE FUEL TUBE AND SPILL ON THE GROUND. THE FUEL SPILLS OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING .CONSUMER CALLED THE MANUFACTURER, AND WAS TOLD THAT SINCE THERE WAS NO RECALL THEY WILL NOT HELP HIM. CONSUMER HAS N…

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CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A FUEL LEAK PROBLEM. FUEL WAS RUNNING FROM THE FRONT TANK TO THE BACK TANK, CAUSING FUEL TO SPILL OUT OF THE FUEL TUBE AND SPILL ON THE GROUND. THE FUEL SPILLS OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING .CONSUMER CALLED THE MANUFACTURER, AND WAS TOLD THAT SINCE THERE WAS NO RECALL THEY WILL NOT HELP HIM. CONSUMER HAS NOT TAKEN VEHICLE TO A DEALER BECAUSE HE COULD REPAIR VEHICLE BY HIMSELF SELF, BUT FELT THAT MANUFACTURER HAD ON OBLIGATION TO REPAIR IT. *AK *LA

NHTSA ODI #10061626

76,696 miles · May 12, 2003
Electrical SystemFire

THE WIRING HARNESS/ALTERNATOR PLUG CONNECTION IS KNOWN TO SHOW REPEATED INSTANCES OF BURNING,ARCING,MELTING AND VEHICLE FIRES. I FOUND OUT ABOUT THIS AFTER THIS PART CAUSED A SMALL FIRE IN OUR F150 FORD 1990 TRUCK ON SATURDAY, MAY 10, 2003. A NOTICE INFORMING US ABOUT THIS RECURRING PROBLEM CAME WITH THE NEW ALTERNATOR. THE W…

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THE WIRING HARNESS/ALTERNATOR PLUG CONNECTION IS KNOWN TO SHOW REPEATED INSTANCES OF BURNING,ARCING,MELTING AND VEHICLE FIRES. I FOUND OUT ABOUT THIS AFTER THIS PART CAUSED A SMALL FIRE IN OUR F150 FORD 1990 TRUCK ON SATURDAY, MAY 10, 2003. A NOTICE INFORMING US ABOUT THIS RECURRING PROBLEM CAME WITH THE NEW ALTERNATOR. THE WIRES/PLUG CONNECTION MELTED AND CAUSED THE ALTERNATOR TO START ON FIRE. THIS IS A DANGEROUS PROBLEM AND I WOULD LIKE YOUR AGENCY TO LOOK INTO THIS HAZARD. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10018585

155,000 miles · Dec 24, 2002
Fuel System, Gasoline

FUEL OVERFILL OUT OF GAS CAP OF THE REAR TANK. THIS IS THE PROBLEM ON FORD 1990 F150 SAFETY RECALL. FORD EXTENDS THE REPAIR SERVICE TO 150,000 MILES. MY FORD IS 155,000 MILES. THIS IS SAFETY PROBLEM AND FORD SHOULD EXTEND THE SERVICE TO COVER MORE DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMP.

NHTSA ODI #10000356

Mileage unknown · Aug 10, 2000
Electrical SystemFire

THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS RECALLED IN 1996 BECAUSE IT WAS A FIRE DANGER. THE SWITCH WAS REPLACED AT THAT TIME. ON JULY 28, 2000 THE IGNITION SWITCH AGAIN CAUGHT ON FIRE. AT THAT TIME CHAMPION FORD REFUSED TO REPLACE IT UNDER THE RECALL. THEY STATED THAT THE RECALL HAD EXPIRED. THE SAME PART THAT HAD BEEN RECALLED DID THE SAME…

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THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS RECALLED IN 1996 BECAUSE IT WAS A FIRE DANGER. THE SWITCH WAS REPLACED AT THAT TIME. ON JULY 28, 2000 THE IGNITION SWITCH AGAIN CAUGHT ON FIRE. AT THAT TIME CHAMPION FORD REFUSED TO REPLACE IT UNDER THE RECALL. THEY STATED THAT THE RECALL HAD EXPIRED. THE SAME PART THAT HAD BEEN RECALLED DID THE SAME THING THE RECALLED PART WAS DOING. THE CHAMPION FORD DEALERSHIP SAID THAT THEY COULD NOT REPLACE THE PART FOR FREE BUT THAT IT WOULD COST $198.00. AFTER A DISCUSSION THEY TOOK $50.00 OFF OF THE PRICE, WHICH BROUGHT THE COST DOWN TO $148.00.*AK

NHTSA ODI #727540

Mileage unknown · Jan 10, 2000
Electrical System

TFI MODULE ASSEMBLY FAILED. YH

NHTSA ODI #550319

Mileage unknown · Sep 30, 1998
Equipment

AIR CONDITIONER CONDENSOR DRIPS WATER ONTO THE OXGEN SENSOR, ALSO CONSUMER NOTIFIED THE DEALER ABOUT A/C PROBLEM, THE DEALERSHIPS STATED THAT THE CONSUMER WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS BECAUSE THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. *AK *JB

NHTSA ODI #828389

Mileage unknown · Sep 16, 1998
Wheels

REAR WHEEL CAME OFF COMPLETELY.

NHTSA ODI #540083

Mileage unknown · Aug 29, 1998
Suspension

EXPERIENCING HEAVY VIBRATION AT 60 MPH.

NHTSA ODI #540236

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

1

PE92042 · Fnt Reclning Seat Bck Fail

Opened Apr 17, 1992 · Closed Aug 27, 1992

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seats:front Assembly:recliner

There is no summary currently available