IllustrationDRIVING IN TOWN WHEN THE MOTOR CAUGHT ON FIRE. PLEASE GIVE MORE DETAILS. *AK
1985 Ford F150
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all F150 years →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: 0 of 28 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.
- Electrical System. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Structure. 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.
1 crash reports7 fire reports2 injury reports
What owners actually said
28 reportsWHILE DRIVING FUSE BOX/STEERING COLUMN CAUGHT FIRE;UNABLE TO TURN OFF IGNITION BECAUSE WIRE HAD MELTED TOGETHER;EXTINGUISHED FIRE BY REMOVING BATTERY CABLE.*AK
IGNITION SWITCH FIRE. *SD
IGNITION SWITCH SMOKES. *AK
WHILE DRIVING, SMOKE POURED THROUGH VENTILATION. EVERY NOW AND THEN, OWNER SMELLS WIRES BURNING W/CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT
THE VEHICLE SUCKS UP LEAVES IN THE VENTS AND CAUSES THEM TO BURN AND CAUSES SMOKE TO FILL UP THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT
THE HORN BUTTONS ARE NOT LARGE ENOUGH , THE SEAT SHOULDER BELT IS TOO HIGH UP, IT IS EXTREMELY HARD TO REMOVE SPARE FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. TT
REAR BRAKE PIPE RUPTURED AT 87,000 MILES DUE TO CORROSION, POSSIBLE DUE TO SALT ON THE ROAD, RESULTING IN BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE. *AK
Official recalls
184V162000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:fuel Injection System:fuel Rail
Dec 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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Not supplied
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.
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
2DP89005 · F-SERIES Fuel Tank Fires
Opened Jan 26, 1989 · Closed Aug 1, 1989
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Fuel System, Gasoline
F-SERIES FUEL TANK FIRES
PE87017 · Fuel Leaks/fires
Opened Jan 28, 1987 · Closed May 26, 1987
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
SUMMARY OF INFORMATION FROM MANUFACTURER:INSTANCES WERE FOUND WHERESPRING LOCK COUPLINGS FAILED CAUSING GASOLINE TO BE RELEASED THROUGHOUTTHE ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUSING FIRES.LEAKS FROM FUEL LINES MAY ALSO BE ACONTRIBUTING CAUSE TO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES.---------------------------------------------------------------------------ANALYSIS:DATA INDICATES THAT THE ALLEGED PROBLEM MAY BE CAUSED BY THESPRING LOCK QUICK CONNECT COUPLINGS WHICH CONNECT THE FUEL SUPPLY ANDRETURN LINES TO THE ENGINE AS WELL AS FUEL LEAKAGE FROM THE FUEL LINES.---------------------------------------------------------------------------PROPOSED ACTION: UPGRADE THIS PE TO AN EA.(EA87-020)===