IllustrationGLOW PLUG TIMING MODULE FAILED. *AK
1985 Ford F250
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 F250 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 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.
- Electrical System. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. 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 reports6 fire reports2 injury reports
What owners actually said
21 reportsSTEERING COLUMN BECOMES VERY WARM TO THE TOUCH WHEN DRIVING FOR A LENGTH OF TIME. *DSH
WHILE DRIVING, NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERHOOD;INVESTIGATED, WIRES BURNING;PULLED WIRES AWAY SOURCE OF POWER;RESTARTED IGNITION, VEHICLE CAUGHT 0N FIRE. *AK *JB
ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE IGNITION SWITCH, CONSUMER SMELLED BURNING WIRING IN THE VEHICLE. *AK
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE. *SD
ABOUT 2:00 A.M. HEARD NOISES OUTSIDE OF HOUSE, LOOKED OUTSIDE, THE VEHICLE CAB WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES, COMPLETELY DESTROYED WITH CAMPER SHELL. *AK
BRAKE PEDAL IS INCONSISTENT WHEN APPLYING W/POOR RESPONSE. FAILURE UNKNOWN W/ALMOST ENTIRE SYSTEM REPLACED. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT
PURCHASE USED WAS DRIVING TURN ON THE AIR CONDITIONER AND TRUCK START TO SMOKE IT WAS LEAF THAT CAME FROM THE VENT . TT
HEAD GASKETS CRACKED. *SD
BRAKE LINE RUSTED OUT AND PEDAL FADED TO THE FLOOR. TT
Official recalls
286V111000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly:mounting
Aug 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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Not supplied
Remedy: INSTALL NOSE SHIELD ON THE MIDSHIP FUEL TANK. FUEL TANK.
84V162000 · 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
3PE94065 · Fuel Injector Pump Fails
Opened Aug 19, 1994 · Closed Dec 28, 1994
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
There is no summary currently available
DP89005 · 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)===