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1986 Ford F250

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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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: 4 of 38 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 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Tires. Review the 5 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 reports16 fire reports0 injury reports

Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints

4 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jul 31, 2002
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WHILE DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY, BRAKE LINE RUPTURED, RESULTING IN COMPLETE LOSS OF BRAKES. CONSUMER AVOIDED AN ACCIDENT. VEHICLE CHECKED BY DEALER WHO ADVISED CONSUMER THAT BRAKE LINE HAD RUSTED.*AK CONSUMER STEPPED ON BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO FLOOR. CONSUMER NOTICED BRAKE FLUID ON THE GROUND. THE LINE HAD RUPT…

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WHILE DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY, BRAKE LINE RUPTURED, RESULTING IN COMPLETE LOSS OF BRAKES. CONSUMER AVOIDED AN ACCIDENT. VEHICLE CHECKED BY DEALER WHO ADVISED CONSUMER THAT BRAKE LINE HAD RUSTED.*AK CONSUMER STEPPED ON BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO FLOOR. CONSUMER NOTICED BRAKE FLUID ON THE GROUND. THE LINE HAD RUPTURED ON THE DRIVERS SIDE MIDWAY THE CHASSIS. *JG

NHTSA ODI #8015278

Mileage unknown · Nov 9, 2000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

CONSUMER REPLACED BRAKE PADS FOR DISC BRAKES, BRAND:BENDIX. ADHESIVE USED ON PADS DID NOT ADHERE TO PADS, CAUSING STEEL SHIMS TO MOVE TOWARDS ROTOR. STEEL SHIMS WERE CUTTING INTO ROTOR. IN TIME ROTOR WILL BE CUT IN HALF. NOTIFIED MANUFACTURER AFTER 1 NOV 2000, WHO SAID THIS WAS NOT A COMMON COMPLAINT.*AK

NHTSA ODI #874735

Mileage unknown · Aug 14, 1998
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

REAR BRAKE GREASE SEAL HAS BLOWN OUT ON THREE OCCASIONS, CAUSING GREASE TO GET ON BRAKE SHOE. DEALER/MANUFACTURER ARE NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #826721

Mileage unknown · Jan 9, 1995
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

UPON BRAKING, PEDAL BECOMES HARD, BRAKE ACTION SEEMS TO BE INADEQUATE, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. TT

NHTSA ODI #958442

Official recalls

2

87V139000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

Sep 4, 1987

SPRING LOCK FUEL LINE COUPLING MAY NOT BE PROPERLY ENGAGED.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: COUPLING COULD DISENGAGE DUE TO FUEL PRESSURE,VIBRATION, AND ENGINE MOVEMENTS; THIS WOULD CAUSE LOSS OF FUEL WHICH, INPRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, CREATES A FIRE RISK.

Remedy: INSTALL RETAINER CLIPS OVER THE COUPLINGS TO PREVENT COUPLING SEPARATION AND FUEL LEAKAGE.

86V111000 · 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.

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

4

PE94065 · 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

PE89020 · Fires

Opened Dec 7, 1988 · Closed Jun 1, 1989

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages

There is no summary currently available

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)===