IllustrationAN ELECTRICAL AND FUEL LEAKAGE FIRE. PLEASE DESCRIBE.*AK
1986 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: 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
What owners actually said
38 reportsSTARTED AUTO UP, BACKED OUT OF DRIVEWAY INTO STREET NOTICED SMOKE UNDER THE DASH. *AK
AUTO WAS LOCKED AND HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN IN THREE WEEKS, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE AUTO BURST INTO FLAMES AND BURNED THE INTERIOR UP, NO INJURIES. *AK
WHILE DRIVING, IGNITION SWITCH LOCATED ON TILTED AREA OF STEERING COLUMN STARTED SMOKING, CAUSE A POWER SURGE, RESULTIN IN UNDERHOOD FIRE. *AK
SMOKE CAME FROM DASHBOARD AREA. *DH
AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE IGNITION IS CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SMOKE UNDER THE DASH, AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
ENGINE FIRE.
ENGINE FIRE. *DSH
UPON TURNING THE KEY SMOKE CAME FROM UNDER THE HOOD TWICE. *AK
STARTED VEHICLE, DRIVING DOWN ROAD, CAB OF VEHICLE FILLED WITH SMOKE AND SMELLS LIKE BURNING WIRE, TURN VEHICLE OFF AND THEN RESTARTED, AGAIN ON FIRE. *AK
Official recalls
287V139000 · 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
4PE94065 · 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)===