IllustrationSTEERING COLUMN BECOMES HOT DUE TO IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE.
1987 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: 1 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 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
2 crash reports11 fire reports1 injury reports
Electrical System complaints
11 reportsVEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDERDASH WHILE PARKED CAUSED BY FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH. IGNITION SWITCH WILL BE REPLACED BY OWNER; NOT INCLUDED IN FORD'S IGNITION SWITCH RECALL. *AK
ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE STEERING COLUMN, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE IN THE STEERING.*AK
ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE IGNITION SWITCH, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CATCH FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN. *AK
WIRING HARNESS UNDER DASH SHORTED, CAUSING FIRE. *DH
AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE IGNTION SWITCH, CAUSED THE STEERING COLUMN TO CATCH ON FIRE. *AK
GINITION SWITCH SHORTED OUT, CAUSING FIRE. *DSH
STARTER ENGAGED WHEN DRIVER STEPPED ON BRAKE. *DSH
IGNITION SWITCH IN THE STEERING COLUMN APPEARS TO BE POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD; STEERING COLUMN GETS SO HOT, CANNOT TOUCH WITH HANDS; SOMETIMES DOESN'T ACTIVATE.*AK
THE IGNITION SWITCH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO GO UP IN FLAMES. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *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.
87V140000 · Wheels:lugs/nuts/bolts/studs
Sep 4, 1987
WHEEL LUG NUT CONE ANGLES DO NOT MATCH LUG NUT SEATING ANGLES.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: NUTS COULD LOOSEN IN SERVICE CREATING POTENTIAL FORWHEELS TO SEPARATE FROM TRUCK.
Remedy: REPAIR TO PREVENT LOOSENING OF LUG NUTS.
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
5PE94065 · 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
EA93014 · Alternator Belt Failure
Opened Jun 4, 1993 · Closed Jul 29, 1994
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System
There is no summary currently available
PE91090 · Spare Tire Fires
Opened Jun 20, 1991 · Closed Oct 25, 1991
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Equipment
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