Complaints by model year
Distinct federal complaints filed against each model year of the Ford F150, to date. Hover a bar for the count. Older years have had longer to accumulate filings; the rankings below correct for that.
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
Highest totals within an 8-year windowAll other years
Model years compared
Ranked from the same federal record on an equal exposure window. Click any year for its full file.
Highest complaint totals
- 1990 Ford F150 - 121 complaints in its first 8 years (254 to date)
- 1989 Ford F150 - 102 complaints in its first 8 years (210 to date)
- 1988 Ford F150 - 75 complaints in its first 8 years (139 to date)
Ranked on distinct complaints filed within eight years of the model year, so old and new years get the same exposure window. Not adjusted for sales volume; a best-selling year files more complaints at the same failure rate.
Lowest totals among mature years
- 1990 Ford F150 - 121 complaints in its first 8 years (254 to date)
Same eight-year window, among model years old enough to have completed it and with at least 25 complaints in it. Model years before 1990 are excluded because the federal file begins in 1995. A low total is not proof of reliability.
What owners report, all years combined
Every model year
| Model year | Complaints to date | Within 8 years | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 Ford F150 | 254 | 121 | 4 |
| 1989 Ford F150 | 210 | 102 | 4 |
| 1988 Ford F150 | 139 | 75 | 2 |
| 1987 Ford F150 | 89 | 4 | 3 |
| 1986 Ford F150 | 61 | 0 | 1 |
| 1985 Ford F150 | 28 | 0 | 1 |
| 1984 Ford F150 | 13 | 0 | 1 |
| 1983 Ford F150 | 10 | 0 | 1 |
| 1982 Ford F150 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| 1981 Ford F150 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
Recall campaigns, all years
Every campaign filed against this model, with the model years it covers. Safety-recall remedies are normally provided at no charge. Under US federal law the mandatory free remedy applies when the vehicle was no more than 15 years old at the time the defect was determined; manufacturers often cover older vehicles voluntarily. Canadian rules differ. Confirm eligibility with the manufacturer using the VIN.
| Campaign | Years | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 96V071000 | 1988-1990 | Electrical System | THE IGNITION SWITCH COULD EXPERIENCE AN INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT. |
| 93V125000 | 1990 | Fuel System, Gasoline | A MALFUNCTIONING CHECK VALVE WITHIN THE FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY CAUSES A PORTION OF THE UNUSED FUEL FROM ONE TANK TO BE RETURNED TO THE SECOND TANK. |
| 91V146000 | 1989 | Fuel System, Gasoline | THE DUAL FUEL TANK SELECTOR VALVE MAY MALFUNCTION AND CAUSE AN OVERFILL CONDITION IN ONE OF THE FUEL TANKS, RESULTING IN AN OVERFLOW OF FUEL PAST THE FILLER CAP. |
| 90V101000 | 1989-1990 | Power Train | UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, THE SNAP RING THAT LOCATES THE PARK GEAR ON THE OUTPUT SHAFT OF THE TRANSMISSION MAY FRACTURE. |
| 89V141000 | 1990 | Fuel System, Gasoline | INCORRECTLY INSTALLED FUEL LINE CONNECTORS HAVE FUEL SUPPLY AND RETURN LINES CROSSED. |
| 89V114000 | 1989 | Fuel System, Gasoline | SHIELDS ON THE FRONTS OF THE MIDSHIP MOUNTED FUEL TANKS WERE OMITTED DURING ASSEMBLY. |
| 88V146000 | 1988 | Visibility | SLIDING REAR WINDOW MAY CONTAIN GLAZING PANELS WHICH DO NOT MEET REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS 205. |
| 87V140000 | 1987 | Wheels | WHEEL LUG NUT CONE ANGLES DO NOT MATCH LUG NUT SEATING ANGLES. |
| 87V139000 | 1986-1987 | Fuel System, Gasoline | SPRING LOCK FUEL LINE COUPLING MAY NOT BE PROPERLY ENGAGED. |
| 87V077000 | 1987 | Suspension | FRONT INNER WHEEL BEARINGS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN LUBRICATED ADEQUATELY AT TIME OF ASSEMBLY. |
| 84V162000 | 1985 | Fuel System, Gasoline | 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. |
| 84V119000 | 1984 | Fuel System, Gasoline | THE SECONDARY THROTTLE SHAFT MAY, WITH ACCUMULATED MILEAGE, BECOME CONTAMINATED AND MAY STICK IN A PARTIALLY OPEN POSITION WHILE DRIVING. |
| 83V028000 | 1983 | Power Train | THE PARKING GEAR MAY NOT ENGAGE, EVEN THOUGH THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER IS PLACED IN THE "PARK" POSITION. |
| 82V024000 | 1981 | Equipment | THE REINFORCEMENT FOR THE IN-BOX SPARE TIRE CARRIER MAY HAVE BEEN ATTACHED USING INCORRECT HEX HEAD BOLTS. |
| 81V061000 | 1981 | Structure | THE INVOLVED TRUCKS WERE MANUFACTURED WITH A CERTAIN PORTION OF SPECIFIED FLOOR PAN INSULATION MATERIAL (BENEATH THE RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER SEAT) OMITTED. |
| 80V145000 | 1981 | Fuel System, Gasoline | DURING A CHANGE IN ASSEMBLY PROCEDURES, CERTAIN OF THE MID-SHIP FUEL TANK STRAPS MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY INSTALLED OR MISLOCATED. |