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1990 Ford F-150

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1990 Ford F-150 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 676.

About this comparison →
21Owner complaints

Model-year median: 676

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

1Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
2
198714
198921
1990304
1991470
1992586
1993
Compare all F-150 years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Fuel System, Gasoline
6Fuel/propulsion System
6Electrical System
3Power Train
2Engine And Engine Cooling
1
All reported categories
Equipment
1Suspension
1Unknown Or Other
1Visibility
1Wheels
1

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: 13 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.

  • Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel/propulsion System. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. 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.

0 crash reports2 fire reports0 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

3 reports
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76,696 miles · May 12, 2003
Electrical SystemFire

THE WIRING HARNESS/ALTERNATOR PLUG CONNECTION IS KNOWN TO SHOW REPEATED INSTANCES OF BURNING,ARCING,MELTING AND VEHICLE FIRES. I FOUND OUT ABOUT THIS AFTER THIS PART CAUSED A SMALL FIRE IN OUR F150 FORD 1990 TRUCK ON SATURDAY, MAY 10, 2003. A NOTICE INFORMING US ABOUT THIS RECURRING PROBLEM CAME WITH THE NEW ALTERNATOR. THE W…

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THE WIRING HARNESS/ALTERNATOR PLUG CONNECTION IS KNOWN TO SHOW REPEATED INSTANCES OF BURNING,ARCING,MELTING AND VEHICLE FIRES. I FOUND OUT ABOUT THIS AFTER THIS PART CAUSED A SMALL FIRE IN OUR F150 FORD 1990 TRUCK ON SATURDAY, MAY 10, 2003. A NOTICE INFORMING US ABOUT THIS RECURRING PROBLEM CAME WITH THE NEW ALTERNATOR. THE WIRES/PLUG CONNECTION MELTED AND CAUSED THE ALTERNATOR TO START ON FIRE. THIS IS A DANGEROUS PROBLEM AND I WOULD LIKE YOUR AGENCY TO LOOK INTO THIS HAZARD. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10018585

Mileage unknown · Aug 10, 2000
Electrical SystemFire

THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS RECALLED IN 1996 BECAUSE IT WAS A FIRE DANGER. THE SWITCH WAS REPLACED AT THAT TIME. ON JULY 28, 2000 THE IGNITION SWITCH AGAIN CAUGHT ON FIRE. AT THAT TIME CHAMPION FORD REFUSED TO REPLACE IT UNDER THE RECALL. THEY STATED THAT THE RECALL HAD EXPIRED. THE SAME PART THAT HAD BEEN RECALLED DID THE SAME…

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THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS RECALLED IN 1996 BECAUSE IT WAS A FIRE DANGER. THE SWITCH WAS REPLACED AT THAT TIME. ON JULY 28, 2000 THE IGNITION SWITCH AGAIN CAUGHT ON FIRE. AT THAT TIME CHAMPION FORD REFUSED TO REPLACE IT UNDER THE RECALL. THEY STATED THAT THE RECALL HAD EXPIRED. THE SAME PART THAT HAD BEEN RECALLED DID THE SAME THING THE RECALLED PART WAS DOING. THE CHAMPION FORD DEALERSHIP SAID THAT THEY COULD NOT REPLACE THE PART FOR FREE BUT THAT IT WOULD COST $198.00. AFTER A DISCUSSION THEY TOOK $50.00 OFF OF THE PRICE, WHICH BROUGHT THE COST DOWN TO $148.00.*AK

NHTSA ODI #727540

Mileage unknown · Jan 10, 2000
Electrical System

TFI MODULE ASSEMBLY FAILED. YH

NHTSA ODI #550319

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

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

1

PE92042 · Fnt Reclning Seat Bck Fail

Opened Apr 17, 1992 · Closed Aug 27, 1992

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seats:front Assembly:recliner

There is no summary currently available