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1985 Ford F150

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

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

About this comparison →
28Owner complaints

Model-year median: 3.5

1Recall campaigns

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2Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
5
198210
198313
198428
198561
198689
1987139
1988
Compare all F150 years →

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

What owners reported most

Electrical System
10Engine And Engine Cooling
4Structure
3Suspension
3Tires
3
All reported categories
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
2Equipment
1Fuel System, Gasoline
1Parking Brake
1Power Train
1Seat Belts
1Steering
1Vehicle Speed Control
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: 0 of 28 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 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Structure. 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.

1 crash reports7 fire reports2 injury reports

What owners actually said

28 reports
Mileage unknown · Aug 30, 2000
TiresInjury

00 T 005 000/TREAD SEPARATION: RIGHT REAR FIRESTONE FIREHAWK ATX TIRE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION WHILE TRAVELING AT 70 MPH WITH DRIVER AND ONE PASSENGER IN A 1985 FORD F150, AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT INSTALLED AT 65070 MILES; 31X10.5/R15, DOT# VD60AP352. VEHICLE LOST CONTROL/ FISHTAILED AND ROLLED OVER. DRIVER/PASSENGER RECEIVED …

Read full complaint

00 T 005 000/TREAD SEPARATION: RIGHT REAR FIRESTONE FIREHAWK ATX TIRE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION WHILE TRAVELING AT 70 MPH WITH DRIVER AND ONE PASSENGER IN A 1985 FORD F150, AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT INSTALLED AT 65070 MILES; 31X10.5/R15, DOT# VD60AP352. VEHICLE LOST CONTROL/ FISHTAILED AND ROLLED OVER. DRIVER/PASSENGER RECEIVED INJURIES. *AK *SLC

NHTSA ODI #869181

Mileage unknown · Jun 16, 1999
Vehicle Speed Control

VEHICLE EXPERIENCING SUDDEN ACCELERATION, RESULTING IN ACCIDENT. *YC

NHTSA ODI #546139

Mileage unknown · Mar 1, 1999
Suspension

COMPANY VEHICLE. REAR LEAF SPRINGS KEEP BREAKING. IF SPRINGS BREAK COMPLETELY, THE ENTIRE REAR END OF VEHICLE WOULD FALL OUT. DEALER CONTACTED AND CANNOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. *AKREPAIRWORK DONE AT OWNERS EXPENSE. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.

NHTSA ODI #835362

Mileage unknown · Aug 14, 1998
Suspension

SUSPENSION DEFECT FOUND DURING STATE INSPECTION.

NHTSA ODI #539831

Mileage unknown · May 12, 1998
Electrical System

IGNITION CONTROL MODULE OVERHEATED, CAUSING STALLING.

NHTSA ODI #535300

Mileage unknown · Apr 22, 1998
Structure

PAINT IS PEELING OFF THE ENTIRE BODY OF VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI #534698

Mileage unknown · Sep 29, 1997
Engine And Engine CoolingFire

WHILE THE TRUCK WAS PARKED THE ENGINE DEPARTMENT AND NEAR THE PASSENGER'S SIDE CAUGHT ON FIRE. OWNER DOES NOT KNOW WHAT CAUSED THE FIRE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #816714

Mileage unknown · Oct 7, 1996
Engine And Engine CoolingFire

TWO OR THREE MINTUES AFTER THE CAR WAS PARKED THE CAR CAUGHT FIRE IN THE ENGINE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #802376

Mileage unknown · Jul 18, 1996
Structure

THE BOLT THAT HOLDS THE FRAME IN PLACE IS BROKEN, CAUSING THE FRAME TO TWIST WHEN DRIVING, SERVICE BULLET #93-6-10. *AK

NHTSA ODI #987039

Mileage unknown · Jun 25, 1996
Fuel System, GasolineFire

WHILE WAITING TO FILL UP THE TRUCK WITH GAS THE FUEL LINE BROKE AND CAUSED A HUGE FIREBALL. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #986149

Official recalls

1

84V162000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:fuel Injection System:fuel Rail

Dec 26, 1984

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Not supplied

Remedy: FUEL RAILS WILL BE INSPECTED FOR LEAKS, WETNESS OR SEEPAGE OF FUEL AND, IF NECESSARY, FUEL RAILS AND RELATED COMPONENTS WILL BE REPLACED WITHOUT COST TO THE OWNER.

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

2

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

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)===