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1985 Ford F250

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

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

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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: 0 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.

  • Electrical System. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. 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 reports6 fire reports2 injury reports

Tires complaints

2 reports
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Mileage unknown · Apr 23, 2001
Tires

WRANGLER LOADRANGE E LT 235/85R16, DOT UNKNOWN, REPLACEMENT TIRES WITH 70000 MILES ON A 1985 FORD, F250. ALL 4 TIRES SHOWED SIDEWALL CRACKS. *AK DOT MDOR 1 DOV 155, TIRES HAVE SIDEWALL CRACKS NEAR THE RIM ON BOTH THE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE. *SLC

NHTSA ODI #886500

Mileage unknown · Aug 16, 2000
Tires

FIRESTONE HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH THESE TIRES FOR MORE THAN JUST THE PAST FEW YEARS BUT HAS ALWAYS REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM. WHEN THE 1ST TIRE CAME APART, I WAS TRAVELING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WITH A CAB-OVER CAMPER ON THE TRUCK AND TOWING A MOTORCYCLE TRAILER. THE ONLY DAMAGE WAS TO THE RIM FROM RIDING ON THE PAVEMENT TO A S…

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FIRESTONE HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH THESE TIRES FOR MORE THAN JUST THE PAST FEW YEARS BUT HAS ALWAYS REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM. WHEN THE 1ST TIRE CAME APART, I WAS TRAVELING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WITH A CAB-OVER CAMPER ON THE TRUCK AND TOWING A MOTORCYCLE TRAILER. THE ONLY DAMAGE WAS TO THE RIM FROM RIDING ON THE PAVEMENT TO A STOP. WHEN THE 2ND TIRE CAME APART THE TRUCK WAS SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY AND I WAS INSPECTING THE TIRE .HALF OF THE SKIN FROM THE LEFT SIDE OF MY FACE WAS REMOVED, MY LEFT EYE WAS SEVERLY ABRADED AND THE EYE SOCKET WAS BROKEN, BOTH EAR DRUMS WERE BLOWN OUT AND MY COCHLEA (THE PART OF THE INNER EAR THAT CONTROLS BALANCE) WAS PERMANENTLY DAMAGED, AND MY LEFT ARM AND LEFT SIDE OF MY CHEST WERE BADLY CUT. I HAVE PICTURES OF BOTH TIRE FAILURES AND OF MY INJURED SELF. I CONTACTED SEVERAL LAWYERS AT THE TIME AND WAS TOLD THAT I HAD NO CASE AGAINST FIRESTONE BECAUSE I HAD ACTUALLY USED THEIR OFF-ROAD TIRES OFF-ROAD. BOTH FAILURES OCCURRED WHEN THE TIRES WERE FAIRLY NEW AND LOW MILEAGE. ALL 4 TIRES DEVELOPED PROBLEMS WITHIN A MONTH OF PURCHASE.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 33X12R16.5 )

NHTSA ODI #728124

Official recalls

2

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.

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

3

PE94065 · 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

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)===