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1986 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 →
38Owner complaints

Model-year median: 1

2Recall campaigns

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4Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
1
198310
198421
198538
198638
198762
1988101
1989
Compare all F250 years →

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

What owners reported most

Electrical System
13Engine And Engine Cooling
5Tires
5Service Brakes, Hydraulic
4Fuel System, Gasoline
3
All reported categories
Seat Belts
2Structure
2Vehicle Speed Control
2Power Train
1Steering
1Suspension
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: 4 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 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Tires. Review the 5 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 reports16 fire reports0 injury reports

Vehicle Speed Control complaints

2 reports
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Mileage unknown · Mar 16, 1999
Vehicle Speed Control

CRUISING DOWN TWO-LANE HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH WITH CRUISE CONTROL SET. HIT BRAKE FOR UPCOMING STOP SIGN. WHEN BRAKE RELEASED, CRUISE CONTROL TRIED TO TAKE ME BACK TO 65 MPH. THE ONLY WAY TO RELEASE CRUISE CONTROL WAS TO HIT OFF BUTTON. NEED INFO ON HOW TO FIX THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE I AM AFRAID TO USE THE CRUISE CONTROL AT THIS TIME…

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CRUISING DOWN TWO-LANE HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH WITH CRUISE CONTROL SET. HIT BRAKE FOR UPCOMING STOP SIGN. WHEN BRAKE RELEASED, CRUISE CONTROL TRIED TO TAKE ME BACK TO 65 MPH. THE ONLY WAY TO RELEASE CRUISE CONTROL WAS TO HIT OFF BUTTON. NEED INFO ON HOW TO FIX THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE I AM AFRAID TO USE THE CRUISE CONTROL AT THIS TIME. THANKYOU FOR YOUR HELP IN THIS MATTER.

NHTSA ODI #704531

Mileage unknown · May 26, 1995
Vehicle Speed Control

AUTO-TRAN: GAS PEDAL STICKS IN WIDE OPEN POSITION; VEHICLE LURCHES FORWARD; RELEASE THROTTLE BY KICKING PEDAL. TT

NHTSA ODI #965948

Official recalls

2

87V139000 · 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.

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.

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

4

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

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

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)===