U.S. public vehicle records

Ford E150 problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

99 owner complaints analyzed

18 distinct recall campaigns

82,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1976 to 2013 model years. Data updated: 2026-09-30 (September 30, 2026). 8 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Tires:Tread/Belt is the most frequently named component, appearing in 9 of 99 complaints (9.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Electrical and battery issues	15	15.2%
Fuel system concerns	12	12.1%
Engine operation	8	8.1%
Braking behavior	8	8.1%
Steering behavior	6	6.1%
Transmission and shifting	1	1.0%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Tires:Tread/Belt

Electrical System:Ignition:Switch

Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Auxillary Tank:Selector Devices

Electrical System:Ignition

Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator

Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline

Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe

Component breakdown data
Category	Count
Tires:Tread/Belt	9
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch	8
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Auxillary Tank:Selector Devices	8
Electrical System:Ignition	6
Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator	5
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood	4
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline	4
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe	4

Tires:Tread/Belt: 9; Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 8; Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Auxillary Tank:Selector Devices: 8; Electrical System:Ignition: 6; Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator: 5; Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood: 4; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 4; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe: 4

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

25,000 to 49,999

50,000 to 74,999

75,000 to 99,999

100,000 to 149,999

150,000 and above

Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 1

50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 91 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2008

2009

2015

1995: 16; 1996: 29; 1997: 8; 1998: 7; 1999: 3; 2000: 16; 2001: 5; 2002: 1; 2003: 7; 2004: 1; 2005: 1; 2008: 2; 2009: 2; 2015: 1

Pattern summary

Tires:Tread/Belt leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 15 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 12 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 8 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 983968 · 1996-05-02 (May 2, 1996)

ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE IGNITION SWITCH, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 983968 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 523491 · 1997-11-24 (November 24, 1997)

AIR CONDITIONER MOTOR FAN WIRING MELTED/BURNED, RERSULTING IN AIR CONDITIONING FAILURE. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 523491 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 824327 · 1998-06-16 (June 16, 1998)

EXPERIENCING AN OVERFILL IN ONE TANK, RESULTING IN AN OVERFLOW IN THE SECOND TANK, CAUSING A FUEL LEAK AT THE FILLER NECK. ALSO THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE PROBLEM 91V146000, MFR 91S39. VEHICLE NOT INCLUDED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 824327 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 968068 · 1995-06-30 (June 30, 1995)

NOTICE HOLE IN UPPER PORTION OF THE GAS TANK. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 968068 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 533676 · 1998-04-07 (April 7, 1998)

CARBURETOR STALLS CONTINUOUSLY AND WILL NOT RUN IN COLD WEATHER.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 533676 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 874725 · 2000-11-09 (November 9, 2000)

VEHICLE STALLS AT ANY SPEED. MECHANIC REPLACED COIL, IGNITION MODULE AND OUTPUT WIRE. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 874725 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10007321 · 2003-03-07 (March 7, 2003)

THE THROTTLE STUCK, WHICH CAUSED UNWANTED SUDDEN ACCELERATION. ON ONE OCCASION THE THROTTLE BODY WAS DIRTY AND ON ANOTHER OCCASION, WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ON, THE VACUUM LINE MALFUNCTIONED. IN EITHER CASE, PRESSING DOWN ON THE BRAKE PEDAL DID NOT STOP THE VEHICLE. THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THE VEHICLE WAS TO TURN OFF THE IGNITION. *TT *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10007321 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10009086 · 2003-02-28 (February 28, 2003)

THE CRUISE CONTROL VACUUM LINE HAD KINKED WHILE THR CRUISE WAS ON, THE THROTTLE BODY HAD STUCK, AND THE BRAKE PEDAL HAD BECOME INOPERATIVE. SCC *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10009086 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 483489 · 1995-09-14 (September 14, 1995)

WORN BUSHINGS, CAUSING STEERING TO BECOME LOOSE. *DSH

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 483489 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 553892 · 2000-08-21 (August 21, 2000)

CONSUMER WAS BACKING UP WHEN THE THREE BOLTS SECURING THE STEERING GEARBOX TO THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE FRACTURES AT THE FACE OF THE GEARBOX RENDERING THE VEHICLE UNSTEERABLE. NLM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 553892 at NHTSA ↗

Compare model years

Recalls by model year

All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.

From yearThrough year

Recall campaigns

Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.

1997

1998

1999

2000

2004

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

1997: 1; 1998: 1; 1999: 1; 2000: 1; 2004: 1; 2006: 1; 2007: 1; 2008: 1; 2009: 1; 2010: 1; 2011: 1; 2012: 1; 2013: 1

First model yearSecond model year

Year-by-year records

Ford E150 model-year comparison
Model year	Complaints	Recalls	Change in recalls
1976	2	1	Not available
1978	0	4	Not available
1979	0	5	+1
1980	0	3	-2
1981	1	1	-2
1982	3	2	+1
1983	1	1	-1
1984	3	2	+1
1985	3	0	-2
1986	9	0	0
1987	17	0	0
1988	14	0	0
1989	30	2	+2
1990	15	3	+1
1997	0	1	Not available
1998	0	1	0
1999	0	1	0
2000	0	1	0
2004	0	1	Not available
2006	1	1	Not available
2007	0	1	0
2008	0	1	0
2009	0	1	0
2010	0	1	0
2011	0	1	0
2012	0	1	0
2013	0	1	0

Explore the data

Vehicle analysis explorer

Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.

Data completeness

99 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-09-30.

8.1%Usable mileage8 / 99 records

80.8%Valid incident date80 / 99 records

100.0%Valid filing date99 / 99 records

80.8%Ordered incident and filing dates80 / 99 records

Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.

Problems by model year

Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.

From model yearThrough model year

Component complaint heatmap
Component	1999	2000	2004	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013
Tires:Tread/Belt	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Auxillary Tank:Selector Devices	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.
Electrical System:Ignition	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.
Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.

Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.

Failure mileage by component

Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.

Component failure mileage distribution
Component	Mileage range (25th–75th percentile)	Median	Usable records	Examples
Tires:Tread/Belt	Too few reports for a range	61,000 mi	1 (sparse)	ODI 10024474 · 61,000 mi WHILE DRIVING, THE TIRE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION AND DAMAGED THE FRONT FENDER. AK THE VALVE STEM WAS ALSO REPLACED. PH *JB Look up ODI 10024474 at NHTSA ↗
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Auxillary Tank:Selector Devices	Too few reports for a range	165,987 mi	1 (sparse)	ODI 10007873 · 165,987 mi MY LOCAL FORD DEALER REFUSED TO SERVICE MY VEHICLE FOR THE FOLLOWING: NHTSA ID NO.: 91V-146 DATE OF COMPANY NOTIFICATION: 9-4-91 MAKE: FORD MODEL: ECONOLINE MODEL YEAR: 1989-91 MODEL: F-150, F-250, F-350 MODEL YEAR: 1989 NUMBER OF VEHICLES: 350,000 MFG. CAMPAIGN NO. 91S39. FUEL TANK, AUXILIARY. DOM: 2/89-2/91. DUAL FUNCTION FUEL RESERVOIR MAY MALFUNCTION AND CAUSE AN OVERFILL CONDITION IN ONE OF THE FUEL TANKS, RESULTING IN AN OVERFLOW OF FUEL PAST FILLER CAP. OVERFLOW OF FUEL PAST FILLER CAP CAUSES A FUEL LEAKAGE, WHICH CAN R… Look up ODI 10007873 at NHTSA ↗
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe	Too few reports for a range	70,000 mi	1 (sparse)	ODI 10027148 · 70,000 mi THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD IS CRACKED ON THE RIGHT SIDE. THE EXHAUST FUMES LEAK. THE CONSUMER FEELS THIS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. AK TS Look up ODI 10027148 at NHTSA ↗

Complaint and recall timeline

Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.

ComponentPeriod

Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.

Monthly counts, recall campaigns and complaint examples

Monthly complaint and recall timeline
Month	Campaigns announced	Examples
2024-10	None	No examples available for this selection.
2024-11	None	No examples available for this selection.
2024-12	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-01	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-02	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-03	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-04	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-05	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-06	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-07	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-08	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-09	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-10	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-11	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-12	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-01	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-02	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-03	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-04	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-05	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-06	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-07	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-08	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-09 (partial)	None	No examples available for this selection.

Emerging complaint spikes

Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.

This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.

No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.

Equal-age model-year comparison

Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.

Observation windowFirst model yearSecond model year

2012: 0 complaints · 2013: 0 complaints

Equal observation windows
Model year	Through age 0	Through age 1	Through age 2
2012	0	0	0
2013	0	0	0

Date coverage across each selected cohort

Date basis for all complaints in selected model years
Year	Incident dates used	Filing date fallbacks	Excluded dates
2012	0	0	0
2013	0	0	0

Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.

Components reported together

Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.

Component co-occurrence matrix
Component	Tires:Tread/Belt	Electrical System:Ignition:Switch	Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Auxillary Tank:Selector Devices	Electrical System:Ignition	Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator	Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood	Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline	Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe
Tires:Tread/Belt	—	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch	0	—	0	0	0	0	0	0
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Auxillary Tank:Selector Devices	0	0	—	0	0	0	0	0
Electrical System:Ignition	0	0	0	—	0	0	0	0
Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator	0	0	0	0	—	0	0	0
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood	0	0	0	0	0	—	0	0
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline	0	0	0	0	0	0	—	0
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	—

Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.

Recurring narrative patterns

Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.

Search patterns

4 patterns with matching reports.

Stalling or loss of power

8 mentions · 8.1% of complaints

Median mileage: 94,000 mi (1 usable records).

ODI 533676

CARBURETOR STALLS CONTINUOUSLY AND WILL NOT RUN IN COLD WEATHER.

Look up ODI 533676 at NHTSA ↗

ODI 874725

VEHICLE STALLS AT ANY SPEED. MECHANIC REPLACED COIL, IGNITION MODULE AND OUTPUT WIRE. *AK

Look up ODI 874725 at NHTSA ↗

ODI 899526

VEHICLE STALLS AT ANY TIME/ ANY SPEED. MECHANIC CANNOT FIND CAUSE. *AK

Look up ODI 899526 at NHTSA ↗

Matching rule

\b(stall\w*|loss of power|lost power|engine shut\w* off)\b

Fuel smell or leak mentions

5 mentions · 5.1% of complaints

Median mileage: 94,000 mi (3 usable records).

ODI 824327

Look up ODI 824327 at NHTSA ↗

ODI 540832

GAS CAP DOES NOT VENT. ON HOT DAYS THE TANK PRESSURIZES AND GAS LEAKS FROM CAP. WHEN CAP IS THEN OPENED IT COMES OUT LIKE A HOT RADITOR. IS THERE A RECALL?

Look up ODI 540832 at NHTSA ↗

ODI 10232970 · 94,000 mi

NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID# 91V146000 REFERS TO A SAFETY RECALL FOR A FAULTY DUAL FUEL TANK SELECTOR VALVE IN FORD ECONOLINE VANS EQUIPPED WITH DUAL FUEL TANKS BUILT BETWEEN 1989 AND 1991 AND OTHER SIMILAR MODELS . I HAVE CONTACTED FORD TO INVESTIGATE , BUT THERE ARE NO RECORDS THAT CONFIRM OR DISAFFIRM MY VEHICLE'S INCLUSION IN THIS RECALL. BASICALLY, I DON'T KNOW IF MY VAN WAS AFFECTED BY THIS RECALL AND IF ANY RECALL SERVICES WERE PERFORMED. I AM EXPERIENCING A FAULT IN THE DUAL FUEL TANK SYSTEM. IT SEEMS THAT THE FUEL SELECTOR VALVE WILL NOT SWITCH …

Look up ODI 10232970 at NHTSA ↗

Matching rule

\b(fuel leak\w*|gas leak\w*|gas(?:oline)? smell|smell\w* (?:of )?(?:fuel|gas))\b

Brake response concerns

3 mentions · 3.0% of complaints

Median mileage: Unavailable (0 usable records).

ODI 10007321

Look up ODI 10007321 at NHTSA ↗

ODI 10009086

THE CRUISE CONTROL VACUUM LINE HAD KINKED WHILE THR CRUISE WAS ON, THE THROTTLE BODY HAD STUCK, AND THE BRAKE PEDAL HAD BECOME INOPERATIVE. SCC *JB

Look up ODI 10009086 at NHTSA ↗

ODI 812577

UPON DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL THE FRONT BRAKE CALIPER BECOMES VERY HOT, RESULTING IN COMPLETE LOSS OF BRAKING ABILITY. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, CALIPER WAS REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

Look up ODI 812577 at NHTSA ↗

Matching rule

Warning lights and dashboard alerts

1 mentions · 1.0% of complaints

Median mileage: Unavailable (0 usable records).

ODI 982792

BRAKE AND ABS WARNING LIGHT STAY ILLUMINATED. CAUSING THEM TO MALFUNCTION. *AK

Look up ODI 982792 at NHTSA ↗

Matching rule

\b(warning light\w*|check engine|dashboard warning\w*|malfunction indicator)\b