U.S. public vehicle records

1990 Ford E150: complaints, problems and recalls

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

15 owner complaints analyzed

3 distinct recall campaigns

123,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1990 model year. Data updated: 2026-09-30 (September 30, 2026). 3 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Fuel System, Gasoline is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 15 complaints (13.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Fuel system concerns	4	26.7%
Braking behavior	2	13.3%
Engine operation	1	6.7%
Steering behavior	1	6.7%

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.

Fuel System, Gasoline

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

Vehicle Speed Control

Wheels:Lugs/Nuts/Bolts/Studs

Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump

Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System

Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip

Component breakdown data
Category	Count
Fuel System, Gasoline	2
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Auxillary Tank:Selector Devices	2
Vehicle Speed Control	2
Wheels:Lugs/Nuts/Bolts/Studs	2
Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump	1
Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System	1
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly	1
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip	1

Fuel System, Gasoline: 2; Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Auxillary Tank:Selector Devices: 2; Vehicle Speed Control: 2; Wheels:Lugs/Nuts/Bolts/Studs: 2; Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump: 1; Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System: 1; Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly: 1; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 1

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

50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 12 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

2000

2001

2002

2003

2005

2009

1995: 2; 1996: 3; 1997: 2; 2000: 1; 2001: 2; 2002: 1; 2003: 1; 2005: 1; 2009: 2

Pattern summary

Fuel System, Gasoline leads the component reports. Fuel system concerns appears in 4 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 1 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.

Examples from the source records

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

Owner report 10007873 · 2003-02-20 (February 20, 2003)

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…

Owner-reported narrative. 165,987 miles reported. Look up ODI 10007873 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10127327 · 2005-07-02 (July 2, 2005)

NO PREVIOUS EVENT BEFORE FAILURE. TIRE BECAME DEFORMED, PROBABLE CAUSE BELT SEPARATION. CAUSED SEVERE HANDLING PROBLEMS AT LOW SPEEDS. PLAN TO RETURN TIRE FOR REPLACEMENT.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10127327 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10275468 · 2009-07-01 (July 1, 2009)

THERE IS A FUEL LEAK THAT BEGAN A WHILE BACK BUT ONLY WHEN BOTH TANKS WERE FULL. NOW THE LEAK IS SUBSTANTIAL AND SEEMS TO OCCUR EVEN WHEN LESS THAN FULL....BUT NOT AT ALL WHEN ABOUT HALF FULL. I AM NOT SURE OF WHEN I FIRST NOTICED THE OCCURRENCE BUT IT HAS BEEN QUITE SOME YEARS NOW. I WILL ENTER A DATE. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10275468 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10281325 · 2009-08-21 (August 21, 2009)

GAS SPEWING FROM GAS CAP INPUT AREA DURING PERIODS OF WARM WEATHER. GAS CONTINUES TO SPEW REGARDLESS OF AMOUNT OF GAS IN EITHER TANK. HIGH POTENTIAL FOR FIRE AND LOSS OF LIFE. FORD KNOWS OF THIS PROBLEM AND IS SAYING THEY NEVER HAD A RECALL ON THIS SUBJECT. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 123,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10281325 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 489978 · 1995-05-07 (May 7, 1995)

SEAMS OF FRONT/REAR FUEL TANK FAILED, CAUSING TANKS TO LEAK. *AW

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 489978 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 502791 · 1996-03-22 (March 22, 1996)

VACUUM LEAK IN FUEL INJECTION AIR PLENUM CAUSES ENGINE TO SURGE. *DH

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 502791 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 510833 · 1996-10-30 (October 30, 1996)

SUDDEN ACCELERATION, CAUSING ACCIDENT.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 510833 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 514362 · 1997-01-31 (January 31, 1997)

VEHICLE STALLED THREE TIMES, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL DUE TO ELECTRONIC FUEL PUMP FAILING.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 514362 at NHTSA ↗

Recall history

3 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.

90V101000 · Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Gear Position Indication (Prndl)

Reported: 1990-06-01 (June 1, 1990)

UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, THE SNAP RING THAT LOCATES THE PARK GEAR ON THE OUTPUT SHAFT OF THE TRANSMISSION MAY FRACTURE.

Consequence: WHEN THE GEAR IS PLACED IN PARK, THE PARK GEAR WOULD NOTENGAGE, ALLOWING THE TRUCK TO ROLL FREELY IF THE PARKING BRAKE IS NOT PROPERLYSET. THIS COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.

Remedy: INSTALL IMPROVED SNAP RING AND REVISED TRANSMISSION EXTENSION HOUSING.

NHTSA campaign record ↗

91V119000 · Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage

Reported: 1991-07-03 (July 3, 1991)

SAFETY BELT ANCHORAGES DID NOT MEET LOAD REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS 210; BELT ANCHORAGE BAR PULLED THROUGH THE FLOOR OF VEHICLE WHEN SUBJECTED TO LOADS OF FMVSS 210 TEST.

Consequence: SEAT OCCUPANTS WOULD NOT HAVE ADEQUATE PROTECTION IN THEEVENT OF A SUDDEN STOP OR ACCIDENT AND WOULD BE SUBJECT TO INCREASED RISKOF INJURY.

Remedy: SECURE SAFETY BELT ANCHORAGE BAR TO VEHICLE FRAME FOR ADDED STRENGTH.

NHTSA campaign record ↗

91V146000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Auxillary Tank:Selector Devices

Reported: 1991-09-04 (September 4, 1991)

THE DUAL FUEL TANK SELECTOR VALVE MAY MALFUNCTION AND CAUSE AN OVERFILL CONDITION IN ONE OF THE FUEL TANKS, RESULTING IN AN OVERFLOW OF FUEL PAST THE FILLER CAP.

Consequence: THE OVERFLOW OF FUEL PAST THE FILLER CAP CAUSES A FUELLEAKAGE, WHICH CAN RESULT IN A FIRE WHEN EXPOSED TO A SOURCE OF IGNITION.

Remedy: REPLACE THE DUAL FUEL TANK SELECTOR VALVE.

NHTSA campaign record ↗

Explore the data

Vehicle analysis explorer

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

Data completeness

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

20.0%Usable mileage3 / 15 records

93.3%Valid incident date14 / 15 records

100.0%Valid filing date15 / 15 records

93.3%Ordered incident and filing dates14 / 15 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
Fuel System, Gasoline	Too few reports for a range	86,500 mi	2 (sparse)	ODI 10275468 · 50,000 mi THERE IS A FUEL LEAK THAT BEGAN A WHILE BACK BUT ONLY WHEN BOTH TANKS WERE FULL. NOW THE LEAK IS SUBSTANTIAL AND SEEMS TO OCCUR EVEN WHEN LESS THAN FULL....BUT NOT AT ALL WHEN ABOUT HALF FULL. I AM NOT SURE OF WHEN I FIRST NOTICED THE OCCURRENCE BUT IT HAS BEEN QUITE SOME YEARS NOW. I WILL ENTER A DATE. TR Look up ODI 10275468 at NHTSA ↗ ODI 10281325 · 123,000 mi GAS SPEWING FROM GAS CAP INPUT AREA DURING PERIODS OF WARM WEATHER. GAS CONTINUES TO SPEW REGARDLESS OF AMOUNT OF GAS IN EITHER TANK. HIGH POTENTIAL FOR FIRE AND LOSS OF LIFE. FORD KNOWS OF THIS PROBLEM AND IS SAYING THEY NEVER HAD A RECALL ON THIS SUBJECT. TR Look up ODI 10281325 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 ↗

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	Fuel System, Gasoline	Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Auxillary Tank:Selector Devices	Vehicle Speed Control	Wheels:Lugs/Nuts/Bolts/Studs	Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump	Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System	Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly	Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Fuel System, Gasoline	—	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Auxillary Tank:Selector Devices	0	—	0	0	0	0	0	0
Vehicle Speed Control	0	0	—	0	0	0	0	0
Wheels:Lugs/Nuts/Bolts/Studs	0	0	0	—	0	0	0	0
Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump	0	0	0	0	—	0	0	0
Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System	0	0	0	0	0	—	0	0
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly	0	0	0	0	0	0	—	0
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip	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.

Fuel smell or leak mentions

2 mentions · 13.3% of complaints

Median mileage: 107,994 mi (2 usable records).

ODI 10007873 · 165,987 mi

Look up ODI 10007873 at NHTSA ↗

ODI 10275468 · 50,000 mi

Look up ODI 10275468 at NHTSA ↗

Matching rule

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

Brake response concerns

1 mentions · 6.7% of complaints

Median mileage: Unavailable (0 usable records).

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

Stalling or loss of power

1 mentions · 6.7% of complaints

Median mileage: Unavailable (0 usable records).

ODI 514362

VEHICLE STALLED THREE TIMES, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL DUE TO ELECTRONIC FUEL PUMP FAILING.

Look up ODI 514362 at NHTSA ↗

Matching rule

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

Warning lights and dashboard alerts

1 mentions · 6.7% 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