1990 Ford E-150

Routine

Owners filed 17 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the vehicle speed control. It has been recalled 3 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Wheels › Lugs/Nuts/Bolts/Studs2
000
Vehicle Speed Control2
000
Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage › Auxillary Tank › Selector Devices2
000
Fuel System, Gasoline2
000
Unknown or Other1
100
Tires › Tread/Belt1
000
Steering › Steering Wheel/Handle Bar1
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc › Caliper1
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip1
000
Fuel/Propulsion System1
000

3 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage › Auxillary Tank › Selector Devices91V146000
Filed Sep 4, 1991350,000 vehiclesFord Motor Company

Defect. 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.

Risk. 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.

Seat Belts › Front › Anchorage91V119000
Filed Jul 3, 199130 vehiclesVan Craft Corp

Defect. 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.

Risk. 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.

Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Gear Position Indication (prndl)90V101000
Filed Jun 1, 1990111,000 vehiclesFord Motor Company

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

Risk. 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.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Unknown or OtherCrash
Filed May 19, 2021WA

Picked up vehicle from auto shop, work had been done on the front brakes, engine temp sensor, heater blower relay, map sensor, throttle control position sensor and ECM had been replaced. Shortly after I got on the freeway the vehicle started to accelerate very quickly W/O pushing the gas pedal hit the brakes but only slowed from 65 mph to 60. Gas pedal did not move from middle position up or down and brakes seamed mushy. Cruise control was not on, tried switching it on then off. Could not slow down, so went to great effort to avoid hitting any other vehicles. trying to slow down for an off ramp came close to crashing off the the edge into a ditch.Tried the emergency brake and downshifting. Finally turned off the key and started slowing down, car lurched forward and hit a crosswalk button pole. Utility pole was damaged also cars bumper, grill, hood, radiator, brakes, possibly transmission. State patrol arrived, vehicle towed to tow yard lot. No ticket was issued. Vehicle never had this issue prior to the auto shop updates, I notified the shop but they have not followed up on anything - they stated that they would contact their insurance provider but I do not believe they have done so. ECM computer, software, fuel system sensors were possibly not installed correctly. Vehicle is available for inspection upon request. Has not been inspected since the incident. My safety and the safety of any drivers or pedestrians in the vicinity was put at extreme risk by the vehicle operating a

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed May 15, 2014129,000 milesOH

WHILE DRIVING GAS STARTED TO SPILL OUT OF FRONT TANK AT CAP. VEHICLE HAS DUAL GAS TANKS. STOPPED AT LOCAL STORE AND TRIED TO FIGURE OUT WHY. TWO DAYS EARLIER HAD SMELLED GAS BUT DID NOT KNOW WERE IT WAS COMING FROM. WHEN I CAME OUT OF STORE TRUCK WOULD NOT START. TOOK TO MECHANIC HAD FUEL SYSTEM REPAIRED AND SELECTOR SWITCH BYPASSED. NOW RUNNING FINE . FOUND RECALL FOR FORD RECALL #91S39. CALLED FORD SAID DOES NOT APPLY TO MY VEHICLE. RECALL SAYS FORD E150 CLUB WAGONS 1989-1991 WITH DUAL TANKS HARD TO UNDERSTAND HOW MINE IS NOT COVERED. WOULD LIKE SOME EXPLANATION. *TR

Fuel System, Gasoline
Filed Aug 21, 2009123,000 milesNC

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

Fuel System, Gasoline
Filed Jul 1, 200950,000 milesNJ

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

Tires › Tread/Belt
Filed Jul 2, 2005FL

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.

Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage › Auxillary Tank › Selector Devices
Filed Feb 20, 2003165,987 milesTX

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 RESULT IN FIRE WHEN EXPOSED TO A SOURCE OF IGNITION. CORRECT BY REPLACING DUAL FUNCTION FUEL RESERVOIRS WITH NEW RESERVOIRS CONTAINING O-RINGS OF A REVISED MATERIAL. THEY SAID THIS APPLIES ONLY TO THE PICK-UPS, AND NOT THE ECONOLINE VAN. ANOTHER DEALER SAY THAT VIN NUMBER INDICATED THAT THIS WAS COMPLETED ALREADY, WHICH I KNOW WAS NOT... I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER... AND IS THE EXACT PROBLEM I AM HAVING IS STATED ABOVE... THE FUEL IS SPILLING ON THE GROUND WHEN I SWITCH ON THE REAR FUEL TANK.

Wheels › Lugs/Nuts/Bolts/Studs
Filed Jul 30, 2002OH

WHILE IN MOTION, THE LEFT REAR TIRE SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE WHEN THE LUG NUTS BACKED OUT. *JG

Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage › Auxillary Tank › Selector Devices
Filed Dec 4, 2001IA

NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 91V146000 COVERS THIS 1990 MODEL, BUT FORD SAYS NOT PART OF RECALL ALTHOUGH THE SAME EXACT FAILURE DID OCCUR WITH GAS/FUEL SPILL INSIDE ENCLOSED GARAGE. REAR TANK RETURN WAS TO FRONT TANK FORCING FUEL OVERFLOW. *AK

Steering › Steering Wheel/Handle Bar
Filed Oct 30, 2001CA

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING AT NEIGHBORHOOD SPEEDS WHEN WITHOUT WARNING STEERING WHEEL BROKE WAY FROM COLUMN. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

Wheels › Lugs/Nuts/Bolts/Studs
Filed Aug 1, 2000MI

LEFT REAR WHEEL STUDS BROKE OFF RESULTING IN THE WHEEL COMING OFF WHILE DRIVING CAUSING DAMAGE TO VEHICLE (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). *MJS

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc › Caliper
Filed May 29, 1997CA

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

Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Fuel Pump
Filed Jan 31, 1997AZ

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

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Oct 30, 199600

SUDDEN ACCELERATION, CAUSING ACCIDENT.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Apr 16, 1996PA

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

Fuel System, Gasoline › Fuel Injection System
Filed Mar 22, 1996NY

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

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed May 17, 1995MS

VEHICLE ACCELERATOR STUCK, RESULTING IN ACCELERATION. TT

Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage › Tank Assembly
Filed May 7, 1995WI

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

17 of 17 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1994
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20230100Routine
20211000Routine
20168100Routine
20158100Routine
20146600Routine
201319600Routine
201212800Routine
2011231300Routine
201010900Routine
200971400Routine
2008111810Routine
2007121900Routine
2006171610Routine
200516400Routine
200433700Routine
200321610Routine
200228330Routine
200137410Routine
200050620Routine
199983620Routine
199860510Routine
1997102640Routine
199659380Routine
199571370Routine
19941217121Fatalities reported
199371440Routine
1992644110Routine
199115110Routine
1990 — this page17300Routine

Compare every E-150 year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Sep 4, 1991. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.