Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 1990 Ford E150
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Fuel & Propulsion
746.7%
Median failure at 123,000 miles
Wheels
213.3%
Acceleration & Cruise Control
213.3%
Brakes
213.3%
Tires
16.7%
Steering
16.7%
When it fails
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all
complaints include one.
50,000 – 74,999 miles
133.3%
100,000 – 149,999 miles
133.3%
150,000+ miles
133.3%
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
May 1995peak 1Aug 2009
NHTSA investigations into the 1990 Ford E150
An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough
complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks
something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.
EA91044Opened 30 Oct 1991Closed 30 Oct 1992SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
LOSS OF BRAKE EFFECTIVENES
===
EA91031Opened 26 Jun 1991Closed 1 Nov 1991VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
FUEL EXPULSION
PE91077Opened 23 May 1991Closed 31 Oct 1991SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
at 123,000 milesWilkesboro, NC
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
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.
NHTSA complaint #10281325 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 50,000 milesPlainfield, NJ
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
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.
NHTSA complaint #10275468 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Jacksonville, FL
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
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.
NHTSA complaint #10127327 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #10007873 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Toledo, OH
WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS
WHILE IN MOTION, THE LEFT REAR TIRE SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE WHEN THE LUG NUTS BACKED OUT.
NHTSA complaint #566990 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #755263 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Fresno, CA
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING AT NEIGHBORHOOD SPEEDS WHEN WITHOUT WARNING STEERING WHEEL BROKE WAY FROM COLUMN. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #898490 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Warren, MI
WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS
LEFT REAR WHEEL STUDS BROKE OFF RESULTING IN THE WHEEL COMING OFF WHILE DRIVING CAUSING DAMAGE TO VEHICLE (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). *MJS
NHTSA complaint #553311 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Pacific PA, CA
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER
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.
NHTSA complaint #812577 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Tucson, AZ
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
VEHICLE STALLED THREE TIMES, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL DUE TO ELECTRONIC FUEL PUMP FAILING.
NHTSA complaint #514362 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNK, 00
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
SUDDEN ACCELERATION, CAUSING ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #510833 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Latham, NY
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
VACUUM LEAK IN FUEL INJECTION AIR PLENUM CAUSES ENGINE TO SURGE.
NHTSA complaint #502791 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Albrightsvil, PA
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
BRAKE AND ABS WARNING LIGHT STAY ILLUMINATED. CAUSING THEM TO MALFUNCTION.
NHTSA complaint #982792 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Holmen, WI
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
SEAMS OF FRONT/REAR FUEL TANK FAILED, CAUSING TANKS TO LEAK.
NHTSA complaint #489978 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Ocean Spring, MS
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
VEHICLE ACCELERATOR STUCK, RESULTING IN ACCELERATION. TT
NHTSA complaint #965465 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.