FaultScore

Ford F250 electrical problems

98 of the 492 complaints filed about the Ford F250 are about the electrical system — 20% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 1989.

98

Complaints

20%

Share of all complaints

1

Crashes

61

Fires

Electrical System complaints by model year

1977 F250 1 1.0%
1984 F250 6 6.1%
1985 F250 9 9.2%
1986 F250 15 15.3%

Median failure at 143,719 miles

1987 F250 13 13.3%
1988 F250 19 19.4%
1989 F250 21 21.4%

Median failure at 140,000 miles

1990 F250 14 14.3%

Median failure at 115,500 miles

What owners said

1986 Ford F250 at 143,719 miles Cape Girardeau, MO Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

WHILE DRIVING MY 1986 FORD F-250 6.9 L DIESEL EXTENDED CAB 2WD , I HAD HEARD A SIZZLING SOUND COMING FROM THE CENTER OF THE DASH ON THE TOP. THE TRUCK ALL OF A SUDDEN STOPPED RUNNING AND HAD NO POWER TO ANYTHING, IT WAS COMPLETELY DEAD. WHILE THE TRUCK WAS IN MOTION I QUICKLY IDENTIFIED A PLACE TO PULL OVER ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND MAKE A COMPLETE STOP WITHOUT ACCIDENT. WHITE SMOKE HAD COME FROM THE CENTER OF THE DASH BY THE RADIO AND BUILT IN CLOCK, JUST AS THE TRUCK HAD LOST POWER AND STOPPED RUNNING. OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING TO DO WITH A ELECTRICAL FIRE AND THE IGNITION WIRING. I WAS LUCKY THE TRUCK DIDN'T CATCH ON FIRE AND BURN UP. THE TRUCK HAS NOT BEEN FIXED YET AND WONT BE FIXED UNTIL I FIND OUT MORE. DOES FORD HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THIS?.... IT SOUNDS LIKE THIS IS A PROBLEM FROM WHAT IM READING ABOUT OTHER INCIDENTS....

NHTSA complaint #10372317 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1988 Ford F250 East Liverpool, OH Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

1988 FORD F-250'S ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUGHT ON FIRE. *TS WHILE DRIVING THE CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CONSUMER PULLED THE VEHICLE ONTO THE SHOULDER. THAT'S WHEN THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO PUT THE FIRE OUT BUT WAS NOT SUCCESSFUL.

NHTSA complaint #10175391 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1989 Ford F250 Whitehall, NY

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS

CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR OF A TIRE. THE MECHANIC NOTICED THAT UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED REPLACEMENT DUE TO MOLE INFESTATION.*AK WHEN THE BRAKE FUSE BLEW, THE RELEASE MECHANISM FOR THE CRUISE CONTROL DIDN'T WORK. AS A RESULT, WHEN HE APPLIED THE BRAKE, THE VEHICLE RACED FORCING THE CONSUMER TO GO OFF ROAD TO AVOID A ACCIDENT. AT THIS TIME THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS CANCELLED BY HITTING THE OFF BUTTON. *PH

NHTSA complaint #10047939 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1989 Ford F250 Drummonds, TN Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER HOOD DUE TO WIRE HARNESS DEALER WAS CONTACTED.

NHTSA complaint #10032101 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1988 Ford F250 Hollister, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

IT TOOK NUMEROUS TRIES TO GET THE VEHICLE TO START.

NHTSA complaint #10016062 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1990 Ford F250 at 115,500 miles Andover, CT Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

FIRE BROKE OUT IN THE DASHBOARD.THERE WAS A RECALL REGARDING THE IGNITION, HOWEVER CONSUMER WAS INFORMED VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER.

NHTSA complaint #10006840 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1989 Ford F250 at 140,000 miles Portland, OR

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

FAULTY IGNITION COMPONENT PRIMARILY USED IN ALL MAKES AND MODELS OF VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BY FORD FROM 1986-2000+. CAN CAUSE FIRE, HAS BEEN LISTED AS A RECALL BUT ONLY FOR SPECIFIC VIN NUMBERS. SAME COMPONENT, SAME MANUFACTURER, SAME INSTALLATION, SAME PROBLEMS FOR ALL VEHICLES MAY, HAVE OR CAN ARISE IT IS NOT VEHICLE SPECIFIC BUT COMPONENT SPECIFIC. IF SAME COMPONENTS WERE USED ON ALL VEHICLES MANUFACTURED DURING THIS TIME, THEN ALL VEHICLES MANUFACTURED ARE AT RISK OF HAVING THE SAME MALFUNCTION. THE COMPONENT CAN NOT DETERMINE WHICH VEHICLE SHOULD OR SHOULD NOT HAVE FIRE OR SAFETY ISSUES. IT DOESN'T TAKE A ROCKET SCIENTIST TO FIGURE THIS OUT. NOR SHOULD IT TAKE EVEN ONE TRAGEDY TO MAKE THIS A PRIORITY FOR REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT. I DON'T THINK ANYONE SHOULD HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT OPERATING A VEHICLE THAT HAS THE POSIBILITY OF BECOMING A FIRE HAZARD. FAULTY COMPONENT NOT FAULTY VEHICLE. OH AND FAULTY MANUFACTURER AS THEY CAN'T SEE THE OBVIOUS BUT CAN ONLY SEE THE TYPES OF VEHICLES REPORTED TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM AS THE ONLY ONES TO RECALL. YES THAT IS HOW THEY DETERMINE THE VEHICLES TO RECALL, THE ONES THAT WERE REPORTED. OH AND LETS NOT LEAVE OUT SHALL WE THE ONES THAT WEREN'T REPORTED BECAUSE NO ONE WAS THE WISER OR NOT WELL VERSED IN THE REPORTING/OR FILING OF COMPLAINTS A NUMBER IM SURE WE ALL KNOW WOULD BE ASTRONOMICAL. FORD F250'S MANUFACTURED DURING THIS TIME ALL HAD SAME ELECTRICAL SYSTEM COMPONENT INSTALLED AND SAME MANUFACTURER. OTHER VEHICLES BY FORD USED THIS SAME COMPONENT, LOTS OF DOCUMENTATION AVAILABLE REGARDING THIS ITEM AND THE DEVESTATION AND TRAGEDY CAUSED BY ITS MALFUNCTION. I REFUSE TO BE ONE OF THESE TRAGEDIES IN ORDER TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM CORRECTED. OTHER RECALLS FOUND FOR FORD F250'S MANUFACTURED IN 1989: FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY ATTACHMENTS FUEL TANK AUXILLARY POWER TRAIN: TRANSMISSION:AUTOMATIC:INDICATOR:LEVER:GEAR FUEL TANK: AUXILLARY SELECTOR AND SWITCH BRAKES: HYDRAULIC: SHOE AND DRUM SYSTEM: LININGS

NHTSA complaint #10000097 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1990 Ford F250 Blue Springs, MO

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

TRUCK DIED ON BUSY INTERSTATE AT 65MPH. AFTER 30 MINUTES OF COOL DOWN TIME. TRUCK RESTARTED AND MADE IT TO AUTO STORE. REPLACED IGNITION MODULE. OKAY NOW.

NHTSA complaint #762339 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1985 Ford F250 Rancho Cucamonga, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE

THE HAULING CAMPER HAD NUMEROUS ENGINE SHUT OFFS AT VARIOUS SPEEDS DUE TO IGNITION MODULE FAILURE. THIS FAILURE CAUSED LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. THE CONSUMER STATES THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD CORRECT THIS DESIGN DEFECT.

NHTSA complaint #785681 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1989 Ford F250 Petersburg, NY Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH

NO SUMMARY

NHTSA complaint #755937 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1985 Ford F250 Rancho Cucamonga, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE

THE HAULING CAMPER HAD NUMEROUS ENGINE SHUT OFFS AT VARIOUS SPEEDS DUE TO IGNITION MODULE FAILURE. THIS FAILURE CAUSED LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. THE CONSUMER STATES THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD CORRECT THIS DESIGN DEFECT.

NHTSA complaint #785681 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1986 Ford F250 Visalia, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

I HAVE HAD TROUBLE THE LAS 6 MONTHS TRYING TO TRACK DOWN THE PROBLEM WITH MY TRUCK AND IT ALL SEEMS TO BE ELECTRICAL IGNITION SYSTEMS. REPLACED IGNITION TWICE AND BIG BOX FOR ELECTRIC SWITCHING ON LEFT SIDE UNDER HOOD BY FIREWALL. IT STOPS GOING DOWN THE ROAD AND WON'T STAY RUNNING AND MY SONS 81 BRONCO IS DOING THE SAME THING ALSO. THE OIL PRESSURE IS REAL LOW IN TOWN WHEN I STOP AND START. THE TRUCK DIES AND WON'T START FOR A WHILE. I HAVE SPENT OVER A THOUSAND DOLLARS TRYING TO FIGURE IT OUT AND NO ONE SEEMS TO KNOW. RIGHT NOW THEY CAN'T GET MY SONS 81 BRONCO TO STAY RUNNING AND HAVEING TROUBLE GETTING IT TO START. WHAT HAPPENED TO THE RECALL AND WHY DID FORD SKIMP ON MY FAVORITE VEHICLE. I NEVER HAD TROUBLE WITH MY 73 AND I DROVE IT FOR 15 YEARS. I WANT SOME ANSWERS. THANK YOU LEONA THOMASON. *AK (TIRESIZE: 16 INCH LT)

NHTSA complaint #752794 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1990 Ford F250 Cookeville, TN

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

WHILE DRIVING NORMAL SPEED TRUCK STALLED ,CAUSING STEERING, BRAKING AND SEVERAL THINGS TO STOP, NEARLY CAUSING A SERIOUS ACCIDENT.

NHTSA complaint #752431 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1990 Ford F250 EL Sobrante, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #746788 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1988 Ford F250 Denver, CO

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WILL COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER CANNOT IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.

NHTSA complaint #873253 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1988 Ford F250 Denver, CO

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING VEHICLE CUT OFF/ ENGINE DIE OUT COMPLETELY. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER , DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.

NHTSA complaint #873259 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1990 Ford F250 Tonawanda, NY

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

CONTINUING STALLING OF THE ENGINE SINCE SHORTLY AFTER I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. THE TRUCK HAD ONLY 27000 MILES ON IT WHEN I PURCHASED IT. I THOUGHT IT NEEDED A TUNE UP. HOWEVER, A COMPLETE TUNE UP WHICH I HAD AT APPROXIMATELY 50,000 MILES DID NOT FIX THE OCCASIONAL STALLING. I WAS TOLD AFTER A DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEMS CHECK THAT IT WAS THE EGR VALVE AND I HAD THAT REPLACED. IT DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. NOW, WITH THE HEAT OF THE SUMMER THE PROBLEM IS GETTING WORSE WITH IT STALLING WHENEVER I SLOW DOWN FOR CURVES, HIGHWAY EXITS, ETC. WHEN I HAVE ASKED A LOCAL FORD DEALER PARTS PERSON ABOUT THE STALLING PROBLEM THEY HAVE STILL POINTED TO THE EGR VALVE. BUT AFTER HEARING YESTERDAY'S NEWS REPORT ABOUT THE TFI MODULE AND COMPARING MY STALLING PROBLEMS TO WHAT I HAVE LEARNED, I WOULD SAY THAT IT IS THE TFI MODULE. THIS STALLING COULD DEFINITELY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. TO REPLACE THE MODULE THE DEALER COST WOULD BE $99.87 FOR THE PART, PLUS LABOR. I REALIZE THAT AFTER 3 YEARS OF OWNING THIS VEHICLE I NOW HAVE 82,000 MILES ON IT BUT THIS HAS BEEN AN ON GOING PROBLEM AND IT IS NOT SAFE. IF FORD HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS FOR THIS LONG OF A TIME IT SHOULD REPAIR THIS PROBLEM OR REPAY ME FOR HAVING IT FIXED.

NHTSA complaint #729713 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1989 Ford F250 Valley Center, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

WHEN TURNING VEHICLE ON IT WILL NOT TURN OVER, KEY GETS STUCK INTO THE IGNITION SWITCH. VEHICLE WILL GO DEAD, NO CONNECTION. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP TWICE. DEALERSHIP TOLD HIM THAT HE HAD TO HAVE RECALL REPAIRS DONE FOR A SWITCH .

NHTSA complaint #867591 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1989 Ford F250 NEW Kent, VA Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

MY 1989 FORD F250 4X4 CAUGHT FIRE IN MY DRIVEWAY TODAY. THE TRUCK IS A TOTAL LOSS. ITEMS IN THE TRUCK INCLUDED A CELL PHONE, APPROX. $1,500 WORTH OF TOOLS, A RIFLE, AN ELECTRONIC ORGANIZER, AN AIR COMPRESSOR IN THE BED OF THE TRUCK, CD-PLAYER, CB RADIO, AND NO TELLING WHAT ELSE THAT I CANNOT THINK OF. THE TRUCK WAS WORTH APPROX. $6,000. MY FATHER-IN-LAW TOLD ME HE HEARD ABOUT A RECALL RELATING TO THE ELECTRICAL/IGNITION SWITCH AFTER TELLING A FRIEND ABOUT THE FIRE. ONE OF THE FIREMAN WHO ANSWERED THE CALL SAID THE FIRE APPEARED TO HAVE STARTED AROUND THE DASH ON THE DRIVERS SIDE, THAT SEEMED TO BE WHERE THE HOTTEST PART OF THE FIRE WAS. THE FIRE WAS SO HOT THAT IT MELTED PART OF THE ALUMINUM RIM ON THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE. PLEASE GIVE ME ANY INFORMATION YOU CAN ON CONTACTING FORD ABOUT THIS RECALL. I WAS THE SECOND OWNER OF THIS TRUCK & THEREFORE RECEIVED NO INFORMATION ON RECALLS. THANK YOU, VERNON T. "TEDDY" PETERSON, JR.

NHTSA complaint #722354 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1990 Ford F250 Jacksonville, VT Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

WHILE DRIVING SMOKE CAME FROM THE WHEEL WELL AND HOOD THEN A FIRE STARTED. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #854147 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other Ford F250 problems