1985 Ford F-150 Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1985 Ford F-150, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Electrical929.0%
- Engine412.9%
- Suspension39.7%
- Tires & wheels39.7%
- Body & structure39.7%
- Brakes26.5%
- Steering13.2%
- Transmission13.2%
- Heating & air conditioning13.2%
- Driver assistance13.2%
- Fuel system13.2%
- Interior & seats13.2%
- Seat belts13.2%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
1985 FORD F-150 HEADLIGHTS FAILED AND VEHICLE SHUT OFF. *KB WHEN THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF, THE CONSUMER DRIFTED OFF TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROADWAY AND STRUCK A GUARD RAIL. *JB
IGNITION CONTROL MODULE FAILED INTERMITTENTLY NUMEROUS TIMES BEFORE THE PROBLEM COULD BE IDENTIFIED. ENGINE STALL WAS INSTANTANEOUS AND WITHOUT WARNING; DANGEROUS TRAFFIC SITUATIONS RESULTED. HOT AMBIENT TEMPERATURE AGGRAVATED THE PROBLEM, BUT THE HEAT FACTOR WAS NOT KNOWN UNTIL THE PROBLEM WAS FINALLY ISOLATED. TWO FORD DEALERS WERE ABSOLUTELY NO HELP IN DIAGNOSING THE PROBLEM.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE IT BEGAN TO SMOKE UNDER THE HOOD, THE VEHICLE CUT OFF THEN SUDDENLY CAUGHT FIRE (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). NLM
WHILE THE TRUCK WAS PARKED THE ENGINE DEPARTMENT AND NEAR THE PASSENGER'S SIDE CAUGHT ON FIRE. OWNER DOES NOT KNOW WHAT CAUSED THE FIRE. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
CONSUMER STATED THAT IT GOT IMPOSSIBLE TO SHIFT GEARS, HE WAS TOLD WHEN THEY TOOK THE STEERING COLUMN APART EVERYTHING FELL OUT. *YD
COMPANY VEHICLE. REAR LEAF SPRINGS KEEP BREAKING. IF SPRINGS BREAK COMPLETELY, THE ENTIRE REAR END OF VEHICLE WOULD FALL OUT. DEALER CONTACTED AND CANNOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. *AKREPAIRWORK DONE AT OWNERS EXPENSE. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED TIRE TREAD SEPARATION ON 2 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. WHILE DRIVING ON 04/10/03 THE PASSENGER REAR TIRE EXPERIENCED PARTIAL TREAD SEPARATION WHICH RESULTED IN A BLOW OUT. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH ON 04/12/03 THE DRIVER'S REAR TIRE TREAD COMPLETELY SEPARATED AND ALMOST CAUSED A DANGEROUS COLLISION. TIRE INFO: DAYTON, RADIAL STAG ST 31X10.50R15LT, DOT-V060U6A118, NOT ORIGINAL, 90% OF TREAD INTACT, 2K-3K MILES ON TIRES AT TIME OF FAILURE. *NLM.....*AK
THE FIRESTONE DEALER REFUSED TO PROCESS A RECALL CLAIM FOR THE FAULTY FIRESTONE TIRES FROM COPIES PRESENTED BY THE CONSUMER (FIRESTONE ATX). *YH
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
THIS CAUSE'S LOUD POPING AND CRACKING NOISE WHEN TURNING AND EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR ON THE OUT SIDE OF TIRE. FORD REP. TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS NOT A RECALL ON THIS AND THAT EVEN IF THERE WAS DUE TO AGE OF THE TRUCK THAT THEY WOULD NOT PAY TOWARDS FIXING IT. I POINTED OUT THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, BUT THIS DIDN'T MAKE ANY DIFFERANCE, JUST TOUGH LUCK ON MY PART. THEY TOLD ME HAVE THE CROSS MEMBER WELDED TO THE FRAME. THIS HAD ALREADY BEEN DONE ONCE SOMETIME IN THE PAST, I DO NOT KNOW WHEN. BUT IT DIDN'T HOLD . SO I AM AT A LOSE AT WHAT DO NOW OR WHERE TO TURN FOR HELP WITH THIS. *AK
PAINT IS PEELING OFF THE ENTIRE BODY OF VEHICLE.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
CONSUMER STATED THAT IT GOT IMPOSSIBLE TO SHIFT GEARS, HE WAS TOLD WHEN THEY TOOK THE STEERING COLUMN APART EVERYTHING FELL OUT. *YD
REAR BRAKE PIPE RUPTURED AT 87,000 MILES DUE TO CORROSION, POSSIBLE DUE TO SALT ON THE ROAD, RESULTING IN BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING FUSE BOX/STEERING COLUMN CAUGHT FIRE;UNABLE TO TURN OFF IGNITION BECAUSE WIRE HAD MELTED TOGETHER;EXTINGUISHED FIRE BY REMOVING BATTERY CABLE.*AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
CONSUMER STATED THAT IT GOT IMPOSSIBLE TO SHIFT GEARS, HE WAS TOLD WHEN THEY TOOK THE STEERING COLUMN APART EVERYTHING FELL OUT. *YD
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Heating & air conditioning
Reports naming the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE VEHICLE SUCKS UP LEAVES IN THE VENTS AND CAUSES THEM TO BURN AND CAUSES SMOKE TO FILL UP THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
VEHICLE EXPERIENCING SUDDEN ACCELERATION, RESULTING IN ACCIDENT. *YC
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE WAITING TO FILL UP THE TRUCK WITH GAS THE FUEL LINE BROKE AND CAUSED A HUGE FIREBALL. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING, SMOKE POURED THROUGH VENTILATION. EVERY NOW AND THEN, OWNER SMELLS WIRES BURNING W/CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE HORN BUTTONS ARE NOT LARGE ENOUGH , THE SEAT SHOULDER BELT IS TOO HIGH UP, IT IS EXTREMELY HARD TO REMOVE SPARE FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .