RoadVitals

1985 Ford F-250

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
21
Latest Feb 10, 2003
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
2
Latest Aug 14, 1986
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
3
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
8
6 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 21 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1985 Ford F-250, most frequently naming the electrical, brakes and engine categories. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 3 NHTSA investigations name it; and 15 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Electrical624.0%
  • Brakes416.0%
  • Engine312.0%
  • Steering28.0%
  • Tires & wheels28.0%
  • Fuel system28.0%
  • Visibility14.0%
  • Heating & air conditioning14.0%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

2 campaigns cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
86V111000

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:MOUNTING

Aug 14, 1986
730 units potentially affected
The defect: TRUCKS FAIL TO MEET REQUIREMENT OF FMVSS NO. 301, FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITY, IN A 30 MPH FRONT ANGULAR BARRIER TEST IMPACT BECAUSE OF THE OMISSION OF THE NOSE SHIELD ON MIDSHIP FUEL TANK. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT, FUEL SPILLAGE IN THE TRUCKS WHICH DO NOT MEET THE FMVSS INCREASES THE RISK OF A FIRE.
The remedy: INSTALL NOSE SHIELD ON THE MIDSHIP FUEL TANK. FUEL TANK.
FORD MOTOR COMPANYView on NHTSA.gov
84V162000

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:FUEL RAIL

Dec 26, 1984
246 units potentially affected
The defect: METAL BURRS AND SHARP EDGES ON FUEL RAILS MAY HAVE DAMAGED ADJACENT O-RING SEALS DURING ASSEMBLY. THE DEFECT COULD CAUSE FUEL LEAKAGE WHEN ENGINE IS OPERATING.
The remedy: FUEL RAILS WILL BE INSPECTED FOR LEAKS, WETNESS OR SEEPAGE OF FUEL AND, IF NECESSARY, FUEL RAILS AND RELATED COMPONENTS WILL BE REPLACED WITHOUT COST TO THE OWNER.
FORD MOTOR COMPANYView on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

PE94065ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

FUEL INJECTOR PUMP FAILS

Opened Aug 19, 1994
Closed Dec 28, 1994

There is no summary currently available

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
DP89005ClosedDefect Petition

F-SERIES FUEL TANK FIRES

Opened Jan 26, 1989
Closed Aug 1, 1989

F-SERIES FUEL TANK FIRES

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
PE87017ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

FUEL LEAKS/FIRES

Opened Jan 28, 1987
Closed May 26, 1987

SUMMARY OF INFORMATION FROM MANUFACTURER:INSTANCES WERE FOUND WHERESPRING LOCK COUPLINGS FAILED CAUSING GASOLINE TO BE RELEASED THROUGHOUTTHE ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUSING FIRES.LEAKS FROM FUEL LINES MAY ALSO BE ACONTRIBUTING CAUSE TO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES.---------------------------------------------------------------------------ANALYSIS:DATA INDICATES THAT THE ALLEGED PROBLEM MAY BE CAUSED BY THESPRING LOCK QUICK CONNECT COUPLINGS WHICH CONNECT THE FUEL SUPPLY ANDRETURN LINES TO THE ENGINE AS WELL AS FUEL LEAKAGE FROM THE FUEL LINES.---------------------------------------------------------------------------PROPOSED ACTION: UPGRADE THIS PE TO AN EA.(EA87-020)===

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

View all 21
Body & structure
Filed Feb 10, 2003

THE FIREWALL CRACKED, WHICH REDUCED THE BRAKING CAPABILITY OF THE VEHICLE.*JB

NHTSA ID
10006837
Incident
Feb 9, 2003
Electrical
Filed Sep 20, 2001

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. *YH

NHTSA ID
785681
Incident
Jul 1, 1997
Tires & wheels
Filed Apr 23, 2001

WRANGLER LOADRANGE E LT 235/85R16, DOT UNKNOWN, REPLACEMENT TIRES WITH 70000 MILES ON A 1985 FORD, F250. ALL 4 TIRES SHOWED SIDEWALL CRACKS. *AK DOT MDOR 1 DOV 155, TIRES HAVE SIDEWALL CRACKS NEAR THE RIM ON BOTH THE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE. *SLC

NHTSA ID
886500
Incident
Mar 15, 2001
Tires & wheels
Filed Aug 16, 2000

FIRESTONE HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH THESE TIRES FOR MORE THAN JUST THE PAST FEW YEARS BUT HAS ALWAYS REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM. WHEN THE 1ST TIRE CAME APART, I WAS TRAVELING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WITH A CAB-OVER CAMPER ON THE TRUCK AND TOWING A MOTORCYCLE TRAILER. THE ONLY DAMAGE WAS TO THE RIM FROM RIDING ON THE PAVEMENT TO A STOP. WHEN THE 2ND TIRE CAME APART THE TRUCK WAS SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY AND I WAS INSPECTING THE TIRE .HALF OF THE SKIN FROM THE LEFT SIDE OF MY FACE WAS REMOVED, MY LEFT EYE WAS SEVERLY ABRADED AND THE EYE SOCKET WAS BROKEN, BOTH EAR DRUMS WERE BLOWN OUT AND MY COCHLEA (THE PART OF THE INNER EAR THAT CONTROLS BALANCE) WAS PERMANENTLY DAMAGED, AND MY LEFT ARM AND LEFT SIDE OF MY CHEST WERE BADLY CUT. I HAVE PICTURES OF BOTH TIRE FAILURES AND OF MY INJURED SELF. I CONTACTED SEVERAL LAWYERS AT THE TIME AND WAS TOLD THAT I HAD NO CASE AGAINST FIRESTONE BECAUSE I HAD ACTUALLY USED THEIR OFF-ROAD TIRES OFF-ROAD. BOTH FAILURES OCCURRED WHEN THE TIRES WERE FAIRLY NEW AND LOW MILEAGE. ALL 4 TIRES DEVELOPED PROBLEMS WITHIN A MONTH OF PURCHASE.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 33X12R16.5 )

NHTSA ID
728124
Incident
Apr 15, 1985
Powertrain (other)
Filed Aug 7, 2000
Crash reported5 injuries reported

THE RIGHT REAR AXLE BROK.E, CAUSED US TO HIT THE BRIDGE ON THE RIGHT AND THEN RICHOCHETED US TO THE LEFT AND WE HIT A 5 TON TOW TRUCK. WHICH TOTALED THE PICKUP INTO A MILLION PIECES. WE HAVE PICTURES OF THE ACCIDENT SCENE. *AK

NHTSA ID
726849
Incident
May 31, 1999
Fuel system
Filed Jan 3, 2000

DUEL FUEL TANKS ARE LEAKING. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID
854627
Visibility
Filed Dec 22, 1998
Fire reported

SMOKE POURED OUT OF ALL HEATING VENTS - SMELLED LIKE BURNING LEAVES. TRUCK WAS SHUT OFF AND SMOKE CEASED. TURNED HEATING LEVER TO OFF AND WENT TO DEALER .

NHTSA ID
701535
Incident
Dec 22, 1998
Brakes
Filed Oct 21, 1997

APPLIES PRESSURE, DOES NOT APPEAR BACK BRAKES ARE WORKING PROPERLY, CHANGED BRAKE SHOES/VACCUUM PUMP, STILL HAVING PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
817354
Incident
Oct 12, 1997

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

9852

TIRES

INFORMATION ON TIRE COMPANY TELEPHONE NUMBERS FOR CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE. *YC

9864

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM

INFORMATION ON A BUZZING OR RATTLE NOISE FROM THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. *TT

985A29

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS

SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT EXCESSIVE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL, IRREGULAR FRONT LINING WEAR, AND BRAKE PULL. *YC

98030298420

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

A NO START OR HARD START CONDITION MAY OCCUR ON SOME VEHICLES DUE TO THE GLOW PLUG CONTROL SYSTEM. *YC

97511

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

FLUID- TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE CHARTS. *JD

9747

STRUCTURE

FRAME- RIVET REPLACEMENT WITH BOLTS- SERVICE TIPS. *JD

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Ford F-250 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2019001—
2018001—
2017001—
2015001—
20141420141.3
2013950142.7
20122661144.1
20112482149.2
2010730037.4
2009541035.9
20081958157.1
2007607253.9
20062217256.5
20051445254.1
20041537257.0
20031167261.8
20021567260.8
20012209465.4
200032610365.6
199958119463.9
1998569254.4
199730414363.2
19961765262.9
19951844260.9
199412310566.9
19931309359.0
19921197962.4
199110771165.4
199011171167.5
19891126565.3
1988623665.0
1987382569.2
1986382470.8
1985Viewing212369.7
1984103371.8
1983163—
1982030—
1981150—
1980030—
1979290—
19782100—
1977260—
1976030—
1975060—
1974220—
1973050—
1972030—
1970100—
1969010—
1968110—
1967030—

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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.