RoadVitals

1986 Ford F-250 Electrical Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Electrical reportsComplaints 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.
12
Latest Dec 24, 2010
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
32%
of 38 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
10
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1986 Ford F-250 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 12 reports on file name it.

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

Owner reports naming electrical

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Electrical
Filed Dec 24, 2010
Fire reported

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.... *TR

NHTSA ID
10372317
Incident
Nov 15, 2010
Mileage
143,719 mi
Electrical
Filed Oct 1, 2001

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 ID
752794
Incident
Jun 1, 2001
Electrical
Filed Jul 23, 1998
Fire reported

WHILE TRUCK WAS PARKED IN FRONT OF OWNER'S HOME IT CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE CAB AREA. TRUCK HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN FOR ONE WEEK. BELIEVES FIRE TO HAVE STARTED IN THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE TRUCK WAS TOTALLED. *AK

NHTSA ID
825820
Incident
May 5, 1998
Electrical
Filed Sep 24, 1996
Fire reported

IGNITION SWITCH SHORTED, CAUSING FIRE.

NHTSA ID
509131
Incident
Feb 1, 1996
ElectricalFuel system
Filed Sep 18, 1996
Fire reported

AN ELECTRICAL AND FUEL LEAKAGE FIRE. PLEASE DESCRIBE.*AK

NHTSA ID
802588
Incident
Jun 8, 1996
ElectricalInterior & seats
Filed Sep 4, 1996
Fire reported

WHILE DRIVING THE WIRE UNDER THE DASH NEAR THE IGNITION CAUGHT ON FIRE, BURNING THE VEHICLE UP, WHITE SMOKE NOTICED. *AK

NHTSA ID
979424
Incident
Feb 5, 1996
Electrical
Filed Aug 30, 1996

STARTED AUTO UP, BACKED OUT OF DRIVEWAY INTO STREET NOTICED SMOKE UNDER THE DASH. *AK

NHTSA ID
986959
Incident
May 15, 1996
Electrical
Filed Jun 11, 1996
Fire reported

WHILE DRIVING, IGNITION SWITCH LOCATED ON TILTED AREA OF STEERING COLUMN STARTED SMOKING, CAUSE A POWER SURGE, RESULTIN IN UNDERHOOD FIRE. *AK

NHTSA ID
985507
Incident
Jun 10, 1996
Electrical
Filed May 9, 1996
Fire reported

AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE IGNITION IS CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SMOKE UNDER THE DASH, AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

NHTSA ID
984299
Electrical
Filed May 2, 1996
Fire reported

UPON TURNING THE KEY SMOKE CAME FROM UNDER THE HOOD TWICE. *AK

NHTSA ID
983977
Incident
Oct 3, 1993
Electrical
Filed Apr 26, 1996
Fire reported

STARTED VEHICLE, DRIVING DOWN ROAD, CAB OF VEHICLE FILLED WITH SMOKE AND SMELLS LIKE BURNING WIRE, TURN VEHICLE OFF AND THEN RESTARTED, AGAIN ON FIRE. *AK

NHTSA ID
983566
Incident
Feb 6, 1996
Electrical
Filed Mar 16, 1995
Fire reported

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE. TT

NHTSA ID
962040
Incident
Mar 1, 1995

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

Data on this page last refreshed .