1986 Ford F-250 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 1986 Ford F-250, 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
- Electrical1230.0%
- Tires & wheels512.5%
- Engine512.5%
- Brakes410.0%
- Fuel system37.5%
- Body & structure25.0%
- Driver assistance25.0%
- Interior & seats25.0%
- Seat belts25.0%
- Suspension12.5%
- Steering12.5%
- Transmission12.5%
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
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
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)
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
BELT OF TIRE IS SEPARATING (TIRE FEELS OUT OF BALANCE, BULGE IS NOW EVIDENT IN TREAD, 7/32'S OF ORIGINAL 15/32'S OF TREAD REMAIN). THIS IS THIRD TIRE IN SET OF FOUR TO SEPARATE (SEE ODI REPORTS #10345185 & #10345187 FOR FIRST & SECOND). *TR
BELT OF TIRE IS SEPARATING (TIRE FEELS OUT OF BALANCE, BULGE IS NOW EVIDENT IN TREAD, 8/32'S OF ORIGINAL 15/32'S OF TREAD REMAIN). THIS IS SECOND TIRE IN SET OF FOUR TO SEPARATE (SEE ODI REPORT # 10345185 FOR FIRST). *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE.
AUTO WAS LOCKED AND HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN IN THREE WEEKS, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE AUTO BURST INTO FLAMES AND BURNED THE INTERIOR UP, NO INJURIES. *AK
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
WHILE DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY, BRAKE LINE RUPTURED, RESULTING IN COMPLETE LOSS OF BRAKES. CONSUMER AVOIDED AN ACCIDENT. VEHICLE CHECKED BY DEALER WHO ADVISED CONSUMER THAT BRAKE LINE HAD RUSTED.*AK CONSUMER STEPPED ON BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO FLOOR. CONSUMER NOTICED BRAKE FLUID ON THE GROUND. THE LINE HAD RUPTURED ON THE DRIVERS SIDE MIDWAY THE CHASSIS. *JG
CONSUMER REPLACED BRAKE PADS FOR DISC BRAKES, BRAND:BENDIX. ADHESIVE USED ON PADS DID NOT ADHERE TO PADS, CAUSING STEEL SHIMS TO MOVE TOWARDS ROTOR. STEEL SHIMS WERE CUTTING INTO ROTOR. IN TIME ROTOR WILL BE CUT IN HALF. NOTIFIED MANUFACTURER AFTER 1 NOV 2000, WHO SAID THIS WAS NOT A COMMON COMPLAINT.*AK
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
AN ELECTRICAL AND FUEL LEAKAGE FIRE. PLEASE DESCRIBE.*AK
VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE UNDER BED AREA. *SKD
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
CONSUMER STATES THAT HIS BUMPER FAILED. BUMPER HAD BEEN REPLACED ABOUT 6 MONTHS PRIOR. CONSUMER HAS USED BUMPER AT LEASE 10 TIMES AND THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. NLM
THE FIRE WALL SHEET METAL BROKE APART AT THE SEAM CAUSING THE HYDRAULIC CLUTCH INOPERABLE. YH
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
CRUISING DOWN TWO-LANE HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH WITH CRUISE CONTROL SET. HIT BRAKE FOR UPCOMING STOP SIGN. WHEN BRAKE RELEASED, CRUISE CONTROL TRIED TO TAKE ME BACK TO 65 MPH. THE ONLY WAY TO RELEASE CRUISE CONTROL WAS TO HIT OFF BUTTON. NEED INFO ON HOW TO FIX THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE I AM AFRAID TO USE THE CRUISE CONTROL AT THIS TIME. THANKYOU FOR YOUR HELP IN THIS MATTER.
AUTO-TRAN: GAS PEDAL STICKS IN WIDE OPEN POSITION; VEHICLE LURCHES FORWARD; RELEASE THROTTLE BY KICKING PEDAL. TT
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 THE WIRE UNDER THE DASH NEAR THE IGNITION CAUGHT ON FIRE, BURNING THE VEHICLE UP, WHITE SMOKE NOTICED. *AK
SMOKE CAME FROM DASHBOARD AREA. *DH
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
I MOVED TO TENNESSEE IN 1990 FROM LANSING MICHIGAN. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE NEAREST FORD DEALER .... HARPETH FORD-MERCURY INC. IN FRANKLIN TENNESSEE. I EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM.(THE DRIVERSIDE SEATBELT WON'T BUCKLE UP)...SHOWED THE SERVICE ADVISOR AND TOLD HIM I THOUGHT THAT SEAT BELTS WERE AN MVSS ITEM. HE TOLD ME IT WOULD COST $93 FOR THE SEAT BELT AND 2 HOURS INSTALLATION. THIS WOULD COME TO TOTAL OVER $200 PLUS TAX. IS FORD RESPONSABLE TO FIX THE DEFECT OR SHOULD I GO AHEAD AND PAY IT. I BOUGHT THE TRUCK AT A DEALER IN MICHIGAN AND NOW LIVE IN TENNESSEE. CAN ANY DEALER FIX THIS? SHOULD THE DEALER HAVE KNOWN THAT SEATBELTS ARE MVSS AND FIXED THE VEHICLE OR SET UP AN APPOINTMENT? I WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE ANY HELP. ALSO, HAS ANYBODY ELSE REPORTED THIS FAILURE? THANKS AGAIN, MIKE HURLEY
THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELTS ARE TOO SHORT AND VERY DIFFICULT TO STRETCH ENOUGH, TO FASTEN. *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
WHEN YOU GO TO STEP INTO THE TRUCK YOU CAN HEAR A POPPING SOUND AND WHEN STAND TO GET OUT YOU HEAR THIS POPPING SOUND, NOISE IS BEHIND THE PASSENGERS SEAT. *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 AT 55 MPH INNER TIE ROD BROKE, AND THE TIRES CAME OFF, RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL. *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
CLUTCH PUSHES HARD RESULTING IN CRACKED FLOOR BOARDS AND THE CLUTCH NOT RELEASING.
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 .