1987 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 1987 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
- Electrical1021.7%
- Brakes919.6%
- Engine613.0%
- Fuel system48.7%
- Tires & wheels48.7%
- Transmission48.7%
- Steering36.5%
- Interior & seats24.3%
- Visibility12.2%
- Driver assistance12.2%
- Other / unspecified12.2%
- Suspension12.2%
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
STEERING COLUMN BECOMES HOT DUE TO IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE.
VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDERDASH WHILE PARKED CAUSED BY FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH. IGNITION SWITCH WILL BE REPLACED BY OWNER; NOT INCLUDED IN FORD'S IGNITION SWITCH RECALL. *AK
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
CRUISE CONTROL MALFUCTIONED, CAUSING CRUISE CONTROL TO GET STUCK IN THAT MODE. ALSO, BRAKES DID NOT WORK. HAD TO HAVE VEHICLE COASTED, AND TURN OFF ENGINE IN ORDER TO STOP VEHICLE. . *AK
BRAKES FAILED DUE TO OVERHEATING OF FLUID, ALSO DAMAGING OTHER BRAKE COMPONENTS.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
CONSUMER PULLED OFF GRAVEL ROAD ONTO A BLACK TOP WHEN THE VEHICLE'S ORIGINAL SMOG LOCKED UP. THER WAS NO WARNING AT ALL. *AK
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WILL CUT OFF GIVING THE DRIVER NO INDICATION. AFTER THE VEHICLE SHUTS OFF IT TAKES 5 HOURS FOR THE VEHICLE TO START.THE DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED . OWNER HAS REPALCED SEVERAL PARTS ON VEHICLE TRYING TO STOP THE SUDDEN CUT OFFS.
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
I HAVE OWNED 2 F250 PICKUPS. ONE 1983 AND ONE 1987. THEY BOTH HAVE HAD 2EA FAILURES OF THE FUEL LINE TO CARBURATOR FLOAT BOWL FITTING. THE FLOAT BOWL PART NUMBER FROM FORD IS E5TZ 9510-MB. THE THREADED BORE OF THE FLOAT BOWL BECOMES BELL SHAPED OVER TIME. THIS CAUSES FUEL TO LEAK BETWEEN THE FUEL LINE AND FRONT FLOAT BOWL. THIS FUELS LEAKS ON THE HOT MANIFOLD. FORD KNOWS OF THE PROBLEM AND SIMPLY RAISED THE PRICE ON THE REPLACEMENT PART TO EARN MORE PROFIT. IT USED TO BE LESS THAN $50 AND CURRENTLY IS OVER $80. I WILL SEND TWO SAMPLES OF THE PART SO YOU MAY SEE FOR YOURSELF WHAT IS HAPPENING. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AND I HAVE NO DOUBT AFFECTS THOUSANDS OF FORD F250'S. *AK
TRUCK CAUGHT ON FIRE AFTER 4 MONTH OF OWNERSHIP. FUEL LEAK INDICATED AS ENTIRE TRUCK AND ROAD WERE INFLAMED.
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
BRIDGETONE, LT235/85R16, DOT: UNKNOWN. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE LEFT REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED. AS RESULT THE BUMPER, TAIL PIPE AND FENDER WAS DAMAGED. *AK *JB
WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE TREAD SEPARATED WITHOUT WARNING. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB
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
THE CLUTCH FAILED TO DISENGAGE PROPERLY AND PLACED ME IN A HAZARDOUS DRIVING SITUATION. THIS CLUTCH IS HYDRAULICALLY OPERATED AND A DEALER REPAIR WAS TO REPLACE THE CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER. THIS DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. I INVESTIGATED THE OPERATION OF THE CLUTCH AND FOUND THE CAB FIREWALL, WHERE THE CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER IS BOLTED TO IT, DOES NOT HAVE ENOUGH STRENGTH TO SUPPORT THE CLUTCH OPERATIONAL STRESSES APPLIED TO IT. THIS FIREWALL HAD STARTED TO SEPARATE AND ALLOWED THE CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER TO MOVE WHEN IT WAS ACTUATED, THEREBY THE CLUTCH WAS NOT ABLE TO DISENGAGE.*AK
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND THE CLUTCH CAME APART, PURCHASED TRUCK USED FROM SOMEONE. PLEASE DESCRIBE .*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
STEERING COLUMN AND THE TURNING LIGHTS WOULD NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY AFTER A LOT OF WORK.
STEERING COLUMN OVERHEATS.
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
DRIVER SEAT BROKE OFF FROM THE TRACKS AFTER REAR IMPACT AT 50 MPH. DEALER/MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, AND ITEM WAS NOT COVER UNDER A RECALL. NOTHING CAN BE DONE. *AK *ML
WIRING HARNESS UNDER DASH SHORTED, CAUSING FIRE. *DH
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
WINDSHIELD CRACKED. *SD
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
CRUISE CONTROL MALFUCTIONED, CAUSING CRUISE CONTROL TO GET STUCK IN THAT MODE. ALSO, BRAKES DID NOT WORK. HAD TO HAVE VEHICLE COASTED, AND TURN OFF ENGINE IN ORDER TO STOP VEHICLE. . *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
WINDSHIELD CRACKED. *SD
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
FRONT HOUSING DEVELOPED CRACKS RESULTING IN FRONT AXLE BREAKING. THIS IS THE SECOND OCCURANCE. TT *JB
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 .