VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
1994 Ford F-250
Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Overview
Our database contains 123 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1994 Ford F-250, most frequently naming the brakes, engine and transmission categories. 10 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 5 NHTSA investigations name it; and 156 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.
Complaint activity over time
When owners filed reports about this model year
View as table
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Aug 1997 | 2 | 46 |
| Sep 1997 | 1 | 47 |
| Oct 1997 | 1 | 48 |
| Dec 1997 | 1 | 49 |
| Feb 1998 | 1 | 50 |
| Apr 1998 | 1 | 51 |
| May 1998 | 2 | 53 |
| Jun 1998 | 1 | 54 |
| Jul 1998 | 1 | 55 |
| Aug 1998 | 1 | 56 |
| Nov 1998 | 1 | 57 |
| Dec 1998 | 1 | 58 |
| Jan 1999 | 3 | 61 |
| Mar 1999 | 2 | 63 |
| Apr 1999 | 1 | 64 |
| May 1999 | 1 | 65 |
| Jun 1999 | 2 | 67 |
| Jul 1999 | 3 | 70 |
| Aug 1999 | 2 | 72 |
| Oct 1999 | 4 | 76 |
| Nov 1999 | 1 | 77 |
| Dec 1999 | 1 | 78 |
| Jan 2000 | 1 | 79 |
| Feb 2000 | 1 | 80 |
| Mar 2000 | 1 | 81 |
| May 2000 | 1 | 82 |
| Jul 2000 | 1 | 83 |
| Aug 2000 | 1 | 84 |
| Oct 2000 | 1 | 85 |
| Nov 2000 | 1 | 86 |
| Feb 2001 | 2 | 88 |
| Mar 2001 | 1 | 89 |
| Jul 2001 | 1 | 90 |
| Aug 2001 | 1 | 91 |
| Sep 2001 | 1 | 92 |
| Feb 2002 | 1 | 93 |
| Jun 2003 | 1 | 94 |
| Aug 2003 | 1 | 95 |
| Nov 2004 | 1 | 96 |
| Jan 2005 | 1 | 97 |
| Mar 2005 | 2 | 99 |
| Apr 2005 | 3 | 102 |
| Jun 2005 | 1 | 103 |
| Jul 2005 | 2 | 105 |
| Oct 2005 | 1 | 106 |
| Nov 2005 | 1 | 107 |
| Aug 2006 | 1 | 108 |
| Sep 2006 | 1 | 109 |
| Oct 2006 | 1 | 110 |
| Jul 2007 | 1 | 111 |
| Jan 2008 | 1 | 112 |
| Apr 2008 | 1 | 113 |
| Jul 2009 | 2 | 115 |
| Nov 2009 | 1 | 116 |
| May 2010 | 1 | 117 |
| Sep 2010 | 2 | 119 |
| Sep 2014 | 1 | 120 |
| May 2017 | 1 | 121 |
| Feb 2018 | 1 | 122 |
| Oct 2020 | 1 | 123 |
What owners report
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
- Brakes2316.3%
- Engine1913.5%
- Transmission1812.8%
- Suspension149.9%
- Fuel system139.2%
- Driver assistance139.2%
- Electrical107.1%
- Tires & wheels64.3%
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
10 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.govEXTERIOR LIGHTING
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Safety investigations
NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES
EA05-005 IS CLOSED WITH FORD?S ACTIONS IN RECALLS 05V-017, 05V-388, AND 06V-286, RECALLING APPROXIMATELY 6.7 MILLION VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH TEXAS INSTRUMENTS SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCHES (SCDS).THE BRAKE SYSTEMS IN THESE RECALLED VEHICLES GENERATE A VACUUM THAT CAN POTENTIALLY CAUSE THE SCDS TO FAIL AND, IN CERTAIN SWITCH INSTALLATION ORIENTATIONS, CATCH FIRE.FORD IS ALSO INCLUDING THE ENTIRE POPULATION OF 1998 EXPLORERS.FORD HAS INFORMED ODI THAT TESTING TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURES IN THE 1998 EXPLORERS WILL CONTINUE AFTER THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.ODI BELIEVES THAT THE VEHICLES EXHIBITING THE FACTORS CAUSING SCDS FAILURE DESCRIBED IN THIS REPORT CORRELATE WELL WITH THE OBSERVED FAILURE RATES ON THESE VEHICLES BY MODEL AND MODEL YEAR.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST IN THE NON-RECALLED VEHICLES MANUFACTURED WITH SCDS THAT ARE NOT INCLUDED IN FORD?S RECALLS.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE NON-RECALLED POPULATION FOR INCIDENCE OF ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.SEE ATTACHED CLOSING REPORT FOR DETAILS.
INADVERTENT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT
There is no summary currently available
SEPARATED FRONT SUSPENSION
CONSUMER COMPLAINTS REPORT THAT BOLTS WHICH RETAIN THE AXLE PIVOT BRACKET TO THE FRAME CROSS MEMBER CAN LOOSEN OR FAIL, CAUSING THE INBOARD END OR THE AXLE TO BECOME DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE.OWNERS ALLEGE THAT THIS COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL, HOWEVER THE COMPLAINT DATA SHOWS ONLY ONE INCIDENT WHERE THE VEHICLE LEFT THE ROADWAY FOLLOWING AXLE SEPARATION, WITH NO DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE.IN ADDITION TO THE 225 CONSUMER COMPLAINTS, THERE WERE 4,315 WARRANTY CLAIMS RELATED TO THE FRONT SUSPENSION AND MEMBERS, AND 22 VEHICLES WERE REPLACED FOR GOODWILL.DOCUMENTS SUBMITTED BY FORD, UNDER REQUEST FOR CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT INDICATE THAT THE BOLTS WERE INADEQUATE FOR THE DURABILITY REQUIREMENTS OF THE VEHICLE.ALSO, BOLTS WERE FOUND TO HAVE BEEN INADEQUATELY TORQUED AT ONE OR MORE ASSEMBLY PLANTS.OTHER FACTORS, SUCH AS WAX TREATMENT OF THE FRAME, CONTRIBUTED TO THE PROBLEM.INCREASED BOLT DIAMETER AND INCREASED TORQUE APPARENTLY CORRECTED THE PROBLEM.A SERVICE BULLETIN, 96-20-13, WAS ISSUED TO ADVISE DEALERS OF THIS CORRECTIVE ACTION.IN THESE DOCUMENTS, FORD ALSO REPORTED THAT A VEHICLE, EQUIPPED FOR SIMULTANEOUS CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF ALL PIVOT BRACKET FASTENERS, WAS EVALUATED RESULTING IN A SLIGHT VEHICLE PULL TO ONE SIDE WITH NO LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.ODI HAS NOT REPLICATED FORD'S VEHICLE TESTING, HOWEVER ANALYSIS OF THE DESIGN OF THE FRONT SUSPENSION INDICATES THAT EVEN IF THE INBOARD END OF THEAXLE BECAME DISCONNECTED FROM THE FRAME, THE OUTBOARD END WOULD REMAIN FIRMLY ATTACHED TO THE LEAF SPRING WITH TWO U-BOLTS.THIS WOULD RETAIN THE WHEEL IN ITS APPROXIMATE POSITION, ALTHOUGH THE WHEEL ALIGNMENT WOULD BE GREATLY IN ERROR.THEREFORE IT IS UNLIKELY THAT CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WOULD BE LOST.OWNERS REPROT MANY SIGNIFICANT NOISES IN THE SUSPENSION, SUCH AS CREAKING, GROANING, CLUNKING, AND SQUEAKING, PRIOR TO NOTICING ANY SEPARATION OF THE AXLE.THIS PROVIDES WARNING OF THE LOOSENING OF THE BOLTS TO THE DRIVER, AND SHOULD NOT BE IGNORED.FORD HAS STATED THAT REPAIRS WILL BE COVERED UNDER THE VEHICLE'S BUMPER WARRANTY.COMPLAINTS ABOUT WARRANTY COVERAGE BY A FORD DEALER SHOULD BE ADDRESSED TO FORD, OR TO APPROPRIATE STATE AND LOCAL AGENCIES.A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.
FAILURE OF SERPENTINE BELT
AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS CLOSING REPORT IS INCLUDED.
Recent owner complaints
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
ENGINE SHUTS DOWN WITHOUT WARNING AT SPEEDS 50 TO 70 MPH AND WON'T RESTART SOMETIMES. IT MIGHT RESTART AFTER AN HOUR AND RUN FOR ABOUT 10 TO 15 MINUTES AND STOP AGAIN AND WON'T START AGAIN TILL NEXT MORNING. IS INTERMITTENTLY AND RANDOMLY STOPPING DEAD, LIKE TURNING OFF THE KEY. MECHANIC CANNOT MAKE IT HAPPEN IN SHOP!
- NHTSA ID
- 11365982
- Incident
- Oct 17, 2020
- Mileage
- 103,000 mi
DIMMER SWITCH SHUTS OFF ALL THE LIGHTS AT NIGHT WHEN I DRIVE AT NIGHT
- NHTSA ID
- 11075204
- Incident
- Jan 1, 2018
- Mileage
- 140,000 mi
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 FORD F-250 EQUIPPED WITH DOMINATOR SPORT ATZ TIRES, SIZE: LT265/75R16. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT FELT A VIBRATION IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE. THE TIRE WAS ROCKING FROM SIDE TO SIDE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BELT WAS SEPARATED FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE APPROXIMATE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 265,000 AND THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 185.
- NHTSA ID
- 10992338
- Incident
- Mar 15, 2017
- Mileage
- 265,000 mi
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 FORD F-250. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE FRONT FUEL TANK WOULD EXTRACT FUEL FROM THE REAR FUEL TANK CAUSING THE FUEL TO LEAK OUT THE FRONT FUEL TANK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,000.
- NHTSA ID
- 10630448
- Incident
- Jul 1, 2014
- Mileage
- 63,000 mi
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 FORD F-250. THE CONTACT STATED THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR HAS WORN OUT AND CAUSE FUEL TO LEAK IN ONE OF THE DUAL FUEL TANKS. THE FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE. THE CONTACT NOTICE A RECALL FOR THE PREVIOUS YEAR MODEL REGARDING THE FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY (00V424000). HE HAD NOT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER TO SEE IF HIS VEHICLE IS INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE CAN CAUSE A FIRE WHILE DRIVING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,000.
- NHTSA ID
- 10354665
- Incident
- Aug 7, 2010
- Mileage
- 79,000 mi
1994 F250 SITTING IN DRIVEWAY, 10 O'CLOCK AT NIGHT, CAUGHT ON FIRE, EXTENSIVE DAMAGE, TRUCK DESTROYED. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10354511
- Incident
- Sep 6, 2010
IN AUGUST, 2009, MY FORD TRUCK CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED AND PLUGGED IN TO WARM THE ENGINE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME TO PUT THE FIRE OUT AND I HAD MY VEHICLE TOWED WITH THE INTENTION OF GETTING IT REPAIRED. I WROTE TO FORD MOTOR COMPANY'S CLAIMS DEPARTMENT TO INFORM THEM WHAT HAPPENED, INCLUDING PICTURES, AND ADVISED THEM THAT THE VEHICLE WAS AVAILABLE TO THEM FOR INSPECTION. THEIR RESPONSE WAS THAT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT "INVOLVED IN ANY OPEN RECALLS THAT WOULD HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED." IN NOVEMBER, 2009, I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM FORD MOTOR COMPANY REGARDING THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH. THE RECALL LETTER DESCRIBES PRECISELY WHAT HAPPENED TO MY VEHICLE. IT STATES, IN PART, "FORD CANNOT BE CONFIDENT THAT OVER MANY YEARS IN SERVICE, A SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH WILL NOT LEAK BRAKE FLUID, POSING THE RISK OF A FIRE. THIS CONDITION MAY OCCUR EITHER WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PARKED OR WHEN IT IS BEING OPERATED." AFTER WRITING TO THE FORD CLAIMS DEPARTMENT AGAIN, ASKING FOR A RE-EVALUATION OF THIS PROBLEM, THEIR RESPONSE WAS THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO OFFER ME ANY ASSISTANCE. THEY NEVER EXAMINED MY TRUCK, THEREFORE, THEY CANNOT POSSIBLY DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. THERE HAS BEEN NO EFFORT ON FORD'S PART TO ACKNOWLEDGE OR REMEDY MY SITUATION, YET, I NOW RECEIVED ANOTHER RECALL NOTICE (MARCH, 2010) REGARDING POSSIBILITY OF FIRE TO THIS VEHICLE! *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10328562
- Incident
- Aug 31, 2009
- Mileage
- 254,000 mi
THEY WILL NOT GIVE ME THE PARTS TO FIX IT. *TR THE CONSUMER STATED THE NEAREST DEALER IS 250 MILES FROM HIS HOME. HE ALSO STATED HE IS A MECHANIC AND CAN PERFORM THE REPAIRS HIMSELF. UPDATED 11/25/09
- NHTSA ID
- 10293052
- Incident
- Oct 1, 2009
Manufacturer communications
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP (MIL) ON WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES P0603 (POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE KEEP ALIVE MEMORY ERROR) OR P0605 ( POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE READ ONLY MEMORY ERROR). *TT
STEERING
OIL LEAK AT HIGH PRESSURE PUMP FITTINGS AND/OR PLUG. THIS INCLUDES SUPER DUTY F-SERIES. OASIS. *TT
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
POOR IDLE QUALITY AND/OR LOW OUTPUT AFTER THE ENGINE RETURNS TO IDLE SPEED. *TT
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
HARD STARTING AFTER THE FUEL INJECTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED. *TT
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
HESITATION, STUMBLE, LACK OF POWER, ROUGH IDLE AND POOR PERFORMANCE ON VEHICLES WITH 7.3L DI TURBO DIESEL BUILT FROM 2/9/94. *TT
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER
A NO-START OR REDUCED POWER CONDITION MAY OCCUR INTERMITTENTLY. *TT
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
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Investigations | Issue Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 0 | 0 | 1 | — |
| 2018 | 0 | 0 | 1 | — |
| 2017 | 0 | 0 | 1 | — |
| 2015 | 0 | 0 | 1 | — |
| 2014 | 142 | 0 | 1 | 41.3 |
| 2013 | 95 | 0 | 1 | 42.7 |
| 2012 | 266 | 1 | 1 | 44.1 |
| 2011 | 248 | 2 | 1 | 49.2 |
| 2010 | 73 | 0 | 0 | 37.4 |
| 2009 | 54 | 1 | 0 | 35.9 |
| 2008 | 195 | 8 | 1 | 57.1 |
| 2007 | 60 | 7 | 2 | 53.9 |
| 2006 | 221 | 7 | 2 | 56.5 |
| 2005 | 144 | 5 | 2 | 54.1 |
| 2004 | 153 | 7 | 2 | 57.0 |
| 2003 | 116 | 7 | 2 | 61.8 |
| 2002 | 156 | 7 | 2 | 60.8 |
| 2001 | 220 | 9 | 4 | 65.4 |
| 2000 | 326 | 10 | 3 | 65.6 |
| 1999 | 581 | 19 | 4 | 63.9 |
| 1998 | 56 | 9 | 2 | 54.4 |
| 1997 | 304 | 14 | 3 | 63.2 |
| 1996 | 176 | 5 | 2 | 62.9 |
| 1995 | 184 | 4 | 2 | 60.9 |
| 1994Viewing | 123 | 10 | 5 | 66.9 |
| 1993 | 130 | 9 | 3 | 59.0 |
| 1992 | 119 | 7 | 9 | 62.4 |
| 1991 | 107 | 7 | 11 | 65.4 |
| 1990 | 111 | 7 | 11 | 67.5 |
| 1989 | 112 | 6 | 5 | 65.3 |
| 1988 | 62 | 3 | 6 | 65.0 |
| 1987 | 38 | 2 | 5 | 69.2 |
| 1986 | 38 | 2 | 4 | 70.8 |
| 1985 | 21 | 2 | 3 | 69.7 |
| 1984 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 71.8 |
| 1983 | 1 | 6 | 3 | — |
| 1982 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — |
| 1981 | 1 | 5 | 0 | — |
| 1980 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — |
| 1979 | 2 | 9 | 0 | — |
| 1978 | 2 | 10 | 0 | — |
| 1977 | 2 | 6 | 0 | — |
| 1976 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — |
| 1975 | 0 | 6 | 0 | — |
| 1974 | 2 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 1973 | 0 | 5 | 0 | — |
| 1972 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — |
| 1970 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1969 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1968 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1967 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — |
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.