RoadVitals

1994 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.
123
Latest Oct 23, 2020
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.
10
Latest Aug 1, 2006
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.
5
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.
28
3 injuries, 0 deaths reported

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.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

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.gov

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

Aug 1, 2006
1,200,000 units potentially affected
The defect: ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH SPEED CONTROL, GASOLINE OR NATURAL GAS ENGINES, THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH MAY OVERHEAT.
The risk: OVERHEATING COULD RESULT IN SMOKE OR BURN AND AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS INTO THE SPEED CONTROL SYSTEM FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 7, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-866-436-7332. (NOTE: ALSO SEE RECALLS 05V017 AND 05V388)
FORD MOTOR COMPANYManufacturer number 05S28View on NHTSA.gov

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

May 24, 2006
27,176 units potentially affected
The defect: CERTAIN CK MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION HEADLIGHTS, CLEAR CORNER, BUMPER, AND SIDE MARKER LIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
The risk: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
The remedy: CK MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE NONCOMPLIANT LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CK MOTORSPORT AT 1-909-610-7211.
CK MOTORSPORT, INC.View on NHTSA.gov

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

Sep 7, 2005
4,500,000 units potentially affected
The defect: ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH SPEED CONTROL, THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH MAY OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.
The risk: A FIRE AT THE SWITCH COULD OCCUR.
The remedy: BY LETTER DATED SEPTEMBER 12, 2005, OWNERS WERE INSTRUCTED TO RETURN THEIR VEHICLES TO THEIR DEALERS TO HAVE THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH DISCONNECTED. OWNERS WHO HAVE HAD THEIR SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATED ARE BEING NOTIFIED THAT PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE AND ADVISED TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TO RECONNECT THE SPEED CONTROL BEGINNING IN FEBRUARY 2006. OWNERS WHO DID NOT HAVE THEIR SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATED ARE BEING NOTIFIED TO HAVE THEIR SYSTEM REMEDIED BEGINNING IN FEBRUARY 2006. OWNERS ARE URGED TO AVAIL THEMSELVES OF THE FREE DISCONNECT SERVICE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE BECAUSE OF THE SIGNIFICANT RISK OF FIRE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673. (NOTE: ALSO SEE RECALLS 05V017 AND 06V286)
FORD MOTOR COMPANYManufacturer number 05S28View on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

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

EA05005ClosedEngineering Analysis

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES

Opened Mar 22, 2005
Closed Aug 2, 2006

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.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEMLed to recall 05V388000
RQ98006ClosedRecall Query

INADVERTENT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT

Opened Mar 18, 1998
Closed Aug 15, 2000

There is no summary currently available

AIR BAGSLed to recall 93V155000
PE96052ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

SEPARATED FRONT SUSPENSION

Opened Aug 23, 1996
Closed Jan 27, 1997

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.

SUSPENSION
EA95012ClosedEngineering Analysis

FAILURE OF SERPENTINE BELT

Opened Mar 31, 1995
Closed May 28, 1996

AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS CLOSING REPORT IS INCLUDED.

POWER TRAINLed to recall 96I003001

Recent owner complaints

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

Engine
Filed Oct 23, 2020

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
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Feb 27, 2018

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
Tires & wheels
Filed May 30, 2017

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
Fuel system
Filed Sep 3, 2014

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
Fuel system
Filed Sep 9, 2010

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
Electrical
Filed Sep 8, 2010
Fire reported

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
Driver assistance
Filed May 3, 2010
Fire reported

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
Driver assistance
Filed Nov 20, 2009

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.

17571

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

16515

STEERING

OIL LEAK AT HIGH PRESSURE PUMP FITTINGS AND/OR PLUG. THIS INCLUDES SUPER DUTY F-SERIES. OASIS. *TT

03214

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

POOR IDLE QUALITY AND/OR LOW OUTPUT AFTER THE ENGINE RETURNS TO IDLE SPEED. *TT

03215

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

HARD STARTING AFTER THE FUEL INJECTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED. *TT

03212

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

03213

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

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
1994Viewing12310566.9
19931309359.0
19921197962.4
199110771165.4
199011171167.5
19891126565.3
1988623665.0
1987382569.2
1986382470.8
1985212369.7
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.