Complaints
315
Crashes
8
Fires
35
Injuries
11
Fatalities
—
Recalls
0
Worst 1990 Ford F-150 Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#148 complaints
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Auxillary Tank:Selector Devices
Avg mileage:114,667 mi
Fires:2
#234 complaints
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly
Avg mileage:121,658 mi
Crash-related:1
#317 complaints
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch
Fires:11
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 1990 Ford F-150.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Auxillary Tank:Selector Devices | 48 | — | 2 | 114,667 mi | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly | 34 | 1 | — | 121,658 mi | |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 17 | — | 11 | — | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Auxillary Tank | 17 | — | 2 | 70,500 mi | |
| Fuel Pump | 15 | — | — | 155,000 mi | |
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 12 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 11 | — | 2 | 89,000 mi | |
| Gasoline Fuel System | 11 | — | 1 | 113,032 mi | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 10 | 2 | — | 106,000 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 9 | — | — | — | |
| Automatic Transmission | 9 | — | — | — | |
| Tire Defects | 8 | 1 | — | 105,000 mi | |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash | 7 | — | 5 | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 7 | — | 4 | — | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly:Filler Pipe And Cap | 6 | — | — | 117,500 mi | |
| Fuel System | 6 | — | — | 97,182 mi | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 4 | 2 | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator | 3 | — | 3 | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Steering:Linkages:Tie Rod Assembly | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension:Front | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Starter Assembly | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights:High/Low Beam Dimmer Switch | 2 | — | 1 | — | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System, Other:Storage:Tank Assembly:Filling/Charging | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Manual Transmission | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Seat-Related Issues | 2 | — | — | — |
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Auxillary Tank:Selector Devices
48
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
2
Avg Miles
114,667
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly
34
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
121,658
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch
17
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
11
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Auxillary Tank
17
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
2
Avg Miles
70,500
Fuel Pump
15
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
155,000
Tires:Tread/Belt
12
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Ignition
11
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
2
Avg Miles
89,000
Gasoline Fuel System
11
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
113,032
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
10
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
106,000
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
9
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Automatic Transmission
9
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Tire Defects
8
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
105,000
Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash
7
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
5
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
7
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
4
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly:Filler Pipe And Cap
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
117,500
Fuel System
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
97,182
Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Unintended Acceleration
4
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
3
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering:Linkages:Tie Rod Assembly
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension:Front
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Starter Assembly
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Exterior Lighting:Headlights:High/Low Beam Dimmer Switch
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Other:Storage:Tank Assembly:Filling/Charging
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Manual Transmission
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat-Related Issues
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 1990 Ford F-150. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Other Ford F-150 Years
1990 Ford F-150 — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 1990 Ford F-150 reliable?
Verdict: Below Average Complaints. The 1990 Ford F-150 has 315 NHTSA complaints, 8 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Auxillary Tank:Selector Devices with 48 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 1990 Ford F-150?
Top reported problems: Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Auxillary Tank:Selector Devices (48 complaints, avg 114,667 mi); Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly (34 complaints, avg 121,658 mi); Electrical System:Ignition:Switch (17 complaints). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 1990 Ford F-150?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 111,894 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 1990 Ford F-150?
NHTSA complaints for the 1990 Ford F-150 include 8 crash-related reports, 35 fire reports, 11 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 1990 Ford F-150 have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 1990 Ford F-150 as of the latest data sync. Verify by VIN for the most current status — new recalls can be issued years after a model year ships.
Should I buy a 1990 Ford F-150?
Fewer complaints than typical for this model. That's a good sign, but every individual car is different — the VIN still tells you what happened to this specific one.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Ford F-150 reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 1990 Ford F-150
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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