Defect
THE IGNITION SWITCH COULD EXPERIENCE AN INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT.
Consequence
THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE OVERHEATING, SMOKE, AND POSSIBLY FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN AREA OF THE VEHICLE.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH.
1990 Ford F-150 Recalls
Recalls on record Updated July 2026
The 1990 Ford F-150 has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 9,143,100 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 315 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the fuel system, gasoline. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
Defect
A MALFUNCTIONING CHECK VALVE WITHIN THE FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY CAUSES A PORTION OF THE UNUSED FUEL FROM ONE TANK TO BE RETURNED TO THE SECOND TANK. WHEN THIS OCCURS, THE CAPACITY OF THE SECOND TANK CAN BE EXCEEDED, CAUSING FUEL SPILLAGE.
Consequence
SPILLED FUEL CAN RESULT IN A FIRE WHEN EXPOSED TO ASOURCE OF IGNITION.
Remedy
REPLACEMENT OF THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR AND INSTALLATION OF REDUNDANT CHECK VALVES.
Defect
UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, THE SNAP RING THAT LOCATES THE PARK GEAR ON THE OUTPUT SHAFT OF THE TRANSMISSION MAY FRACTURE.
Consequence
WHEN THE GEAR IS PLACED IN PARK, THE PARK GEAR WOULD NOTENGAGE, ALLOWING THE TRUCK TO ROLL FREELY IF THE PARKING BRAKE IS NOT PROPERLYSET. THIS COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy
INSTALL IMPROVED SNAP RING AND REVISED TRANSMISSION EXTENSION HOUSING.
Defect
INCORRECTLY INSTALLED FUEL LINE CONNECTORS HAVE FUEL SUPPLY AND RETURN LINES CROSSED.
Consequence
FUEL COULD BE TRANSFERRED FROM ONE TANK TO THE OTHER,POSSIBLY RESULTING IN FUEL OVERFLOW AND SPILLAGE, IN PRESENCE OF AN IGNITIONSOURCE, A FIRE COULD OCCUR.
Remedy
REPLACE FUEL LINE ASSEMBLY.
Complaints by component
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:AUXILLARY TANK:SELECTOR DEVICES
2fires1injuries
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
1crashes
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
11fires
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:AUXILLARY TANK
2fires
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
2fires1injuries
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
1fires
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
2crashes2injuries
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
Total complaints315
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.
“Unknown component(s) failure causes vehicle to stall at speed that vary, fuel supply is sufficient and battery good, no indication that stall is imminent. Varying time lapses allow restart and normal driving. Ammeter and temp gauges normal. Re-start may occur immediately or several hours. Online…”
“Replace front fuel pump, and have been using that tank exclusively as it starts and runs better than the rear. This morning I noticed fuel leaking from the rear tank, which was half full when I started using the front tank. I opened the filler neck and gas was spilling out. I turned the key to…”
“Tl* the contact owns a 1990 ford f-150. The contact stated fuel leaked from one tank into the other tank and caused the vehicle to jerk without warning. The contact pulled over to the side of the roadway and switched the fuel button to the other tank. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The…”
“Tl* the contact owns a 1990 ford f-150. The contact noticed a strong fuel odor outside the vehicle and inside while driving various speeds. Also, while examining the vehicle and opening the fuel tank, the fuel poured out. Quirk ford of augusta (7 water st, hallowell, me 04347, [REDACTED]) was…”
“Tl* the contact owns a 1990 ford f-150. The contact stated that the gear shifted out of the park position intermittently while parked on an incline. Whenever the vehicle shifted out of gear, it rolled forward until the emergency brake was engaged. The vehicle stopped moving when it rolled into a…”
“Tl* the contact owns a 1990 ford f-150. While filling up the front fuel tank, the contact stated that the fuel from the front entered the rear fuel tank, which caused the rear fuel tank to overflow. The dealer (baxtor ford south, 9203 s 145th st, omaha, ne 68318) stated that there was no recall on…”
“Tl* the contact owns a 1990 ford f-150. The contact stated that while in reverse, the fuel was leaking excessively. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the crossover valve needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vin was not included in…”
“I had filled my truck up and fuel started to pour out from somewhere out of the gas tank I didn't know what was going on I stop this guy & he had a jug he caught some of the gas I was hoping didn't no one throw a cig. Cause we would have been threw this was march 14, 2015 & it also happened in…”
Defect investigations
Investigation EA91031 Opened 1991-06-26 · closed 1991-11-01
FUEL EXPULSION
There is no summary currently available
Investigation EA91044 Opened 1991-10-30 · closed 1992-10-30
LOSS OF BRAKE EFFECTIVENES
===
Investigation EA92029 Opened 1992-08-27 · closed 1993-10-29
FRONT SEAT BACK FAILURE
There is no summary currently available
Investigation EA93001 Opened 1993-01-07 · closed 1993-08-20
FUEL EXPULSION
There is no summary currently available
Investigation EA99032 Opened 1999-11-04 · closed 2001-12-06
DUAL FUEL TANK CROSSFLOW/LEAKAGE
ON JULY 14, 1993 FORD FILED A DEFECT INFORMATION REPORT CONCERNING FUEL TANK CROSS FLOW LEAKAGE ON F-SERIES LIGHT TRUCKS AND CAB CHASSIS BUILT FROM JULY 22, 1989 THROUGH DECEMBER 17, 1992.THE REMEDY WAS TO REPLACE THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR AND INSTALL A CHECK VALVE BETWEEN EACH FUEL SUPPLY LINE AND FUEL TANK (2) TO…
Investigation EA99032 Opened 1999-11-04 · closed 2001-12-06
DUAL FUEL TANK CROSSFLOW/LEAKAGE
ON JULY 14, 1993 FORD FILED A DEFECT INFORMATION REPORT CONCERNING FUEL TANK CROSS FLOW LEAKAGE ON F-SERIES LIGHT TRUCKS AND CAB CHASSIS BUILT FROM JULY 22, 1989 THROUGH DECEMBER 17, 1992.THE REMEDY WAS TO REPLACE THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR AND INSTALL A CHECK VALVE BETWEEN EACH FUEL SUPPLY LINE AND FUEL TANK (2) TO…
Investigation PE91017 Opened 1990-11-27 · closed 1991-04-17
FORD TRUCK INCONSISTENT VEHICLE CONTROL.
SEE CLOSE RESUME
Investigation PE91064 Opened 1991-04-09 · closed 1991-07-05
TRANSMISSION FLUID FIRES
There is no summary currently available
Investigation PE91077 Opened 1991-05-23 · closed 1991-10-31
LOSS OF BRAKE EFFECTIVENES
There is no summary currently available
Investigation PE92042 Opened 1992-04-17 · closed 1992-08-27
FNT RECLNING SEAT BCK FAIL
There is no summary currently available
Investigation PE92077 Opened 1992-09-09 · closed 1993-01-07
FUEL EXPULSION
There is no summary currently available
Investigation RQ98008 Opened 1998-05-29 · closed 1999-11-04
FORD F-SERIES DUAL FUEL TANK LEAKAGE
THESE VEHICLES CAN EXPERIENCE FUEL TRANSFER FROM ONE TANK TO THE OTHER DUE TO A MALFUNCTIONING FUEL PUMP.FROM THE INFORMATION GATHERED TO DATE, IT APPEARS THAT THERE CAN BE MULTIPLE CAUSES AND/OR A COMBINATION OF CAUSES FOR FUEL CROSS FLOW AND THAT THE RECALL REMEDY MAY BE INADEQUATE.FURTHER INVESTIGATION IS…
Sources & methodology
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1990 Ford F-150 as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.