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-250 Recalls
Recalls on record Updated July 2026
The 1990 Ford F-250 has 6 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 9,699,870 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 134 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the fuel system, gasoline. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
Defect
THE STEEL FUEL RETURN TUBES THAT CONNECT THE FRAME FUEL RETURN LINES WITH THE ENGINE FUEL RAIL CAN CONTACT THE PINCH WELD FLANGE CONNECTING THE DASH PANEL TO THE FLOOR PAN. CONTINUED CONTACT LEADS TO ABRASION OF THE STEEL FUEL RETURN TUBE AND EVENTUALLY RESULTS IN A FUEL LEAK.
Consequence
ABRASION OF THE STEEL TUBE WALL THAT EVENTUALLY CAUSES A FUEL LEAK MAY RESULT IN A FIRE, IF A SOURCE OF IGNITION IS PRESENT.
Remedy
FORD DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL RETURN TUBES WITH FLEXIBLE STAINLESS STEEL BRAIDED/TEFLON TUBES. DEALERS WILL ALSO INSPECT THE FUEL SUPPLY TUBES.
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
A REVISED BRAKE LINING NOISE INSULATOR RESULTED IN A DECREASE IN THE THERMAL INSULATION BETWEEN THE BRAKE LINING AND THE FRONT BRAKE CALIPER PISTON. THIS CAUSED GREATER HEAT TRANSFER TO THE CALIPER PISTONS WITH THE POTENTIAL TO OVERHEAT THE BRAKE FLUID AND DIMINISH BRAKE EFFECTIVENESS DURING SEVERE BRAKING CONDITIONS.
Consequence
INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCES AND INABLILITY TO HOLDVEHICLES ON A STEEP GRADE RESULTS IN INCREASED RISK OF ACCIDENT IN THE EVENT OFA SUDDEN STOP OR WHEN CONSTANT BRAKING IS NEEDED TO MANEUVER THROUGH AREAS WITHSTEEP GRADES.
Remedy
ADD SNAP-IN INSULATORS THAT ATTACH TO EACH OF THE FRONT BRAKE CALIPER PISTONS. IN ADDITION, VEHICLES WITH 7.5 L ENGINES WILL HAVE INSULATION ADDED TO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT BRAKE LINES.
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:TANK ASSEMBLY
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
2fires
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
1crashes
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:AUXILLARY TANK:SELECTOR DEVICES
1fires
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
1fires
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT:SEAL
1crashes
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
3fires
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
1fires
Total complaints134
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.
“Tl* the contact owns a 1990 ford f-250. The contact stated while driving 50 mph, the contact switched from the front fuel tank to the rear fuel tank which caused the rear fuel gauge to read empty. The contact stated after filling the rear gas tank, gasoline started leaking from the front tank…”
“Twice I have been traveling down a street I travel often when out of no where a violent shaking has occurred in the steering wheel of my truck, as well as the entire front end of the truck. This violent shaking, I have been told, is called a death wobble and very nearly sent me head on into…”
“Twice I have been traveling down a street I travel often when out of no where a violent shaking has occurred in the steering wheel of my truck, as well as the entire front end of the truck. This violent shaking, I have been told, is called a death wobble and very nearly sent me head on into…”
“Tl* the contact owns a 1990 ford f250. The contact stated that one of the fuel tanks failed and caused gasoline to overflow into the second tank. Resulting in a fuel leak. The vehicle was taken to a mechanic for inspection. The failure was located at the fuel cap. The vehicle was not repaired. The…”
“Tl* the contact owns a 1990 ford f-250. The contact stated that a days after switching one of the fuel tanks, fuel started to spew out of the filler neck. The contact stated that once the cap was release and the engine was turned off, the fuel spill could be stopped. The vehicle was towed to the…”
“Tl* the contact owns a 1990 ford f250. The contact stated that the fuel tank strap was rusted and leaking gas. The dealer was made aware of the failure however, did not offer any assistance. The manufacturer was not contacted to report the failure. The current mileage was 120,000 and the failure…”
“Tl* the contact owns a 1990 ford f250. The contact stated that the fuel tank strap was rusted and leaking gas. The dealer was made aware of the failure however, did not offer any assistance. The manufacturer was not contacted to report the failure. The current mileage was 120,000 and the failure…”
“I am the owner of a 1990 f-250, basically began smelling a fuel odor coming from the trucks cab while driving. Looked at the underside of the truck and found a small gas leak at the fuel lines under the pinch weld. Exact same issue as 94v040000, have not fixed problem because ford cannot find this…”
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 EA93001 Opened 1993-01-07 · closed 1993-08-20
FUEL EXPULSION
There is no summary currently available
Investigation EA93014 Opened 1993-06-04 · closed 1994-07-29
ALTERNATOR BELT FAILURE
There is no summary currently available
Investigation EA93026 Opened 1993-10-29 · closed 1994-02-28
FUEL LINE ROUTING
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 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 PE91090 Opened 1991-06-20 · closed 1991-10-25
SPARE TIRE FIRES
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-250 as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.