FORD E-150 · model year

1991 FORD E-150

20 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1991FORDE-150 carries 20 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 1 fire, 3 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1991 E-150 is electrical system:alternator/generator/regulator with 2 filings, followed by tires:sidewall (2) and tires:tread/belt (2). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 177 investigation files overlapping the 1991 E-150, and 8 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page, a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

20
Complaints
0
Crashes
1
Fires
3
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

20 filings

Crashes Reported

0 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR2
TIRES:SIDEWALL2
TIRES:TREAD/BELT2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE1
EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:ACCESSORY SCISSOR/SCREW/BOTTLE JACK/LIFT1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH1
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY1
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS1
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:POWER ADJUST1
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL1
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:AUXILLARY TANK:SELECTOR DEVICES1
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE1

Recent Complaints

20120613FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 FORD E150. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 45 MPH AND SMELLED A GASOLINE FUEL ODOR. HE STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICE GASOLINE LEAKING FROM THE FRONT TANK OF THE FUEL LINE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER THE RECALL. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 75,000. UPDATED 7/23/12 *CN

Mileage: 75,000

20120613FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 FORD E150. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 45 MPH AND SMELLED A GASOLINE FUEL ODOR. HE STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICE GASOLINE LEAKING FROM THE FRONT TANK OF THE FUEL LINE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER THE RECALL. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 75,000. UPDATED 7/23/12 *CN

Mileage: 75,000

20071001FireFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 FORD E150. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD HISSING SOUND COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. HE INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED BURN MARKINGS INSIDE THE FILLER CAP AS WELL AS OUTSIDE OF THE FUEL TANK. HE STATED THAT THE COMPONENTS ON THE INSIDE OF THE FUEL TANK WERE BURNED. AS OF OCTOBER 1, 2007, THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAD NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT A SHORT CIRCUIT CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 193,000.

Mileage: 193,000

20040426FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:AUXILLARY TANK:SELECTOR DEVICES

I FOUND A SAFETY RECALL ON MY VEHICLE, 91V-146 THE DEALER CLAMS NO RECORD OF RECALL, BUT HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM FOR 10 YEARS NOW. FORD SAYS RECALLS DONT EXPIRE, BUT SINCE NO RECORD DUE TO IT BEING A 1991 GARY YOEMANS FORD WILL NOT FIX. VEHICLE HAD 60,000 ORIGIONAL MILES ON IT DUE TO LACK OF DRIVABILITY FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM. *AK

Mileage: 20,000

20021021VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK CAUSING VEHICLE TO SUDDENLY ACCELERATE. TS

20020813TIRES:TREAD/BELT

WHILE DRIVING TWO TIRES FAILED WITHIN 30 MINUTES OF EACH OTHER. THE ORIGINAL GENERAL TIRES (TIRE INFORMATION UNKNOWN) EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION WHICH CAUSED SIGNIFICANT BODY DAMAGE. MANUFACTURER NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING. *TT

20020603TIRES:TREAD/BELT

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 65MPH ON HIGHWAY AND VEHICLE STARTED TO TREMBLE ALL OVER. HOWEVER CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO CONTROL VEHICLE. LEFT FRONT TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM RIM.*AK CONSUMER STATED ALL 5 TIRES HAD TO BE REPLACED.*JB

20010801ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

WE HAVE SPENT MONEY TRYING TO FIX THE SAME PROBLEMSON OUR VAN OVER AND OVER WE HAVE A HANDICAP CHILD THAT HIS LIFE DEPENDS ON THE FUNCTION OF THE VAN WHEN WE PURCHASED THE VAN WE INFORMED DEALER OF THIS AND HE STATED THAT THE VAN WAS IN GREAT CONDITION TO TRAVEL ANY WHERE. WE ALSO LET THEM KNOW THAT OUR CHILD TRAVELS BACK AND FOURTH FROM CHAMPAIGN ILLINOIS TO CHICAGO ILLINOIS TO GO TO DIFFRENT HOSPITALS AND VISIT FAMILY. WITHIN THE FIRST DAYS THAT WE PURCHASED THE VAN IT STARTED TO HAVE PROBLEMS AND THE ALTERNATOR GAVE OUT AND DRAINED THE BATTERY HILL. FORD DID REPLACE THE PARTS BUT SINCE THEN WE CONTINUE TO HAVE TO REPLACE THIS PARTS FREQUENTLY. HILL FORD MADE AN ATTEMPT TO FIX THE FUEL PROBLEMS WITH THE VAN BUT ABOUT A MONTH AFTER SERVICE IT WENT BACK TO HAVING STARTING PROBLEMS BECAUSE OF FUEL OVER FLOWING. WE DID TRY TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM WITH FIRESTONE TWICE BUT IT ALWAYS GOES BACK TO THE SAME THING. THE FUSE BOX LOCATED UNDER THE FRONT HOOD CONTROLS THE MOTOR THAT ALLOWS THE BACK

20010801ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS

WE HAVE SPENT MONEY TRYING TO FIX THE SAME PROBLEMSON OUR VAN OVER AND OVER WE HAVE A HANDICAP CHILD THAT HIS LIFE DEPENDS ON THE FUNCTION OF THE VAN WHEN WE PURCHASED THE VAN WE INFORMED DEALER OF THIS AND HE STATED THAT THE VAN WAS IN GREAT CONDITION TO TRAVEL ANY WHERE. WE ALSO LET THEM KNOW THAT OUR CHILD TRAVELS BACK AND FOURTH FROM CHAMPAIGN ILLINOIS TO CHICAGO ILLINOIS TO GO TO DIFFRENT HOSPITALS AND VISIT FAMILY. WITHIN THE FIRST DAYS THAT WE PURCHASED THE VAN IT STARTED TO HAVE PROBLEMS AND THE ALTERNATOR GAVE OUT AND DRAINED THE BATTERY HILL. FORD DID REPLACE THE PARTS BUT SINCE THEN WE CONTINUE TO HAVE TO REPLACE THIS PARTS FREQUENTLY. HILL FORD MADE AN ATTEMPT TO FIX THE FUEL PROBLEMS WITH THE VAN BUT ABOUT A MONTH AFTER SERVICE IT WENT BACK TO HAVING STARTING PROBLEMS BECAUSE OF FUEL OVER FLOWING. WE DID TRY TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM WITH FIRESTONE TWICE BUT IT ALWAYS GOES BACK TO THE SAME THING. THE FUSE BOX LOCATED UNDER THE FRONT HOOD CONTROLS THE MOTOR THAT ALLOWS THE BACK

20010801SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:POWER ADJUST

WE HAVE SPENT MONEY TRYING TO FIX THE SAME PROBLEMSON OUR VAN OVER AND OVER WE HAVE A HANDICAP CHILD THAT HIS LIFE DEPENDS ON THE FUNCTION OF THE VAN WHEN WE PURCHASED THE VAN WE INFORMED DEALER OF THIS AND HE STATED THAT THE VAN WAS IN GREAT CONDITION TO TRAVEL ANY WHERE. WE ALSO LET THEM KNOW THAT OUR CHILD TRAVELS BACK AND FOURTH FROM CHAMPAIGN ILLINOIS TO CHICAGO ILLINOIS TO GO TO DIFFRENT HOSPITALS AND VISIT FAMILY. WITHIN THE FIRST DAYS THAT WE PURCHASED THE VAN IT STARTED TO HAVE PROBLEMS AND THE ALTERNATOR GAVE OUT AND DRAINED THE BATTERY HILL. FORD DID REPLACE THE PARTS BUT SINCE THEN WE CONTINUE TO HAVE TO REPLACE THIS PARTS FREQUENTLY. HILL FORD MADE AN ATTEMPT TO FIX THE FUEL PROBLEMS WITH THE VAN BUT ABOUT A MONTH AFTER SERVICE IT WENT BACK TO HAVING STARTING PROBLEMS BECAUSE OF FUEL OVER FLOWING. WE DID TRY TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM WITH FIRESTONE TWICE BUT IT ALWAYS GOES BACK TO THE SAME THING. THE FUSE BOX LOCATED UNDER THE FRONT HOOD CONTROLS THE MOTOR THAT ALLOWS THE BACK

20001025TIRES:SIDEWALL

FIRESTONE FR480 TIRES P235 75 R15 EXPERIENCED SIDEWALL CRACKING. *SLC

20001024TIRES:SIDEWALL

FIRESTONE FR480 TIRES P235 75 R15 EXPERIENCED SIDEWALL CRACKING. *SLC

19981030POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION FAILED AND REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION FAILED ALSO.

19960924ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY

HAD TO REPLACE THREE BATTERIES AND FOUR ALTERNATORS, PURCHASED TRUCK NEW . .*AK

19960924ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

HAD TO REPLACE THREE BATTERIES AND FOUR ALTERNATORS, PURCHASED TRUCK NEW . .*AK

19960624POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION FAILED, RESULTING IN INJURY. (ATTORNEY FOR CLIENT) *DH

19960601ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

VEHICLE DIFFICULT TO START DUE TO IGNITION SWITCH PROBLEMS. *DSH

19960123EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:ACCESSORY SCISSOR/SCREW/BOTTLE JACK/LIFT

CONSUMER GOT A FLAT TIRE USED THE JACK AND THE JACK TOP BROKE THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME USED . TT

19950717ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

HAD HAVE TWO EXHAUST MANIFOLD REPLACED AND THE EXHAUST WAS LEAKING UP INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT

19950202ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

THE TRUCK LOSS ALL POWER.PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT

Compare 1991FORDE-150 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 8 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1991 FORD E-150 have?
The 1991 FORD E-150 has 20 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 1 fires, 3 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1991 FORD E-150?
The most-complained component for the 1991 FORD E-150 is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include TIRES:SIDEWALL and TIRES:TREAD/BELT.
Is the 1991 FORD E-150 safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.