FORD F-250 · model year

1991 FORD F-250

145 NHTSA complaints, 5 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1991FORDF-250 carries 145 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 5 crashes, 9 fires, 4 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 F-250 is electrical system:ignition:switch with 10 filings, followed by tires (9) and fuel system, gasoline:storage:tank assembly (8). 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 F-250, 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.

145
Complaints
5
Crashes
9
Fires
4
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

145 filings

Crashes Reported

5 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:IGNITION:SWITCH10
TIRES9
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY8
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS7
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP6
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:AUXILLARY TANK:SELECTOR DEVICES5
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP5
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION4
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER4
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE4
TIRES:TREAD/BELT4
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM4
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL3
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC3
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT:SEAL3

Recent Complaints

20200101FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

FUEL LEAKED FROM HEATER WIRE IN FUEL FILTER. THE FUEL FOLLOWED THE WIRE UP THE COPPER CORE UNTIL IT REACHED A CRACK IN THE INSULATION ANY TIME THERE WAS FUEL PRESSURE, IE ENGINE RUNNING OR EVEN WITH BOOST PUMP PRESSURE WITH ENGINE OFF.

20150521ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 FORD F-250. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED A STRONG FUEL ODOR FROM THE SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT NOTICED FUEL POURING OUT OF THE OPENING OF THE TANK THAT SPILLED ONTO THE STREET AND UNDERNEATH ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FUEL CHECK VALVE IN THE PUMP UNIT WAS DAMAGED, WHICH CAUSED THE FUEL TO TRAVEL FROM ONE TANK TO THE OTHER AND OVERFLOW. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 137,000.

Mileage: 137,000

20150417FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 FORD F-250. AFTER REFUELING THE VEHICLE, FUEL STARTED LEAKING FROM THE FUEL TANK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS AWARE OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 01I008000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) BUT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 161,000. ..UPDATED 05/20/15 *BF THE CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCED THE FUEL SWITCH OVER ISSUE AND WOULD LIKE TO BE ADDED TO THE RECALL. UPDATED 7/6/2015 *JS

Mileage: 161,000

20150221SERVICE BRAKES

I HAD JUST BEEN JUMPED BY AAA BECAUSE MY TRUCK WASN'T STARTING; THE AAA AGENT ALSO CLEANED THE BATTERY TERMINALS. I INTENDED TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE FORD DEALER BECAUSE I DIDN'T THINK IT WOULD START. SINCE THE AAA AGENT WAS ABLE TO GET TO START, I DECIDED TO STILL TAKE IT TO THE DEALER TO FIND OUT WHY THE BATTERY WAS DEAD (GIVEN THEY HAD THE CAR FOR A MONTH AND HAD PUT IN A NEW BATTERY AND STARTER, AMONG OTHER REPAIRS). DRIVING THE 7 MILES TO THE DEALERSHIP THE CAR SEEMED TO BE ACCELERATING ON ITS OWN, THE ENTIRE WAY, I ONLY STEPPED ON THE GAS ONCE; IT WAS GOING 35 MILES/HOUR BY ITSELF (PER THE SPEEDOMETER). I DIDN'T KNOW WHY THIS WAS HAPPENING AND WHEN I TRIED TO SLOW DOWN USING THE BRAKES, THE TRUCK WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO STOP, SUCH THAT I NEARLY REAR-ENDED MULTIPLE CARS. IT WAS ALL I COULD DO TO PUSH THE BRAKE DOWN AND TWICE HUGE AMOUNTS OF SMOKE CAME FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE (PROBABLY THE BRAKES WERE NOW OVERHEATING?). WHEN I WAS 500 FEET FROM THE DEALERSHIP I TOOK A QUICK LEFT

Mileage: 55,000

20150221VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

I HAD JUST BEEN JUMPED BY AAA BECAUSE MY TRUCK WASN'T STARTING; THE AAA AGENT ALSO CLEANED THE BATTERY TERMINALS. I INTENDED TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE FORD DEALER BECAUSE I DIDN'T THINK IT WOULD START. SINCE THE AAA AGENT WAS ABLE TO GET TO START, I DECIDED TO STILL TAKE IT TO THE DEALER TO FIND OUT WHY THE BATTERY WAS DEAD (GIVEN THEY HAD THE CAR FOR A MONTH AND HAD PUT IN A NEW BATTERY AND STARTER, AMONG OTHER REPAIRS). DRIVING THE 7 MILES TO THE DEALERSHIP THE CAR SEEMED TO BE ACCELERATING ON ITS OWN, THE ENTIRE WAY, I ONLY STEPPED ON THE GAS ONCE; IT WAS GOING 35 MILES/HOUR BY ITSELF (PER THE SPEEDOMETER). I DIDN'T KNOW WHY THIS WAS HAPPENING AND WHEN I TRIED TO SLOW DOWN USING THE BRAKES, THE TRUCK WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO STOP, SUCH THAT I NEARLY REAR-ENDED MULTIPLE CARS. IT WAS ALL I COULD DO TO PUSH THE BRAKE DOWN AND TWICE HUGE AMOUNTS OF SMOKE CAME FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE (PROBABLY THE BRAKES WERE NOW OVERHEATING?). WHEN I WAS 500 FEET FROM THE DEALERSHIP I TOOK A QUICK LEFT

Mileage: 55,000

20130414FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

THE VEHICLE IS A 1990 AND THE SITE DOES NOT PROVIDE A SPACE CHOICE FOR THE 1990, ONLY '91 AND UP. THE TRUCK HAS THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM AS THE OTHER MANY FORD TRUCKS. WHILE IDLING, OR UNDERWAY, THE VEHICLE SPEWS GASOLINE FROM THE FRONT TANK, OUT ONTO THE ROAD, OR ANY DRIVEWAY, IF IDLING. IT'S CLEAR THAT ONCE YOU FILL THE REAR TANK AND THEN TRAVEL, THE FUEL, WHICH SHOULD RETURN TO THE REAR TANK IN A CYCLE, DOES NOT. IT SIMPLY RETURNS TO THE FRONT TANK, UNTIL IT FILLS THE FRONT TANK AND FLOODS OUT. THE PUMP IN THE REAR TANK APPEARS TO JUST CONTINUE TO RUN, FOR EXAMPLE,,,, YOU HAVE A FULL REAR TANK. YOU HAVE HALF A TANK OF FUEL IN THE FRONT TANK. YOU DRIVE. THE REAR TANK PUMP, PUMPS ALL OF THE FULL REAR TANK INTO THE FRONT TANK. SO, HALF A TANK OF GAS FLOWS OUT OF THE FRONT TANK, ONTO THE GROUND. OBVIOUSLY, THE CYCLE, WHERE THE FUEL SHOULD GO FROM REAR, TO ENGINE AND BACK, ISN'T HAPPENING. INSTEAD, THE FUEL ROLLS BY THE ENGINE AND RETURNS TO A FULL FRONT TANK, RATHER THAN THE REAR TANK

Mileage: 150,000

20120531FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 FORD F250. THE CONTACT STATED THAT GASOLINE FUEL WAS LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE AND ONTO THE DRIVEWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AND PROVIDED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,311 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 102,622. ..UPDATED 09/07/12 *BF UPDATED 09/17/2012 *JS

Mileage: 102,000

20110809FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 FORD F-250. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER REFUELING THE VEHICLE, GASOLINE WOULD OVERFLOW FROM THE REAR FUEL TANK INTO THE FRONT FUEL TANK, CAUSING SPILLAGE. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THE FUEL PUMP WAS DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 93V125000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE: STORAGE: TANK ASSEMBLY). THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE ENTIRE FUEL TANK WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

Mileage: 150,000

20101116FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 FORD F250. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, HE NOTICED GASOLINE SPILLING OUT OF THE TANK. PRIOR TO THE SPILL, HE SMELLED A GASOLINE ODOR FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY PEPBOYS WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE FUEL TANK SELECTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,525.

Mileage: 38,525

20101014FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 FORD F-250. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN HE FILLED THE FRONT TANK, THE FUEL WOULD BE SHIFTED TO THE REAR TANK. THE FAILURE OCCURRED EVERYTIME HE FUELED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BECAUSE OF THE FAILURE, A PRESSURE WAS CREATED WITHIN THE TWO TANKS. THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND REFERENCED RECALL 93V125000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY) AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WERE NO ACTIVE RECALLS ON HIS VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO VERIFIED THAT THERE WERE NO ACTIVE RECALLS FOR THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 250,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 50,000.

Mileage: 50,000

20090528TIRES

DISCOVERER A/T TIRES SIZE LT265/75R16 CATASTROPHICALLY FAILED WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED. TREAD COMPLETELY PEELED OFF. HAD ONLY BEEN DRIVING FOR 30 MINUTES AND OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE WAS 70 DEGREES F. TIRES HAD ABOUT 23,000 MILES ON THEM. 1-2 YEARS PREVIOUSLY, THE SAME TYPE TIRE ON OPPOSITE WHEEL DEVELOPED A BULGE IN THE SIDEWALL AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. *TR

Mileage: 198,400

20071112TIRES

I HAD 2 FAILURES WITH THE FIRST ABOUT 9/21/07 AND THE SECOND 10/6/07. THE VEHICLE IS A 1991 F250 HD AND IS OCCASIONALLY USED TO HAUL A SLIDE-IN CAMPER. ON BOTH OCCASIONS I HAD THE CAMPER ON THE TRUCK, LOADING THE TRUCK TO NEAR THE RATED CAPACITY OF THE TIRES BUT NOT OVER TO MY KNOWLEDGE. IN BOTH INSTANCES THE TIRE PRESSURE WAS CHECKED BEFORE LEAVING THE HOUSE, WERE WE TRAVELING A MODERATE SPEED, ABOUT 55 MPH, AND IT WAS COOL. IN BOTH CASES I NOTICED A VIBRATION BUT BEFORE I COULD EFFECT A SUBSTANTIAL RESPONSE THE TIRE EXPLODED. THE TRUCK REMAINED IN CONTROL BUT THERE WAS SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE TRUCK. THE TIRES WERE ON THE REAR SO THERE WAS DAMAGE TO BOTH SIDES. THE FIRST TIME I HAD THE TIRE REPLACED BY THE DEALER AND HE GAVE ME OVER A 50% CREDIT, REFLECTING THE AMOUNT OF TREAD LEFT ON THE TIRE. THE SECOND TIME I HAD THE TIRE REPLACED WITH A DIFFERENT BRAND AND KEPT THE OLD TIRE FOR INSPECTION. *TR

Mileage: 10,800

20051206FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

DAD: THE CONTACT STATES THERE IS NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 93V125000 CONCERNING THE FUEL SYSTEM: TANK ASSEMBLY. THIS VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL, BUT II IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. THE CONTACT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE AT HIS OWN EXPENSE. *AK THE DEALER CHARGED THE CONSUMER 500.00 TO REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP WHICH WAS DIFFERENT FROM THE RECALL. UPDATED 01/11/06. *JB

Mileage: 80,150

20051206FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

DAD: THE CONTACT STATES THERE IS NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 93V125000 CONCERNING THE FUEL SYSTEM: TANK ASSEMBLY. THIS VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL, BUT II IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. THE CONTACT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE AT HIS OWN EXPENSE. *AK THE DEALER CHARGED THE CONSUMER 500.00 TO REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP WHICH WAS DIFFERENT FROM THE RECALL. UPDATED 01/11/06. *JB

Mileage: 80,150

20050205ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THERE WAS AN ACRID ODOR IN THE CABIN ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE RADIO LIGHT BEGAN FUNCTIONING INTERMITTENTLY. THE DASH LIGHTS FAILED TO WORK TWICE. THE HEAD LIGHTS FAILED TO WORK TWICE, ON SEPARATE OCCASIONS FROM THE DASH LIGHTS. I WENT TO REPLACE THE HEADLAMP SWITCH, AND FOUND THE CONNECTOR CHARRED AND MELTED, AND THE B2 TERMINAL ON THE SWITCH WAS LOOSE AND DISCOLORED. THE SWITCH WAS CHARRED AROUND THE B2 TERMINAL.. I AM GOING TO REPLACE THE CONNECTOR ALSO. *JB

Mileage: 115,646

20040505FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP

AFTER FUELING THE VEHICLE, CONSUMER NOTICED GAS BEING PUMPED OUT OF THE FRONT FILL POINT LIKE A FIRE HOSE. *PH THIS WAS THE THIRD FAILURE WITH THE CROSSOVER. CONSUMER THEN LEARNED THAT THIS FAILURE WASN'T GOING TO BE COVERED UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY LIKE THE FIRST TWO. *PH

20031104FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

THE GASOLINE WAS NOT TRANSFERRING BETWEEN THE FUEL TANKS, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL DUE TO LOW GASOLINE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FUEL TANK SENDER AND THE FUEL PUMP. *AK THERE WERE FOUR ATTEMPTS TO REMEDY THE TRANSFERRING OF FUEL FROM THE REAR TANK TO THE FRONT TANK THROUGHOUT THE FILLER CAP AND CAUSED LEAKAGE. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED THAT FORD COVER THE CHARGES. *SC *JB

Mileage: 94,177

20030603TIRES

FRONT TIRE WEARING UNEVENLY EVEN WITH RECENT ALIGNMENT. TOOK TO AMERICAS TIRE CO. FOR ROTATION AND WAS TOLD TIRE HAD FLAT SPOTS AND ROTATION WOULD NOT HELP-TIRE DEFECTIVE. IS THIS TIRE ON THE RECALL? ****DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS****73413

Mileage: 22,466

20030429FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY

WHEN THE FRONT TANK WAS EMPTY AND THE CONSUMER SWITCHED TO THE REAR FULL TANK, SOMEHOW THE GAS FROM THE REAR TANK PUMPED BACK INTO THE FRONT TANK WHICH RESULTED IN THE REAR TANK BEING EMPTY. *NLM *CB *NLM

Mileage: 111,046

20020722SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM

FRONT TIRE WEARING UNEVENLY EVEM WITH RECENT ALINEMENT-TOOK TO AMERICAS TIRE CO. FOR ROTATION AND WAS TOLD TIRE HAD FLAT SPOTS AND ROTATION WOULD NOT HELP-TIRE DEFECTIVE. IS THIS TIRE ON THE RECALL?

Compare 1991FORDF-250 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 8 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1991 FORD F-250 have?
The 1991 FORD F-250 has 145 NHTSA complaints, 5 crashes, 9 fires, 4 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1991 FORD F-250?
The most-complained component for the 1991 FORD F-250 is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH with 10 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include TIRES and FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY.
Is the 1991 FORD F-250 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.