Total Complaints
12 filings
FORD F SERIES (LIGHT) · model year
1990 FORD F SERIES (LIGHT)
12 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1990FORDF SERIES (LIGHT) carries 12 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 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 1990 F SERIES (LIGHT) is service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components with 2 filings, followed by exterior lighting:headlights (2) and power train:automatic transmission (1). 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 1990 F SERIES (LIGHT), 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.
12
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
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
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS | 2 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS | 2 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS | 1 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:AUXILLARY TANK:SELECTOR DEVICES | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR | 1 |
| WHEELS:HUBCAP/COVER | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20100421SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
STEEL BRAKE LINES RUSTED THROUGH CAUSING BRAKING SYSTEM FAILURE. SPARE TIRE RETAINER RUSTED THROUGH CAUSING SPARE TIRE TO FALL FROM UNDER VEHICLE. *TR
Mileage: 60,000
19960425SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
BRAKES FAILED 2 TIMES. *SD
19960222EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
ALL 1990-1996 150/250 SERIES FORD PICKUPS HEADLIGHTS AIMED TOO HIGH, BLINDING APPROACHING DRIVERS. *DSH
19960222EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
ALL 1990-1996 150/250 SERIES FORD PICKUPS HEADLIGHTS AIMED TOO HIGH, BLINDING APPROACHING DRIVERS. *DSH
19950420SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
BRAKE ROTORS WARPED THREE TIMES, CAUSING BRAKE FAILURES. (F250) *SKD
19950420WHEELS:HUBCAP/COVER
HUBS REPLACED.
19950413FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
DUAL FUEL PUMPS FAILED AFTER RECALL WORK PERFORMED, CAUSING GASOLINE TO PUMP FROM REAR TANK TO FRONT TANK THEN LEAK OUT ONTO GROUND. (F150) *SKD
19950413FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:AUXILLARY TANK:SELECTOR DEVICES
RECALL REPAIRS REFUSED DUE TO BEING OUT OF WARRANTY (93S68). *TW
19950216POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. (F150) *SKD
19950216ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
SERPENTINE FAN BELT MAKES NOISE WHEN WEATHER IS DAMP OR COLD.
19950216SUSPENSION:FRONT
ALIGNMENT PROBLEMS.
19950209SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
BRAKES FAILED. (F350) (ORIGINAL DOCUMENT ON 478141) *SKD
Compare 1990FORDF SERIES (LIGHT) to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 8 Open
EA26001Engineering AnalysisOpen
Unintended Transmission Downshift and Rear Wheel Lock-up
PE25020Preliminary EvaluationOpen
Timing Belt Failure
DP25001Defect PetitionOpen
Underbody shields detachment
PE25007Preliminary EvaluationOpen
B-Pillar Trim Detachment
PE25002Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Unintended Transmission Downshift and Rear Wheel Lock-up
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1990 FORD F SERIES (LIGHT) have?▼
The 1990 FORD F SERIES (LIGHT) has 12 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1990 FORD F SERIES (LIGHT)?▼
The most-complained component for the 1990 FORD F SERIES (LIGHT) is SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS and POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.
Is the 1990 FORD F SERIES (LIGHT) 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.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.