FORD F250 · model year

1987 FORD F250

51 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1987FORDF250 carries 51 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 2 crashes, 14 fires, 1 injury, 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 1987 F250 is electrical system:ignition:switch with 11 filings, followed by service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components (5) and engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline (4). 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 1987 F250, 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.

51
Complaints
2
Crashes
14
Fires
1
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

51 filings

Crashes Reported

2 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:SWITCH11
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS5
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE4
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR3
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN2
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY2
TIRES:TREAD/BELT2
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:HYDRAULIC1
SUSPENSION1
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD1
WHEELS:HUBCAP/COVER1

Recent Complaints

20041014TIRES:TREAD/BELT

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE TREAD SEPARATED WITHOUT WARNING. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

Mileage: 135,000

20040802TIRES:TREAD/BELT

BRIDGETONE, LT235/85R16, DOT: UNKNOWN. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE LEFT REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED. AS RESULT THE BUMPER, TAIL PIPE AND FENDER WAS DAMAGED. *AK *JB

20010827TIRES

WITH NO WARNING, RT FRONT TIRE BLEW APART. LOUD, LOUD BANG AND TRUCK JERKED ONTO THE SHOULDER, UP OVER A 2 FOOT HIGH BERM, AND TOOK NEARLY 300 YARDS TO STOP. NOTHING SEEN IN THE ROAD THAT I MAY HAVE HIT, TIRES HAD JUST BEEN SERVICED 1 WEEK PRIOR. (WE ARE EXTREMELY WE DID NOT ROLL OVER) TIRE HAS 4-5 SLITS GOING FROM TIRE BEAD TO TIRE TREAD, AND LOOKS LIKE THE TIRE BLEW RIGHT ACROSS THE TREAD. I DO HAVE THE TIRE, AND RETRIEVED SEVERAL FEET OF TREAD. HAVE NOT CONTACTED THE DEALER, AS I DON'T KNOW WHO MADE IT. OTHER DOT NUMBERS ON THE OTHER 3 TIRES ARE AS FOLLOWS (THE DOT # I GAVE EARLIER APPEARS TO BE CORRECT, HOWEVER, DAMAGE TO THE NUMBER OCCURRED) DOT VDOR 8AC 315, VDOR 8AC 076, VDOR 8AC 076. TIRES HAVE APPROXIMATELY 5000 MILES ON THEM AND WERE PURCHASED AT THE EDWARDS AFB EXCHANGE, EDWARDS AFB CA. 93524, ON 01/05/97. CAN YOU TELL ME IF THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER FAILURES SUCH AS THIS, AND ARE THERE ANY RECALLS ON THIS TIRE? THANK YOU, [XXX]. *AK (DOT NUMBER: VDOR8AC245 TIRESIZ

20010718POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY

THE CLUTCH FAILED TO DISENGAGE PROPERLY AND PLACED ME IN A HAZARDOUS DRIVING SITUATION. THIS CLUTCH IS HYDRAULICALLY OPERATED AND A DEALER REPAIR WAS TO REPLACE THE CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER. THIS DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. I INVESTIGATED THE OPERATION OF THE CLUTCH AND FOUND THE CAB FIREWALL, WHERE THE CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER IS BOLTED TO IT, DOES NOT HAVE ENOUGH STRENGTH TO SUPPORT THE CLUTCH OPERATIONAL STRESSES APPLIED TO IT. THIS FIREWALL HAD STARTED TO SEPARATE AND ALLOWED THE CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER TO MOVE WHEN IT WAS ACTUATED, THEREBY THE CLUTCH WAS NOT ABLE TO DISENGAGE.*AK

20001129FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY

I HAVE OWNED 2 F250 PICKUPS. ONE 1983 AND ONE 1987. THEY BOTH HAVE HAD 2EA FAILURES OF THE FUEL LINE TO CARBURATOR FLOAT BOWL FITTING. THE FLOAT BOWL PART NUMBER FROM FORD IS E5TZ 9510-MB. THE THREADED BORE OF THE FLOAT BOWL BECOMES BELL SHAPED OVER TIME. THIS CAUSES FUEL TO LEAK BETWEEN THE FUEL LINE AND FRONT FLOAT BOWL. THIS FUELS LEAKS ON THE HOT MANIFOLD. FORD KNOWS OF THE PROBLEM AND SIMPLY RAISED THE PRICE ON THE REPLACEMENT PART TO EARN MORE PROFIT. IT USED TO BE LESS THAN $50 AND CURRENTLY IS OVER $80. I WILL SEND TWO SAMPLES OF THE PART SO YOU MAY SEE FOR YOURSELF WHAT IS HAPPENING. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AND I HAVE NO DOUBT AFFECTS THOUSANDS OF FORD F250'S. *AK

20000720CrashSEATS

DRIVER SEAT BROKE OFF FROM THE TRACKS AFTER REAR IMPACT AT 50 MPH. DEALER/MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, AND ITEM WAS NOT COVER UNDER A RECALL. NOTHING CAN BE DONE. *AK *ML

19991129FireFUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM

FUEL LEAKING EMITTING FROM THE FRONT OF THE HOLLEY CARBURETOR RESULTING IN VEHICLE FIRE. MJS

19991117VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

CRUISE CONTROL MALFUCTIONED, CAUSING CRUISE CONTROL TO GET STUCK IN THAT MODE. ALSO, BRAKES DID NOT WORK. HAD TO HAVE VEHICLE COASTED, AND TURN OFF ENGINE IN ORDER TO STOP VEHICLE. . *AK

19991117SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS

CRUISE CONTROL MALFUCTIONED, CAUSING CRUISE CONTROL TO GET STUCK IN THAT MODE. ALSO, BRAKES DID NOT WORK. HAD TO HAVE VEHICLE COASTED, AND TURN OFF ENGINE IN ORDER TO STOP VEHICLE. . *AK

19990416FireFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY

TRUCK CAUGHT ON FIRE AFTER 4 MONTH OF OWNERSHIP. FUEL LEAK INDICATED AS ENTIRE TRUCK AND ROAD WERE INFLAMED.

19990217FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:CARBURETOR SYSTEM

ACCIDENTAL FIRE, RESULTED FROM AN UNSPECIFIED FUEL LEAK EMITTING FROM THE FRONT OF THE HOLLEY CARBURETOR.

19981020SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS

BRAKES FAILED DUE TO OVERHEATING OF FLUID, ALSO DAMAGING OTHER BRAKE COMPONENTS.

19981014ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

STEERING COLUMN BECOMES HOT DUE TO IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE.

19980805ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM

CONSUMER PULLED OFF GRAVEL ROAD ONTO A BLACK TOP WHEN THE VEHICLE'S ORIGINAL SMOG LOCKED UP. THER WAS NO WARNING AT ALL. *AK

19980528STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR

STEERING COLUMN AND THE TURNING LIGHTS WOULD NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY AFTER A LOT OF WORK.

19980528SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER

PROBLEMS WITH BRAKE, REPLACE MASTER CYLINDER SEVERAL TIMES AND STILL LOST THE BRAKES ANYTIME THEY GOT HOT.

19980528ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN

FAN BROKE AND A FIECE FLEW THRU THE HOO OF THE VEHICLE.

19980528ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

ENGINE BLEW UP, REPLACE ENGINE.

19970929ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WILL CUT OFF GIVING THE DRIVER NO INDICATION. AFTER THE VEHICLE SHUTS OFF IT TAKES 5 HOURS FOR THE VEHICLE TO START.THE DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED . OWNER HAS REPALCED SEVERAL PARTS ON VEHICLE TRYING TO STOP THE SUDDEN CUT OFFS.

19970923ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN

THE FAN BROKE AND A PIECE FLEW THROUGH THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE.

Compare 1987FORDF250 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 8 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1987 FORD F250 have?
The 1987 FORD F250 has 51 NHTSA complaints, 2 crashes, 14 fires, 1 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1987 FORD F250?
The most-complained component for the 1987 FORD F250 is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH with 11 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS and ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE.
Is the 1987 FORD F250 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.