The 1986 Ford F-250 has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 3,600,730 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 42 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the electrical system. Last updated July 5, 2026.
SPRING LOCK FUEL LINE COUPLING MAY NOT BE PROPERLY ENGAGED.
COUPLING COULD DISENGAGE DUE TO FUEL PRESSURE,VIBRATION, AND ENGINE MOVEMENTS; THIS WOULD CAUSE LOSS OF FUEL WHICH, INPRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, CREATES A FIRE RISK.
INSTALL RETAINER CLIPS OVER THE COUPLINGS TO PREVENT COUPLING SEPARATION AND FUEL LEAKAGE.
TRUCKS FAIL TO MEET REQUIREMENT OF FMVSS NO. 301, FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITY, IN A 30 MPH FRONT ANGULAR BARRIER TEST IMPACT BECAUSE OF THE OMISSION OF THE NOSE SHIELD ON MIDSHIP FUEL TANK. CONSEQUENCE OF…
INSTALL NOSE SHIELD ON THE MIDSHIP FUEL TANK. FUEL TANK.
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.
“While driving my 1986 ford f-250 6.9 l diesel extended cab 2wd , I had heard a sizzling sound coming from the center of the dash on the top. The truck all of a sudden stopped running and had no power to anything, it was completely dead. While the truck was in motion I quickly identified a place to…”
“Belt of tire is separating (tire feels out of balance, bulge is now evident in tread, 8/32's of original 15/32's of tread remain). This is second tire in set of four to separate (see odi report # 10345185 for first). *tr”
“Belt of tire is separating (tire feels out of balance, bulge is now evident in tread, 7/32's of original 15/32's of tread remain). This is third tire in set of four to separate (see odi reports #10345185 & #10345187 for first & second). *tr”
“I was driving at 55-60 mph on two lane highway (no shoulder) when belt and tread of right rear tire peeled off suddenly without warning. Tire did not lose pressure immediately so I was able to drive approximately 50 yards to nearest turn off, pull off roadway, and put my spare on. On coming and…”
“While driving down highway, brake line ruptured, resulting in complete loss of brakes. Consumer avoided an accident. Vehicle checked by dealer who advised consumer that brake line had rusted.*ak consumer stepped on brakes and the pedal went all the way to floor. Consumer noticed brake fluid on the…”
“Consumer states that his bumper failed. Bumper had been replaced about 6 months prior. Consumer has used bumper at lease 10 times and there was no problem. Nlm”
“The tire started to come apart while driving the ohio turnpike, sounded like rumble strips prior to catastrophic failure. *ak (tiresize: 265 /16)”
“I have had trouble the las 6 months trying to track down the problem with my truck and it all seems to be electrical ignition systems. Replaced ignition twice and big box for electric switching on left side under hood by firewall. It stops going down the road and won't stay running and my sons 81…”
F-SERIES FUEL TANK FIRES
SUMMARY OF INFORMATION FROM MANUFACTURER:INSTANCES WERE FOUND WHERESPRING LOCK COUPLINGS FAILED CAUSING GASOLINE TO BE RELEASED THROUGHOUTTHE ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUSING FIRES.LEAKS FROM FUEL LINES MAY ALSO BE ACONTRIBUTING CAUSE TO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT…
There is no summary currently available
There is no summary currently available
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1986 Ford F-250 as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.