1990 Ford F-150 Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe fuel leaking between the two tanks, fuel spilling at the filler neck, and a strong fuel smell, typically reported on trucks with well over 80,000 miles. Electrical faults (ignition switch and alternator wiring) and some cooling and drivetrain complaints also appear in the sampling, but fuel-system reports dominate.

1. 1
   Fuel system

   Fuel crossing between front and rear tanks (overflow)

   • 71 complaints (26%)
   • median 114,000 mi at 18.2 yrs old (20 state mileage)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2020

   Complaints describe fuel moving from the front tank into the rear tank, so that the rear tank overfills and fuel spills from the filler neck or runs onto the ground. Owners report noticing this after filling the front tank, sometimes within a short drive, and a few mention a strong fuel odor inside or around the truck. Several owners say a dealer or the manufacturer told them there was no recall or remedy for their vehicle. Mostly reported between roughly 50,000 and 170,000 miles, with several complaints from trucks showing well over 100,000.

   Recall 93V125000Recall 89V141000

   What to check: Fill each tank separately and confirm the other tank's gauge does not climb; look for wet or fuel-stained areas around both tanks and the filler neck. Ask whether any fuel-line or check-valve work has been done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was on my way home smelled gas coming from the truck. I have duel tanks on my truck. I just filled the front tank, and only went 10 miles and notice the tank was on little over half full. So I switch to the back tank and it was way over full and gas coming out of the filler tube. I have owned this truck from new and have never received a notice to bring in the truck for problems with the tanks running over. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10625850, filed 2014-08, 100,800 miles

   “Replace front fuel pump, and have been using that tank exclusively as it starts and runs better than the rear. This morning I noticed fuel leaking from the rear tank, which was half full when I started using the front tank. I opened the filler neck and gas was spilling out. I turned the key to start position and the rear tank showed completely full. The return line from the front tank has been return unused fuel to the rear tank, causing it to overflow.”

   NHTSA complaint #11376845, filed 2020-11, 71,000 miles
2. 2
   Fuel system

   Fuel leaks and fuel smell around the tank

   • 48 complaints (17%)
   • median 87,305 mi at 20.9 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2019

   Owners describe smelling fuel while driving or finding fuel dripping from the tank area, sometimes pointed out by another driver at a stop. Some report fuel pouring out after opening the filler or after a fill-up. Most say the truck was not diagnosed or repaired, and those who contacted the manufacturer were told the vehicle was not covered. Reported from around 42,000 miles up to about 172,000, most often on higher-mileage trucks.

   Recall 93V125000

   What to check: Inspect the tanks, straps and filler neck for wet spots or staining, and check for a fuel smell after parking. Ask whether the fuel pump assembly and check valve have been serviced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I had filled my truck up and fuel started to pour out from somewhere out of the gas tank I didn't know what was going on I stop this guy & he had a jug he caught some of the gas I was hoping didn't no one throw a cig. Cause we would have been threw this was march 14, 2015 & it also happened in 2012 I was riding then someone told me my truck was leaking.”

   NHTSA complaint #10836254, filed 2016-02, 52,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 1990 Ford F-150. Whiled stopped at a red light, another driver informed the contact that there was fluid leaking from the vehicle. The contact discovered that the fuel tank was leaking. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 83,000.”

   NHTSA complaint #10721405, filed 2015-05, 83,000 miles

Buying note. On this model year, the fuel system deserves the most attention: verify both tanks, the filler neck and the lines between them before buying, and confirm any open fuel or transmission campaigns by VIN. Expect electrical items such as the ignition switch and alternator wiring to be worth inspecting on a truck of this age.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 18 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.