Recalls (4)
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 1990 Ford F-150. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗FORD/ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
- Summary
- THE IGNITION SWITCH COULD EXPERIENCE AN INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT.
- Consequence
- THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE OVERHEATING, SMOKE, AND POSSIBLY FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN AREA OF THE VEHICLE.
- Remedy
- DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH.
FUEL:FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY
- Summary
- A MALFUNCTIONING CHECK VALVE WITHIN THE FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY CAUSES A PORTION OF THE UNUSED FUEL FROM ONE TANK TO BE RETURNED TO THE SECOND TANK. WHEN THIS OCCURS, THE CAPACITY OF THE SECOND TANK CAN BE EXCEEDED, CAUSING FUEL SPILLAGE.
- Consequence
- SPILLED FUEL CAN RESULT IN A FIRE WHEN EXPOSED TO ASOURCE OF IGNITION.
- Remedy
- REPLACEMENT OF THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR AND INSTALLATION OF REDUNDANT CHECK VALVES.
POWER TRAIN:TRANSMISSION:AUTOMATIC:INDICATOR:LEVER
- Summary
- UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, THE SNAP RING THAT LOCATES THE PARK GEAR ON THE OUTPUT SHAFT OF THE TRANSMISSION MAY FRACTURE.
- Consequence
- WHEN THE GEAR IS PLACED IN PARK, THE PARK GEAR WOULD NOTENGAGE, ALLOWING THE TRUCK TO ROLL FREELY IF THE PARKING BRAKE IS NOT PROPERLYSET. THIS COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.
- Remedy
- INSTALL IMPROVED SNAP RING AND REVISED TRANSMISSION EXTENSION HOUSING.
FUEL:FUEL TANK:AUXILLARY SELECTOR AND SWITCH
- Summary
- INCORRECTLY INSTALLED FUEL LINE CONNECTORS HAVE FUEL SUPPLY AND RETURN LINES CROSSED.
- Consequence
- FUEL COULD BE TRANSFERRED FROM ONE TANK TO THE OTHER,POSSIBLY RESULTING IN FUEL OVERFLOW AND SPILLAGE, IN PRESENCE OF AN IGNITIONSOURCE, A FIRE COULD OCCUR.
- Remedy
- REPLACE FUEL LINE ASSEMBLY.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (275)
275 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The fuel system is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 275 |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel system | 140 | 50.9% |
| Electrical system | 37 | 13.5% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 21 | 7.6% |
| Tires | 19 | 6.9% |
| Service brakes | 18 | 6.5% |
| Power train | 13 | 4.7% |
| Steering | 7 | 2.5% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 6 | 2.2% |
| Suspension | 6 | 2.2% |
| Unknown or other | 5 | 1.8% |
How 1990 compares with other F-150 years
Best and worst F-150 years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 1986 | 61 | 1 |
| 1987 | 91 | 3 |
| 1988 | 139 | 2 |
| 1989 | 224 | 4 |
| 1990 | 275 | 4 |
| 1991 | 304 | 3 |
| 1992 | 470 | 3 |
| 1993 | 586 | 7 |
| 1994 | 676 | 6 |
| 1995 | 626 | 2 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 16 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $4,200
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 555 g/mi
- EPA class
- Standard Pickup Trucks
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 16 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.9 L 6-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Rear-Wheel Drive | 14 / 18 / 16 | $4,200 | 555 |
| 4.9 L 6-cyl · 4-speed manual | Rear-Wheel Drive | 15 / 17 / 16 | $4,200 | 555 |
| 4.9 L 6-cyl · 5-speed manual | Rear-Wheel Drive | 15 / 18 / 16 | $4,200 | 555 |
| 4.9 L 6-cyl · 4-speed manual | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 15 / 16 / 15 | $4,450 | 593 |
| 4.9 L 6-cyl · 5-speed manual | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 14 / 17 / 15 | $4,450 | 593 |
| 4.9 L 6-cyl · 4-speed manual | Rear-Wheel Drive | 15 / 17 / 15 | $4,450 | 593 |
| 4.9 L 6-cyl · 3-speed automatic | Rear-Wheel Drive | 13 / 15 / 14 | $4,800 | 635 |
| 5 L 8-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Rear-Wheel Drive | 12 / 17 / 14 | $4,800 | 635 |
| 5 L 8-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Rear-Wheel Drive | 13 / 17 / 14 | $4,800 | 635 |
| 5 L 8-cyl · 5-speed manual | Rear-Wheel Drive | 13 / 17 / 14 | $4,800 | 635 |
| 4.9 L 6-cyl · 3-speed automatic | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 13 / 15 / 14 | $4,800 | 635 |
| 4.9 L 6-cyl · 4-speed automatic | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 13 / 17 / 14 | $4,800 | 635 |
| 5 L 8-cyl · 4-speed automatic | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 12 / 16 / 14 | $4,800 | 635 |
| 5 L 8-cyl · 3-speed automatic | Rear-Wheel Drive | 12 / 14 / 13 | $5,150 | 684 |
| 5 L 8-cyl · 4-speed manual | Rear-Wheel Drive | 12 / 14 / 13 | $5,150 | 684 |
| 5 L 8-cyl · 4-speed automatic | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 12 / 16 / 13 | $5,150 | 684 |
| 5 L 8-cyl · 5-speed manual | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 11 / 15 / 13 | $5,150 | 684 |
| 5.8 L 8-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Rear-Wheel Drive | 11 / 15 / 12 | $5,600 | 741 |
| 5 L 8-cyl · 3-speed automatic | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 11 / 12 / 12 | $5,600 | 741 |
| 5 L 8-cyl · 4-speed manual | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 11 / 14 / 12 | $5,600 | 741 |
| 5.8 L 8-cyl · 4-speed automatic | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 10 / 15 / 12 | $5,600 | 741 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 1990 F-150 for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
1990 Ford F-150 FAQ
How many recalls does the 1990 Ford F-150 have?
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns: 96V071000 (electrical), 93V125000 (fuel system), 90V101000 (power train), 89V141000 (fuel system). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 1990 Ford F-150 problems?
Owners filed 275 complaints with NHTSA. Fuel system (140), Electrical system (37), Engine and engine cooling (21) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 1990 Ford F-150 get?
EPA rates the 4.9 L 6-cyl · 4-speed automatic version at 14 city, 18 highway and 16 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
How does the 1990 F-150 compare with other years?
Among the 1986–1995 Ford F-150 model years at least five years old, the 1986 drew the fewest complaints (61) and the 1994 the most (676). The 1990 drew 275. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.