The 1990 Ford E-150 has 3 safety recalls and 17 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is fuel system, gasoline (7 complaints).
NHTSA recall 91V146000 · Sep 4, 1991 · 350,000 vehicles · opened after NHTSA action (ODI)
Problem: THE DUAL FUEL TANK SELECTOR VALVE MAY MALFUNCTION AND CAUSE AN OVERFILL CONDITION IN ONE OF THE FUEL TANKS, RESULTING IN AN OVERFLOW OF FUEL PAST THE FILLER CAP.
Risk: THE OVERFLOW OF FUEL PAST THE FILLER CAP CAUSES A FUELLEAKAGE, WHICH CAN RESULT IN A FIRE WHEN EXPOSED TO A SOURCE OF IGNITION.
Fix: REPLACE THE DUAL FUEL TANK SELECTOR VALVE.
Seat belts › Front › Anchorage
NHTSA recall 91V119000 · Jul 3, 1991 · 30 vehicles · opened after NHTSA action (OVSC)
Problem: SAFETY BELT ANCHORAGES DID NOT MEET LOAD REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS 210; BELT ANCHORAGE BAR PULLED THROUGH THE FLOOR OF VEHICLE WHEN SUBJECTED TO LOADS OF FMVSS 210 TEST.
Risk: SEAT OCCUPANTS WOULD NOT HAVE ADEQUATE PROTECTION IN THEEVENT OF A SUDDEN STOP OR ACCIDENT AND WOULD BE SUBJECT TO INCREASED RISKOF INJURY.
Fix: SECURE SAFETY BELT ANCHORAGE BAR TO VEHICLE FRAME FOR ADDED STRENGTH.
Power train › Automatic transmission › Gear position indication (prndl)
NHTSA recall 90V101000 · Jun 1, 1990 · 111,000 vehicles · opened after NHTSA action (ODI)
Problem: UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, THE SNAP RING THAT LOCATES THE PARK GEAR ON THE OUTPUT SHAFT OF THE TRANSMISSION MAY FRACTURE.
Risk: 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.
Fix: INSTALL IMPROVED SNAP RING AND REVISED TRANSMISSION EXTENSION HOUSING.
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
Fuel economy
E150 Econoline 2WD
15mpg combined
City / highway
14 / 17 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
4.9 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $4,450/year to fuel
E150 Club Wagon
14mpg combined
City / highway
12 / 16 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
4.9 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $4,800/year to fuel
E150 Econoline 2WD
13mpg combined
City / highway
13 / 14 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
4.9 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 3-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $5,150/year to fuel
E150 Econoline 2WD
13mpg combined
City / highway
12 / 16 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
5 L · 8 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $5,150/year to fuel
E150 Club Wagon
13mpg combined
City / highway
11 / 15 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
5 L · 8 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $5,150/year to fuel
E150 Econoline 2WD
12mpg combined
City / highway
10 / 14 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
5.8 L · 8 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $5,600/year to fuel
E150 Club Wagon
12mpg combined
City / highway
10 / 14 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
5.8 L · 8 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $5,600/year to fuel
EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.
What owners report
Problem area
Complaints
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Typical mileage*
Fuel system, gasoline Storage › Auxillary tank › Selector devices; Storage › Tank assembly
7
0
0
0
123,000 mi
Vehicle speed control
2
0
0
0
—
Service brakes, hydraulic Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip; Foundation components › Disc › Caliper
2
0
0
0
—
Wheels Lugs/nuts/bolts/studs
2
0
0
0
—
Steering Steering wheel/handle bar
1
0
0
0
—
Tires Tread/belt
1
0
0
0
—
Fuel/propulsion system
1
0
0
0
—
Unknown or other
1
1
0
0
—
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
May 17, 2021 · crashUnknown or other Picked up vehicle from auto shop, work had been done on the front brakes, engine temp sensor, heater blower relay, map sensor, throttle control position sensor and ECM had been replaced. Shortly after I got on the freeway the vehicle started to accelerate very quickly W/O pushing the gas pedal hit the brakes but only slowed from 65 mph to 60. Gas pedal did not move from middle position up or down and brakes seamed mushy. Cruise control was not on, tried switching it on then off. Could not slow down, so went to great effort to avoid hitting any other vehicles. trying to slow down for an off ramp came close to crashing off the the edge into a ditch.Tried the emergency brake and downshifting.…
May 12, 2014 · 129,000 milesFuel/propulsion system WHILE DRIVING GAS STARTED TO SPILL OUT OF FRONT TANK AT CAP. VEHICLE HAS DUAL GAS TANKS. STOPPED AT LOCAL STORE AND TRIED TO FIGURE OUT WHY. TWO DAYS EARLIER HAD SMELLED GAS BUT DID NOT KNOW WERE IT WAS COMING FROM. WHEN I CAME OUT OF STORE TRUCK WOULD NOT START. TOOK TO MECHANIC HAD FUEL SYSTEM REPAIRED AND SELECTOR SWITCH BYPASSED. NOW RUNNING FINE . FOUND RECALL FOR FORD RECALL #91S39. CALLED FORD SAID DOES NOT APPLY TO MY VEHICLE. RECALL SAYS FORD E150 CLUB WAGONS 1989-1991 WITH DUAL TANKS HARD TO UNDERSTAND HOW MINE IS NOT COVERED. WOULD LIKE SOME EXPLANATION. *TR
May 6, 2009 · 123,000 milesFuel system, gasoline GAS SPEWING FROM GAS CAP INPUT AREA DURING PERIODS OF WARM WEATHER. GAS CONTINUES TO SPEW REGARDLESS OF AMOUNT OF GAS IN EITHER TANK. HIGH POTENTIAL FOR FIRE AND LOSS OF LIFE. FORD KNOWS OF THIS PROBLEM AND IS SAYING THEY NEVER HAD A RECALL ON THIS SUBJECT. *TR
Jan 1, 2000 · 50,000 milesFuel system, gasoline THERE IS A FUEL LEAK THAT BEGAN A WHILE BACK BUT ONLY WHEN BOTH TANKS WERE FULL. NOW THE LEAK IS SUBSTANTIAL AND SEEMS TO OCCUR EVEN WHEN LESS THAN FULL....BUT NOT AT ALL WHEN ABOUT HALF FULL. I AM NOT SURE OF WHEN I FIRST NOTICED THE OCCURRENCE BUT IT HAS BEEN QUITE SOME YEARS NOW. I WILL ENTER A DATE. *TR
Jun 30, 2005Tires › Tread/belt NO PREVIOUS EVENT BEFORE FAILURE. TIRE BECAME DEFORMED, PROBABLE CAUSE BELT SEPARATION. CAUSED SEVERE HANDLING PROBLEMS AT LOW SPEEDS. PLAN TO RETURN TIRE FOR REPLACEMENT.
Feb 5, 2002 · 165,987 milesFuel system, gasoline › Storage › Auxillary tank › Selector devices MY LOCAL FORD DEALER REFUSED TO SERVICE MY VEHICLE FOR THE FOLLOWING: NHTSA ID NO.: 91V-146 DATE OF COMPANY NOTIFICATION: 9-4-91 MAKE: FORD MODEL: ECONOLINE MODEL YEAR: 1989-91 MODEL: F-150, F-250, F-350 MODEL YEAR: 1989 NUMBER OF VEHICLES: 350,000 MFG. CAMPAIGN NO. 91S39. FUEL TANK, AUXILIARY. DOM: 2/89-2/91. DUAL FUNCTION FUEL RESERVOIR MAY MALFUNCTION AND CAUSE AN OVERFILL CONDITION IN ONE OF THE FUEL TANKS, RESULTING IN AN OVERFLOW OF FUEL PAST FILLER CAP. OVERFLOW OF FUEL PAST FILLER CAP CAUSES A FUEL LEAKAGE, WHICH CAN RESULT IN FIRE WHEN EXPOSED TO A SOURCE OF IGNITION. CORRECT BY REPLACING DUAL FUNCTION FUEL RESERVOIRS WITH NEW RESERVOIRS CONTAINING O-RINGS OF A REVISED MATERIAL.…
May 14, 2002Wheels › Lugs/nuts/bolts/studs WHILE IN MOTION, THE LEFT REAR TIRE SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE WHEN THE LUG NUTS BACKED OUT. *JG
Nov 6, 2001Fuel system, gasoline › Storage › Auxillary tank › Selector devices NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 91V146000 COVERS THIS 1990 MODEL, BUT FORD SAYS NOT PART OF RECALL ALTHOUGH THE SAME EXACT FAILURE DID OCCUR WITH GAS/FUEL SPILL INSIDE ENCLOSED GARAGE. REAR TANK RETURN WAS TO FRONT TANK FORCING FUEL OVERFLOW. *AK
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.
NHTSA defect investigations
EA91044 · opened Oct 30, 1991 · closed Oct 30, 1992 · led to recall 92V026000LOSS OF BRAKE EFFECTIVENES ===
EA91031 · opened Jun 26, 1991 · closed Nov 1, 1991 · led to recall 91V146000FUEL EXPULSION There is no summary currently available
PE91077 · opened May 23, 1991 · closed Oct 31, 1991LOSS OF BRAKE EFFECTIVENES There is no summary currently available
PE91064 · opened Apr 9, 1991 · closed Jul 5, 1991TRANSMISSION FLUID FIRES There is no summary currently available