1991 Ford F-150 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

357 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 1991 Ford F-150, alongside 6 recall campaigns and 12 defect investigations. It scores 11/100 on the trouble index — one of this model's quieter years. Fuel system leads the reports, typically around 110,315 miles.

One of the quieter years. Relative to its siblings, the 1991 Ford F-150 has drawn well-below-average complaint volume with at least four years on the road.

357Complaints
11/100Trouble index
6Recalls
110,000Typical trouble mileage

Better year

Where 1991 sits among all F-150 years

Darker = quieter yearsBrighter amber = more trouble

What owners report

Fuel system 163 complaints (46%) · typically ~110,315 miles
“Recall related, in for repair, 93v125000, fuel is still leaking out front tank. Tt”— owner report to NHTSA, 1991 F-150
Electrical 61 complaints (17%)
“Vehicle fire due to possible recall component failure (ignition switch-96v-071) resulting in vehicle fire. Mjs”— owner report to NHTSA, 1991 F-150
Brakes & stability 28 complaints (8%)
“Front brake failure, plastic piston in front calipers failed due to heat, causing damage. Tt”— owner report to NHTSA, 1991 F-150
Engine 19 complaints (5%)
Wheels & tires 15 complaints (4%)
Transmission & drivetrain 14 complaints (4%)

Mileage when trouble shows up

Among the 45 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 110,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 89,429 and 145,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.

Recalls (6)

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 01I008000 2001

THIS IS NOT A SAFETY RECALL IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SAFETY ACT. HOWEVER, IT IS DEEMED A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN BY THE AGENCY. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: 1990-1993 FORD F-SERIES VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DUAL FUEL TANKS AND 4.9, 5.0,5.8, OR 7.5 LITER GASOLINE…

Fix: FORD IS EXTENDING THE WARRANTY FOR POTENTIAL FUEL CROSS-FLOW TO 12 YEARS OF SERVICE OR 150,000 MILES FROM THE VEHICLE'S WARRANTY START DATE, WHICHEVER OCCURS FIRST. THIS COVER WILL AUTOMATICALLY…

TIRES 01X001000 2001

THIS IS NOT A SAFETY RECALL IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SAFETY ACT. HOWEVER, IT IS DEEMED A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN BY THE AGENCY. EQUIPMENT DESCRIPTION: FORD IS REPLACING ALL FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT 15, 16, AND 17 INCH TIRES MOUNTED ON FORD TRUCKS AND…

Fix: THE REPLACEMENT/REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM FOR THIS CAMPAIGN EXPIRED ON MARCH 31, 2002. HOWEVER, CUSTOMERS CAN CONTACT FORD AT 1-877-917-3673 OR GO ON-LINE TO WWW.FORD.COM FOR POSSIBLE ASSISTANCE.

TIRES 00T005000 2000

TIRE DESCRIPTION: FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT, SIZE P235/75R15, PRODUCED AT THE DECATUR, ILLINOIS TIRE PLANT AND ALL FIRESTONE RADIAL ATX AND RADIAL ATX II TIRES, SIZE P235/75R15. OPERATION OF THESE TIRES AT LOW INFLATION PRESSURES, HIGH SPEED, AND IN HOT…

Fix: THE REPLACEMENT/REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM FOR THIS CAMPAIGN EXPIRED ON AUGUST 29, 2001. HOWEVER, CUSTOMERS SHOULD CONTACT FIRESTONE CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-465-1904 FOR POSSIBLE ASSISTANCE.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 96V071000 1996

THE IGNITION SWITCH COULD EXPERIENCE AN INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT.

Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 93V125000 1993

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.

Fix: REPLACEMENT OF THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR AND INSTALLATION OF REDUNDANT CHECK VALVES.

STEERING 93V066000 1993

KEYS ATTACHED TO THE KEY RING OF AN IGNITION KEY WHILE IT IS IN THE VEHICLE IGNITION CAN BECOME LODGED IN THE STEERING LOCK RECEIVER AS THE STEERING WHEEL IS BEING TURNED.

Fix: A SHIELD WILL BE POSITIONED BETWEEN THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE IGNITION SWITCH AND HELD IN PLACE BY THE STEERING LOCK BAND.

Federal defect investigations

DUAL FUEL TANK CROSSFLOW/LEAKAGE EA99032 opened 1999, closed 2001

Led to recall campaign 00V424000.

FORD F-SERIES DUAL FUEL TANK LEAKAGE RQ98008 opened 1998, closed 1999

Led to recall campaign 93V125000.

IDLE AIR SPD CTRL VLV MALF EA93022 opened 1993, closed 1994
IDLE AIR SPD CTRL VLV MALF PE93010 opened 1993, closed 1993
FUEL EXPULSION EA93001 opened 1993, closed 1993

Led to recall campaign 93V125000.

FUEL EXPULSION PE92077 opened 1992, closed 1993
FRONT SEAT BACK FAILURE EA92029 opened 1992, closed 1993
FNT RECLNING SEAT BCK FAIL PE92042 opened 1992, closed 1992
LOSS OF BRAKE EFFECTIVENES EA91044 opened 1991, closed 1992

Led to recall campaign 92V026000.

FUEL EXPULSION EA91031 opened 1991, closed 1991

Led to recall campaign 91V146000.

LOSS OF BRAKE EFFECTIVENES PE91077 opened 1991, closed 1991
TRANSMISSION FLUID FIRES PE91064 opened 1991, closed 1991

Complaint history for this model year

When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.

1995peak 64 in 19962025

Questions buyers ask

Is the 1991 Ford F-150 reliable?

The 1991 Ford F-150 drew 357 complaints in federal safety records — one of this model's quieter years. Its trouble index is 11/100, scored against the model's worst year (1997).

What are the most common 1991 Ford F-150 problems?

The top reported problems for the 1991 Ford F-150 are fuel system (163 complaints), electrical (61), and brakes & stability (28).

At what mileage do 1991 Ford F-150 problems show up?

Owners most often report 1991 Ford F-150 problems around 110,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 89,429 and 145,000 miles.

Does the 1991 Ford F-150 have recalls?

6 recall campaigns apply to the 1991 Ford F-150. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.

← 1990 F-150 All F-150 years 1992 F-150 →
Data updated 2026-08-12 from NHTSA's public records

Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.