IllustrationTRUCK WAS DRIVEN THEN PARKED, 15 MINUTES LATER WHILE MOWING THE GRASS, I LOOKED OVER AT THE PARKED TRUCKAND IT WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE STARTED AT THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER AND IT WAS A TOTAL LOSS.
1996 Ford F Series
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all F Series years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 14 of 16 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Electrical System. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
0 crash reports5 fire reports1 injury reports
Electrical System complaints
4 reportsMY SONS TRUCK 1996 FORD F150 CAUGHT FIRE SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY IT HAD BEEN SITTING THERE A LITTLE OVER TWO HOURS. IT STARTED ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE UNDER THE HOOD. THE TRUCK IS TOTALED, MY SOFIC AND GUTTER WAS DESTROYED MY GARAGE. MY 2005 CAR-MATE TRAILER HAS HEAT DAMAGE ON THE FRONT OF IT AND DESTROYED MY NEIGHB…
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MY SONS TRUCK 1996 FORD F150 CAUGHT FIRE SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY IT HAD BEEN SITTING THERE A LITTLE OVER TWO HOURS. IT STARTED ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE UNDER THE HOOD. THE TRUCK IS TOTALED, MY SOFIC AND GUTTER WAS DESTROYED MY GARAGE. MY 2005 CAR-MATE TRAILER HAS HEAT DAMAGE ON THE FRONT OF IT AND DESTROYED MY NEIGHBORS FENCE AND BUSHES. *NM
13-21 AUG TRUCK WAS PARKED IN DRIVEWAY WHILE WE VISITED FAMILY IN SOUTH CAROLINA. TRUCK NOT DRIVEN. DROVE TRUCK 22 AUG TO WORK APPROX. 12.5 MILES. TRUCK WAS PARKED IN PARKING LOT UNTIL 4PM WHEN I DROVE IT HOME. TRUCK WAS PARKED IN DRIVEWAY FROM 4:30 PM UNTIL THE FIRE WAS DISCOVERED BETWEEN 8:30 AND 9:00 PM. I DO NOT KNOW WHE…
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13-21 AUG TRUCK WAS PARKED IN DRIVEWAY WHILE WE VISITED FAMILY IN SOUTH CAROLINA. TRUCK NOT DRIVEN. DROVE TRUCK 22 AUG TO WORK APPROX. 12.5 MILES. TRUCK WAS PARKED IN PARKING LOT UNTIL 4PM WHEN I DROVE IT HOME. TRUCK WAS PARKED IN DRIVEWAY FROM 4:30 PM UNTIL THE FIRE WAS DISCOVERED BETWEEN 8:30 AND 9:00 PM. I DO NOT KNOW WHEN THE FIRE STARTED AND I HAVE HAD NO PROBLEMS AT ALL WITH THE TRUCK AND I DO NOT KNOW WHAT STARTED THE FIRE. BUT I BELIEVE THE HOTEST PART OF THE FIRE WAS ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ENGINE NEAR THE TOP WHERE MOST OF THE DESTRUCTION WAS LOCATED.
1996 FORD F150 FUSE BLOWN # 13 (IN DASH) BRAKE LIGHT FAILURE; SPEED CONTROL ASSOCIATED SENSORS. LOCAL FORD DEALER SERVICED 9-27-04 @ $510.30 TO DIAGNOSE SITUATION AND REMEDIED BY REPLACING THE WHOLE MASTER CYLINDER WHERE IT WAS OBVIOUS THAT THE SWITCH FROM THE SPEED CONTROL ON THIS BRAKE UNIT WAS BURNT. ADDITIONAL REMEDY…
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1996 FORD F150 FUSE BLOWN # 13 (IN DASH) BRAKE LIGHT FAILURE; SPEED CONTROL ASSOCIATED SENSORS. LOCAL FORD DEALER SERVICED 9-27-04 @ $510.30 TO DIAGNOSE SITUATION AND REMEDIED BY REPLACING THE WHOLE MASTER CYLINDER WHERE IT WAS OBVIOUS THAT THE SWITCH FROM THE SPEED CONTROL ON THIS BRAKE UNIT WAS BURNT. ADDITIONAL REMEDY WAS TO DISCONNECT THE WIRING HARNESS THAT CONTROLS THE SPEED CONTROL RENDERING MY HORN USELESS AS WELL. THE MALE HARNESS CONNECTOR IS PRESENTLY TAPED AS I WAS INSTRUCTED THAT HOOKING IT BACK UP WOULD CREATE THIS SAME FIRE HAZARD CONDITION. THEREFORE, I HAVE NO HORN AND MY SPEED CONTROL ISN'T WORKING EITHER. THE FUSE HASN'T BLOWN AND I DO HAVE BRAKE LIGHTS. ( PA REQUIRES THAT THE HORN WORK TO PASS SAFETY INSPECTION ) THE BRAKING SYSTEM DID NOT FAIL ME AT ANY TIME OTHER THAN THIS ELECTRICAL PROBLEM (BLOWN FUSE) AND THE CHANGING OF THE MECHANICAL/HYDROLOGICS WAS NOT WARRANTED.*JB
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
2EA96028 · Pinched Wiring Harnesses
Opened Nov 14, 1996 · Closed Jul 25, 1997
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling
wiring harnesses routed along left and/or right frame rails may become pinched between frame and cab.pinched harnesses may suffer loss of insulation integrity which results in a short to ground with the potential for vehicle fire.
PE96041 · Vehicle Electrical Fire
Opened Jun 13, 1996 · Closed Nov 14, 1996
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System
ENGINE WIRING HARNESSBECOMES PINCHED BETWEEN THE VEHICLE CAB AND CHASSIS LEADING TO AN ELECTRICAL SHORT AND FIRE.