IllustrationOPENED REAR TANK CAP AND FUEL SPURTED OUT AND WOULD NOT STOP HAD TO PUT CAP BACK ON, I NEVER USE THIS TANK ONLY REFUEL IN THE FRONT TANK. *TR
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
Fuel System, Gasoline complaints
4 reportsGASOLINE IS LEAKING OUT OF THE FRONT FUEL CAP OF MY 1996 FORD F-150 TRUCK. MY TRUCK HAS DUAL TANKS. I CONSIDER THIS TO BE A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM THAT COULD CAUSE A FIRE OR EXPLOSION. MY RESEARCH ONLINE FOUND NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 91V146000. THIS IS THE PROBLEM MY TRUCK IS HAVING BUT IT IS NOT CURRENTLY COVERED UNDER THIS RE…
Read full complaint
GASOLINE IS LEAKING OUT OF THE FRONT FUEL CAP OF MY 1996 FORD F-150 TRUCK. MY TRUCK HAS DUAL TANKS. I CONSIDER THIS TO BE A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM THAT COULD CAUSE A FIRE OR EXPLOSION. MY RESEARCH ONLINE FOUND NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 91V146000. THIS IS THE PROBLEM MY TRUCK IS HAVING BUT IT IS NOT CURRENTLY COVERED UNDER THIS RECALL. I AM WRITING THIS SUNDAY EVENING SO I AM WAITING TILL MORNING TO CONTACT FORD AND REPORT THIS PROBLEM TO THEM. THE RECALL THAT I FOUND CALLED FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE DUAL FUEL TANK SELECTOR VALVE ON 1989 FORD F-150'S. BUT SINCE I AM HAVING THE EXACT SAME DEFECT AND THE EFFECT OF SUCH AN EQUIPMENT FAILURE IS LIFE THREATENING I BELIEVE THE RECALL NEEDS TO BE EXPANDED TO INCLUDE ALL FORD VEHICLES THAT HAVE DUAL FUEL TANKS. *TR
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. *KB
THE REAR FUEL TANK DRAINS FUEL FROM THE FRONT FUEL TANK AND CAUSES FUEL TO OUT PAST THE FILL CAP. *TR
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.