Electrical System. Review the 56 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 42 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 36 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

21 crash reports75 fire reports17 injury reports

Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints

32 reports

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200,000 miles · Mar 23, 2017

Electrical SystemService Brakes, HydraulicVehicle Speed ControlFire

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT WAS NOTIFIED BY HIS MOTHER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE WHILE PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY. THE CONTACT NOTICED FLAMES UNDER THE HOOD ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE NEAR THE WINDSHIELD. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. WHEN THE CONTACT OPENED THE HOOD, HE NOTICED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS, FUSE BOX, AND RELAY BOX WERE BURNED, AND THE MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER WAS COMPLETELY MELTED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V017000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.

NHTSA ODI #10968179

188,000 miles · Aug 18, 2006

Service Brakes, HydraulicVehicle Speed ControlFire

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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP FOR INSPECTION OF THE BRAKES DUE TO A PREVIOUS FAILURE OF THE MASTER CYLINDER AND BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE, WHEN A FIRE ERUPTED FROM THE FRONT UNDER HOOD AREA AND SPREAD FROM THE VEHICLE TO THE REPAIR SHOP. NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. EXTENSIVE DAMAGE WAS SUSTAINED TO THE VEHICLE AND THE REPAIR SHOP. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT TAKEN. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ALERTED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THE FIRE ORIGINATED FROM THE MASTER CYLINDER. THE VEHICLE WAS AWAITING FURTHER INSPECTION BY A MANUFACTURER REPRESENTATIVE. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL, #05V388000, REGARDING THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. UPDATED 9/15/2006 - *NM

NHTSA ODI #10165967

150,000 miles · May 8, 2006

Electrical SystemService Brakes, Hydraulic

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I HAVE PREVIOUSLY SUBMITTED A COMPLAINT ODI ID NUMBER 10110013 DATED 8-3-05. AT THIS TIME, I WILL INSIST THAT A SERIOUS CONSIDERATION BE GIVEN TO THE WIRING HARNESS CONNECTED TO THE CRUISE CONTROL SERVO WHEREBY- THE HORN IS IN PLAY THERE!!! I AM OF COURSE TALKING ABOUT RECALL #05V388000 (NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER) FORD F150 /SUV '95- '01 WITH CRUISE CONTROL FIRE POTENTIAL. THE FUSE (#13 AS LISTED IN THE MANUAL - CHECK OUT THE NUMBER OF ITEMS CONNECTED TO THAT ONE FUSE!) HAD BLOWN BEFORE A FIRE DESTROYED MY WHOLE TRUCK. THAT IS TO SAY I HAD SUSTAINED DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE. FORD SERVICE -MCCAFFERTY OF LANGHORNE, PA RECENTLY INSTALLED THE INLINE BANDAID AT THE MFG. REQUEST. MCCAFFERTY AGAIN LEFT ME TO THERE STREETS WITH AN OBVIOUSLY BURNED HARNESS/CRUISE SERVO PIN CONNECTIONS. (WITH THE HARNESS DISCONNECTED THERE IS NO HORN! CAN I STRESS THIS ENOUGH? MY POINT IS THIS - THE SERVICE TECHS' AND MANAGEMENT DON'T BELIEVE THAT THIS HARNESS HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH MY HORN. QUESTION - DO THE ENGINEERS AT FORD FEEL THE SAME WAY? FROM TODAY'S INQUIRE ON THIS SITE THERE ARE UNCERTAINTIES AS TO WHAT ACTUALLY IS THE CAUSE. THIS COULD BE IT!!!! THE OWNERS GUIDE LISTS THE HORN TO BE CONNECTED AT #3 OF THE POWER DISTRIBUTION BOX LOCATED UNDER THE HOOD. SO BE IT ! IT IS ALSO CONNECTED TO THE #13 FUSE UNDER THE DASH. THE CHART ON PG 357 OF THE MANUAL DOESN'T LIST THE HORN AS PART OF THE CIRCUITRY. IT IS HOWEVER CONNECTED TO THE HARNESS THAT IS CONNECTED TO THAT CIRCUITRY. ON A PERSONAL NOTE, I'D LIKE TO GET MY CRUISE CONTROL PARTS REPLACED - THEY WERE BURNED UP PRIOR TO THE RECALL OF MY '96 F150. MY TRUCK DIDN'T FLAME UP BUT I SMELLED BURNING. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10157008

Mileage unknown · Nov 18, 2005

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

DT: THE CONTACT STATES WHEN IT WAS DAMP OR RAINING THE BRAKES LOCKED. THE PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT, BUT HAS BECOME CONSTANT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY STATED ALL FORD TRUCKS WERE MADE THAT WAY. THERE HAVE BEEN NO CORRECTIONS TO THE VEHICLE AT THIS TIME. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10143106

66,000 miles · Jul 12, 2005

Service Brakes, HydraulicVehicle Speed Control

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DT: ON JUNE 22, 2005 THE CONSUMER'S FORD F 150 BEGAN SMOKING UNDER THE HOOD WHILE PARKED AND TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN SITTING FOR ABOUT 9 HOURS. THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH LOCATED ON TOP OF THE MASTER CYLINDER SHORTED OUT AND LOOKED LIKE IT WAS GETTING READY TO CATCH ON FIRE. THE SHORT MELTED THE PLASTIC RESERVIOR THAT HOLDS THE BRAKE FLUID TO THE POINT WHERE IT ALMOST BURNED THROUGH. THE OWNER REMOVED THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR TO STOP THE BURNING. THAT CONNECTOR WAS THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH. THE PART COOLED OFF AND THE OWNERS TAPED UP THE CONNECTOR SO IT WOULD NOT MAKE ANY CONNECTION WITH ANY METAL PARTS. THE OWNERS STATES THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP BECAUSE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON. THIS HAD BEEN A PROBLEM FOR ABOUT A YEAR. THE DEALERSHIP WOULD TURN OFF THE LIGHT OFF AND TELL THE OWNER THAT THE VEHICLE CHECKED OUT ALRIGHT ON THEIR COMPUTER. THEY COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. THEY THOUGHT IT WAS AN OXYGEN SENSOR. THERE WAS NO FIRE OR POLICE REPORT MADE. THE OWNER TOOK PICTURES OF THE PART FOR HIS RECORDS. THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN NOTIFIED AND THEY GAVE HIM A FORM LETTER TO CALL THE PHONE NUMBERS ON THE LIST. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED ALSO. THEY SAID THEY WOULD REVIEW THE INFORMATION, AND SENT THE OWNER A LETTER IN THE MAIL. FORD RESPONDED BY SAYING THAT THEY COULD NOT FIX THE PROBLEM BECAUSE IT WAS NOT UNDER RECALL. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REGULARLY MAINTAINED. ON THE DASHBOARD THERE IS A BLINKING ABS LIGHT THAT WILL NOT SHUT OFF BECAUSE THE PART HAS BEEN REMOVED, THEREFORE THE OWNER CAN NOT GET A INSPECTION STICKER ON HIS VEHICLE, BECAUSE THE LIGHT IS BLINKING. THE OWNER CAN NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM WITH THE BLINKING LIGHT BECAUSE THE COMPONENT NEEDS TO BE FIXED WITH THE CORRECT PART. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10128440

48,350 miles · Nov 15, 2003

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

OWNER STATES THAT BRAKE LINE RUPTURED, CAUSING BRAKE FAILURE. *AK (THE RIGHT FRONT STEEL BRAKE LINE RUPTURED) *SCC *JB

NHTSA ODI #10042311

Mileage unknown · Oct 9, 2001

Engine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, Hydraulic

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COPY OF EMAIL TO FORD: I WROTE TO YOU A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO REGARDING AN EXTREME LEVEL OF CORROSION OCCURRING ON MY 1996 F150 WHICH RESULTED IN THE OIL PAN RUSTING THROUGH ONLY TO BE REBUFFED. WELL NOW THE LEVEL OF CORROSION IS EVEN WORSE. THE BRAKE LINES ARE SO CORRODED THAT ONE OF THEM BURST AND NEARLY CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. CLEARLY THIS IS NOT NORMAL. THIS VEHICLE IS ONLY USED FOR PERSONAL USE AND IS ONLY USED ON THE HIGHWAY FOR TRANSPORTATION. I HAVE ANOTHER VEHICLE, A JEEP, WHICH SITS NEXT TO IT THAT IS 5 YEARS OLDER THAT IS NOT EXHIBITING THE CORROSION FOUND UNDER YOUR VEHICLE. AS I MENTIONED IN MY PREVIOUS LETTER, I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND THE VEHICLES MILEAGE IS LESS THAN 60K. CLEARLY THIS VEHICLE IS DEFECTIVE BUT YOUR EARLIERRESPONSE TO ME INDICATES THAT YOU DONT CARE. THEREFORE, YOU HAVE LOST MY WIFE AND I AS CUSTOMERS AND I FEEL OBLIGATED TO TELL ANYONE I KNOW OF YOUR POOR QUALITY AND CONCERN FOR YOUR CUSTOMERS. THIS VEHICLE IS A DEATHTRAP LOOKING FOR ITS FIRST VICTIM AND I HAVE NO CHOICE BUT SELL THE VEHICLE AND SEND A COPY OF THIS LETTER TO THE NHSTA SO THAT ITS ON RECORD THAT FORD WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT.

NHTSA ODI #752990

Mileage unknown · Jul 20, 2001

Electrical SystemService Brakes, HydraulicFire

WHILE DRIVING ABS AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON STOPPED TO CHECK PROBLEM AND SAW FIRE. HAD TO REPLACE MASTER CYLANDER AND SOME WIRING. 3 OTHER PEOPLE, INCLUDING MOTHER IN LAWS VAN HAVE HAD PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #748789

Mileage unknown · Sep 14, 2000

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

TOTAL BREAK FAILURE, WITH NO WARNING. FORD DEALERSHIP (STERLING FORD) REPORTED RIGHT SIDE FRONT BREAKLINE HAD RUSTED THROUGH ALLOWING BREAK FLUID TO DRAIN. RECOMMENDED REPLACEMENT OF ALL FRONT BREAKLINES AND FLEX LINES ON BOTH RIGHT AND LEFT SIDE. COST $355. CONCERN IS WAY DIDN'T THE REAR BREAKS SYSTEM PROVIDE SOME MARGIN …

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NHTSA ODI #731393

Mileage unknown · Mar 29, 2000

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

PREMATURE WEAR OF THE ROTORS AND FRONT BRAKES. DEALER HAS REPLACED THE ROTORS AND FRONT PADS. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #859377

Official recalls

05V388000 · Vehicle Speed Control

Sep 7, 2005

ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH SPEED CONTROL, THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH MAY OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A FIRE AT THE SWITCH COULD OCCUR.

Remedy: BY LETTER DATED SEPTEMBER 12, 2005, OWNERS WERE INSTRUCTED TO RETURN THEIR VEHICLES TO THEIR DEALERS TO HAVE THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH DISCONNECTED. OWNERS WHO HAVE HAD THEIR SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATED ARE BEING NOTIFIED THAT PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE AND ADVISED TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TO RECONNECT THE SPEED CONTROL BEGINNING IN FEBRUARY 2006. OWNERS WHO DID NOT HAVE THEIR SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATED ARE BEING NOTIFIED TO HAVE THEIR SYSTEM REMEDIED BEGINNING IN FEBRUARY 2006. OWNERS ARE URGED TO AVAIL THEMSELVES OF THE FREE DISCONNECT SERVICE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE BECAUSE OF THE SIGNIFICANT RISK OF FIRE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673. (NOTE: ALSO SEE RECALLS 05V017 AND 06V286)

96V161000 · Equipment:other:labels

Aug 29, 1996

THE CERTIFICATION LABELS ON THE INVOLVED VEHICLES HAS INCORRECT REAR TIRE INFLATION PRESSURE DESIGNATIONS. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS NO. 120, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES OTHER THAN PASSENGER CARS."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: INCORRECT INFLATION PRESSURES COULD CAUSE PREMATURE WEAR OF THE REAR TIRES. .

Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH CORRECT CERTIFICATION LABELS AND INSTRUCTIONS FOR INSTALLING THESE LABELS. DEALERS CAN INSTALL THIS LABEL IF THE OWNER SO DESIRES.

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

EA05005 · Engine Compartment Fires

Opened Mar 22, 2005 · Closed Aug 2, 2006

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System; Electrical System:wiring:front Underhood; Vehicle Speed Control:cruise Control

EA05-005 IS CLOSED WITH FORD?S ACTIONS IN RECALLS 05V-017, 05V-388, AND 06V-286, RECALLING APPROXIMATELY 6.7 MILLION VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH TEXAS INSTRUMENTS SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCHES (SCDS).THE BRAKE SYSTEMS IN THESE RECALLED VEHICLES GENERATE A VACUUM THAT CAN POTENTIALLY CAUSE THE SCDS TO FAIL AND, IN CERTAIN SWITCH INSTALLATION ORIENTATIONS, CATCH FIRE.FORD IS ALSO INCLUDING THE ENTIRE POPULATION OF 1998 EXPLORERS.FORD HAS INFORMED ODI THAT TESTING TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURES IN THE 1998 EXPLORERS WILL CONTINUE AFTER THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.ODI BELIEVES THAT THE VEHICLES EXHIBITING THE FACTORS CAUSING SCDS FAILURE DESCRIBED IN THIS REPORT CORRELATE WELL WITH THE OBSERVED FAILURE RATES ON THESE VEHICLES BY MODEL AND MODEL YEAR.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST IN THE NON-RECALLED VEHICLES MANUFACTURED WITH SCDS THAT ARE NOT INCLUDED IN FORD?S RECALLS.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE NON-RECALLED POPULATION FOR INCIDENCE OF ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.SEE ATTACHED CLOSING REPORT FOR DETAILS.

Additional source detail variants (21)

Electrical System

Electrical System:wiring:front Underhood

Vehicle Speed Control:cruise Control

PE98024 · Tie Rod End Failures

Opened Apr 21, 1998 · Closed Jul 21, 1998

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering

There is no summary currently available