IllustrationMY 1986 FORD F-150 WAS PURCHASED USED WITH 150,000 MILES AND WAS PARKED NEXT TO MY HOUSE, NOT RUNNING, WHEN A FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD AND THE TRUCK BURNED NEARLY BURNING MY HOUSE AND TRAILER, AS WELL AS ALL INSIDE IT AND SCARED MY SON AND I TERRIBLY. *TR
1986 Ford F150
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 F150 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: 2 of 61 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 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
1 crash reports16 fire reports1 injury reports
What owners actually said
61 reportsWHILE BACKING INTO THE GARAGE CONSUMER TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT AND HEARD A LOUD NOISE. CONSUMER GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE, AND SAW THE STEERING BOX ON THE GROUND UNDER THE VEHICLE. *AK
1986 FORD F150 WITH DUAL FUEL TANKS, FUEL SIPHONS FROM ONE TANK TO THE OTHER, TANK OVERFLOWS CAUSING SPILLAGE ON GROUND. SAME PROBLEM WITH CHECK VALVE ON FORD F150 MODELS DURING 1990 TO 1993 RESULTED IN A RECALL. DANGEROUS SITUATION COULD RESULT IN FIRE OR EXPLOSION. *NLM
AFTER FILLING BOTH TANKS, FRONT TANK'S FUEL WOULD POUR INTO AND OUT OF REAR TANK. TOOK TO MECHANIC, AND PROBLEM COULD NOT BE RESOLVED. *AK CONSUMER WAS ADVISED BY MANUFACTURER TO GET TRUCK FIXED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AS THIS IS A DANGEROUS PART FAILURE. *TT
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUTS DOWN WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE FOR APPROXIMATELY TEN YEARS AND HAVE REPLACED THE MASTER CYLINDER FOUR TIMES, ONCE WITH A REBUILT CYLINDER AND THREE TIMES WITH NEW CYLINDERS. IT IS BECOMING A HAZARD THAT RECURRS EVERY YEAR AND A HALF TO TWO YEARS, AND IS ALSO BECOMING EXPENSIVE. THE LAST INSTANCE COST $180 TO REPAIR.*AK
WHILE TRAVELING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE WOULD STALL WITHOUT ANY INDICATION INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED 4 MODULAR REPLACEMENTS. TRUCK WOULD SHUT OFF COMPLETELY, WHICH RESULTED IN STEERING LOCK; INOPERABLE. REPAIRS WERE FROM ALAMEDA FORD, ALL STAR FOD, WINNER FORD; ALAMEDA FORD INDICATED THE PART THAT WEN INTO MODULATOR HA TO BE RE-INVENTED AS PREVIOUS PART NO LONGER MADE. 6/01/99 PICKED UP VEHICLE FROM REPA…
Read full complaint
VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED 4 MODULAR REPLACEMENTS. TRUCK WOULD SHUT OFF COMPLETELY, WHICH RESULTED IN STEERING LOCK; INOPERABLE. REPAIRS WERE FROM ALAMEDA FORD, ALL STAR FOD, WINNER FORD; ALAMEDA FORD INDICATED THE PART THAT WEN INTO MODULATOR HA TO BE RE-INVENTED AS PREVIOUS PART NO LONGER MADE. 6/01/99 PICKED UP VEHICLE FROM REPAIR, LOUD CLINK IN ENGINE. TRUCK DELIVERED TO BROADWAY MOTORS FOR REPAIR, CONTACTED B.A.R. TO HAVE MATTER REVIEWED; 4/01 BROADWAY FORD CALLED TO INFORM TRUCK WAS BEING AUCTIONED OFF. OWNER HAD TO REPURCHASE TRUCK, REPAY FOR REPAIRS, APPLY FOR A NEW LISCENCE W/SMOG CERTIFICATE, ETC. IN 6/01 RETURNED VEHICLE TO BROADWAY FORD FOR GEAR BOX REPAIR. ALL REPLACE PARTS AND INVOICES ARE IN OWNER'S HANDS @ 9/24/01.*AK
FUEL IS LEAKING FROM ONE TANK TO ANOTHER TANK, CAUSING AN OVERFLOW, AND ALLOWING EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF FUEL TO LEAK ONTO GROUND DUE TO CROSSFLOW CONDITION, CHECK VALVE FAILUIRE.*AK *SLC
Official recalls
187V139000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
Sep 4, 1987
SPRING LOCK FUEL LINE COUPLING MAY NOT BE PROPERLY ENGAGED.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: COUPLING COULD DISENGAGE DUE TO FUEL PRESSURE,VIBRATION, AND ENGINE MOVEMENTS; THIS WOULD CAUSE LOSS OF FUEL WHICH, INPRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, CREATES A FIRE RISK.
Remedy: INSTALL RETAINER CLIPS OVER THE COUPLINGS TO PREVENT COUPLING SEPARATION AND FUEL LEAKAGE.
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
4DP89005 · F-SERIES Fuel Tank Fires
Opened Jan 26, 1989 · Closed Aug 1, 1989
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Fuel System, Gasoline
F-SERIES FUEL TANK FIRES
PE89020 · Fires
Opened Dec 7, 1988 · Closed Jun 1, 1989
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
There is no summary currently available
EA87020 · Engine Compartment Fires
Opened May 7, 1987 · Closed Sep 24, 1987
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
ANALYSIS:A REVIEW OF FORD MOTOR COMPANY'S RESPONSES TO ODI INFORMATIONREQUESTS ISSUED UNDER PRELIMINARY EVALUATIONS PE 87-012, PE 87-017, ANDPE 87-020, INDICATED THAT THE FAILURE AND/OR MALFUNCTION OF THE SPRING-LOCKFUEL LINE COUPLINGS APPEARED TO BE THE MAJOR SOURCE OR CAUSE OF ENGINECOMPARTMENT FIRES IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.BASED UPON THIS, AN ENGINEERINGANALYSIS WAS INITIATED WHICH INCORPORATED ALL THREE OF THE ABOVE REFERENCEDPRELIMINARY EVALUATIONS.ADDITIONAL REPORTS WERE RECEIVED WHICH INDICATEDTHAT SPRING LOCK FUEL-LINE COUPLING SEPARATION HAD BEEN RESPONSIBLE FORENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES IN OTHER FORD VEHICLES.THE EA WAS THEN EXPANDEDON AUGUST 18TH TO INCLUDE ALL FORD VEHICLES WHICH USE OR DID USE SPRINGLOCK COUPLINGS IN THE FUEL DELIVERY AND/OR THE FUEL RETURN SYSTEM.STATUS:BY LETTER DATED SEPTEMBER 1, 1987, FORD AGREED TO RECALL 3,600,0001986 THROUGH 1988 PASSENGER CARS AND LIGHT TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH ELECTRONICFUEL-INJECTION (EFI) AND CENTRAL FUEL-INJECTION (CFI) ENGINES THAT WEREPRODUCED WITH A SPECIFIC TYPEOF SPRING LOCK FUEL-LINE COUPLING.IF THESPRING LOCK FUEL-LINE COUPLING WERE IMPROPERLY ENGAGED OR DAMAGED DURINGASSEMBLY OR SERVICING, THEN FUEL PRESSURE, VIBRATION, OR ENGINE MOVEMENTCOULD RESULT IN FUEL LINE SEPARATION AND THE SUBSEQUENT RISK OF A VEHICLEFIRE.TO PREVENT THIS POTENTIAL SEPARATION, THE RECALLED VEHICLES WILLHAVE RETAINER CLIPS INSTALLED OVER THE SPRING LOCK COUPLINGS.THE RECALLNUMBER IS 87V-139.PROPOSED ACTION:BASED UPON THE NATURE AND SCOPE OF THE RECALL, EA 87-020SHOULD BE CLOSED AND THE RECALL'S EFFECTIVENESS MONITORED.===
PE87017 · Fuel Leaks/fires
Opened Jan 28, 1987 · Closed May 26, 1987
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
SUMMARY OF INFORMATION FROM MANUFACTURER:INSTANCES WERE FOUND WHERESPRING LOCK COUPLINGS FAILED CAUSING GASOLINE TO BE RELEASED THROUGHOUTTHE ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUSING FIRES.LEAKS FROM FUEL LINES MAY ALSO BE ACONTRIBUTING CAUSE TO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES.---------------------------------------------------------------------------ANALYSIS:DATA INDICATES THAT THE ALLEGED PROBLEM MAY BE CAUSED BY THESPRING LOCK QUICK CONNECT COUPLINGS WHICH CONNECT THE FUEL SUPPLY ANDRETURN LINES TO THE ENGINE AS WELL AS FUEL LEAKAGE FROM THE FUEL LINES.---------------------------------------------------------------------------PROPOSED ACTION: UPGRADE THIS PE TO AN EA.(EA87-020)===