IllustrationIGNITION SWITCH FIRE. THERE IS A RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE FOR THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM.(96V-071) (MJS) (ATTORNEY FOR CONSUMER).
1987 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: 5 of 89 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 37 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 21 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.
3 crash reports43 fire reports3 injury reports
Electrical System complaints
37 reportsKEY STICKS IN THE "START" POSITION, NEEDS TO BE MANUALLY RETURNED TO THE "ON" POSITION. KEY DOES NOT SETTLE INTO "ON" POSITION, IT CAN BE SLID EASILY BETWEEN "OFF" "ON" AND "START" POSITIONS. SECOND COMPLAINT: WHILE DRIVING, THE ENGINE OCCASIONALLY LOSES SPARK AND ENGINE DIES, CAN SMELL GASOLINE, I SUSPECT THE IGNITION COIL O…
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KEY STICKS IN THE "START" POSITION, NEEDS TO BE MANUALLY RETURNED TO THE "ON" POSITION. KEY DOES NOT SETTLE INTO "ON" POSITION, IT CAN BE SLID EASILY BETWEEN "OFF" "ON" AND "START" POSITIONS. SECOND COMPLAINT: WHILE DRIVING, THE ENGINE OCCASIONALLY LOSES SPARK AND ENGINE DIES, CAN SMELL GASOLINE, I SUSPECT THE IGNITION COIL OR RELATED WIRING MALFUNCTIONED. *AK
VEHICLE REPAIRED AT DEALER. MECHANIC LEFT VEHICLE OUTSIDE. CAUGHT FIRE SHORTLY AFTERWARDS. WORKED ON OUTSIDE, NOT INSIDE OF VEHICLE. MECHANIC PUT FLAMES OUT & INFORMED OWNER POSSIBLE LOCATION WAS IGNITION SWITCH. *AK
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE AT 60 MPH DOWN THE ROAD WHEN SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE CONSUMER STOPPED VEHICLE AND OPENED HOOD TO SEE IF THE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE ENGINE, BUT NO SMOKE FROM ENGINE. WHEN HE TRIED TO GET BACK INSIDE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE GOT ON FIRE AND BURNED TO THE GROUND. ACCORDING TO CO…
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WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE AT 60 MPH DOWN THE ROAD WHEN SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE CONSUMER STOPPED VEHICLE AND OPENED HOOD TO SEE IF THE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE ENGINE, BUT NO SMOKE FROM ENGINE. WHEN HE TRIED TO GET BACK INSIDE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE GOT ON FIRE AND BURNED TO THE GROUND. ACCORDING TO CONSUMER, THE FIRE MARSHALL SAID THE FIRE WAS CAUSE OF A DEFECTIVE IGNITION. *AK
DRIVING VEHICLE STARTED TO SMOKE; PULLED TO SIDE & CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD. NOTHING WAS FOUND. STARTED TO LOCK DOOR & NOTICED FLAMES SHOOTING OUT FROM DASHBOARD AREA NEAR STEERING COLUMN. FIRE DEPT. CALLED & PUT FLAMES OUT. *AK
DRIVER NOTICED FLAMES COMING OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN UNDER THE DASHBOARD. CAR WAS ENGULFED BY FLAMES BEFORE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK
VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT WORK, VEHICLE HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE OVERNIGHT; FIRE DEPT ARRIVED AND PUT OUT FLAMES. *AK
IGNITION SWITCH FIRE.
AFTER BEING PARKED 30 MINUTES, HEARD LOAD POP SOUND, THEN FOUND CAB ENGULFED IN FLAMES. *AK
WHILE DRIVING SMELLED SMOKE, SUDDENLY FIRE STARTED COMING FRON UNDER DASH, NO WARNING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHORTED OUT.*AK
Official recalls
387V139000 · 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.
87V140000 · Wheels:lugs/nuts/bolts/studs
Sep 4, 1987
WHEEL LUG NUT CONE ANGLES DO NOT MATCH LUG NUT SEATING ANGLES.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: NUTS COULD LOOSEN IN SERVICE CREATING POTENTIAL FORWHEELS TO SEPARATE FROM TRUCK.
Remedy: REPAIR TO PREVENT LOOSENING OF LUG NUTS.
87V077000 · Suspension:front:wheel Bearing
May 26, 1987
FRONT INNER WHEEL BEARINGS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN LUBRICATED ADEQUATELY AT TIME OF ASSEMBLY.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THIS CONDITION WERE TO OCCUR, FRICTION WILL CAUSEPREMATURE DETERIORATION OF THE WHEEL BEARINGS AND STEERING CONTROL COULD BEAFFECTED ADVERSELY.
Remedy: INSPECT AND REPLACE ANY BEARING OR RACE SHOWING SIGNS OF GALLING OR HEAT SPOTS.
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
2DP89005 · 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