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1987 Ford F150

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.

About this comparison →
89Owner complaints

Model-year median: 3.5

3Recall campaigns

View recall details →

2Investigations

View investigation details →

Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Inspection summary

1987 Ford F150

NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 89 owner complaints · 3 recall campaigns · 2 investigations.

Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.

Top reported categories (up to 5)

  • Electrical System: 37 reports
  • Fuel System, Gasoline: 21 reports
  • Engine And Engine Cooling: 9 reports
  • Structure: 5 reports
  • Tires: 4 reports

Full reported-category list and vehicle report

Recall links

Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
13
198428
198561
198689
1987139
1988210
1989254
1990
Compare all F150 years →

Counts vary with age, sales, mileage exposure and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Electrical System
37Fuel System, Gasoline
21Engine And Engine Cooling
9Structure
5Tires
4
All reported categories
Vehicle Speed Control
4Seat Belts
3Service Brakes, Hydraulic
3Power Train
2Steering
2Unknown Or Other
2Wheels
2Equipment
1Trailer Hitches
1

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 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Mar 29, 1999
Electrical SystemFireInjury

IGNITION SWITCH FIRE. THERE IS A RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE FOR THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM.(96V-071) (MJS) (ATTORNEY FOR CONSUMER).

NHTSA ODI #544433

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Electrical System

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 O…

Read full complaint

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

NHTSA ODI #702832

Mileage unknown · Dec 2, 1997
Electrical SystemFire

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

NHTSA ODI #818887

Mileage unknown · Nov 20, 1997
Electrical SystemFire

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

NHTSA ODI #819331

Mileage unknown · Oct 17, 1997
Electrical SystemFire

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

NHTSA ODI #818478

Mileage unknown · Apr 23, 1997
Electrical SystemFire

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

NHTSA ODI #810457

Mileage unknown · Nov 4, 1996
Electrical SystemFire

VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT WORK, VEHICLE HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE OVERNIGHT; FIRE DEPT ARRIVED AND PUT OUT FLAMES. *AK

NHTSA ODI #804517

Mileage unknown · Oct 9, 1996
Electrical SystemFire

IGNITION SWITCH FIRE.

NHTSA ODI #509654

Mileage unknown · Oct 7, 1996
Electrical SystemFire

AFTER BEING PARKED 30 MINUTES, HEARD LOAD POP SOUND, THEN FOUND CAB ENGULFED IN FLAMES. *AK

NHTSA ODI #985309

Mileage unknown · Aug 30, 1996
Electrical SystemFire

WHILE DRIVING SMELLED SMOKE, SUDDENLY FIRE STARTED COMING FRON UNDER DASH, NO WARNING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHORTED OUT.*AK

NHTSA ODI #800953

Recall campaigns

3

87V139000 · 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 ↗

Defect investigations

2

DP89005 · 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

An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.