IllustrationCONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING, HE NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD, CONSUMER THEN PULLED OVER AND THE VEHICLE BECAME ENGULFED IN FLAMES.( OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT #10-89-278)
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 campaignsView recall details →
2InvestigationsView 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
- 87V139000 — Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
- 87V140000 — Wheels:lugs/nuts/bolts/studs
- 87V077000 — Suspension:front:wheel Bearing
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
Compare all F150 years →Counts vary with age, sales, mileage exposure 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
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
9 reportsFAULTY EXHAUST MANIFOLD; VEHICLE HAD SEVEN MANIFOLD REPLACMENT SINCE OWNING THE VEHICLE. ASKING NHTSA TO LOOK INTO THIS MATTER.
WATER PUMP AND TIMING CHAIN AND GEAR FAILED.
ENGINE OIL PAN HAD MANY RUST SPOTS, CAUSING OIL LEAKS.
WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE WOULD CUT OFF, GIVING THE OWNER NO INDICATION THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD CUT OFF, THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED ABOUT THE PROBLEM, OWNER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE HAD GOTTEN SO BAD THAT SHE TRADED THE VEHICLE IN FOR A NEWER MODEL TRUCK. *AK *JB
VEHICLE FIRE.
UPON STARTING, HEARD LOUD POP SOUND, SMOKE CAME FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT, THEN SUDDENLY VEHICLE BECAME ENGULFED IN FLAMES. *AK
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE. *SD
CATALYTIC CONVERTER BECAME COMPLETELY PLUGGED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL. (SECOND VEHICLE ON 502328) *DH
Recall campaigns
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 ↗
Defect 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
An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.