IllustrationTRUCK LEAKS FUEL WHEN FRONT TANK HAS ABOUT 1/4 AND MORE TANK OF GAS IN IT.AFRAID OF A FIRE OR EXPLOSION. HOPING NO-ONE FLIPS A CIGARETTE AROUND THE TRUCK
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
Fuel System, Gasoline complaints
21 reportsTRUCK HAS DUEL TANKS AND PUMPS GAS OUT FILLER SPOUT OF FRONT TANK WHEN DRIVING ON REAR TANK AND OUT REAR FILLER TUBE WHILE DRIVING ON FRONT TANK IS THERE A RECALL ON THE SWITCHING VALVE ON THIS TRUCK THEIR SHOULD BE. *AK
WAS DRIVING VEHICLE WHEN ENGINE MISSED & THEN DIED OUT. THEN ENGINE RESTARTED BY ITSELF. ARRIVED AT STOP SIGN WHEN OCCUPANT IN OTHER VEHICLE NOTICED FLAMES & NOTIFIED DRIVER. DRIVER TURNED & NOTICED FLAMES BEHIND HIM & GOT OUT. FLAMES COMING FROM BETWEEN THE DUAL FUEL TANK AREA. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK
FUEL INJECTION MODULE SHUTS OFF IGNITION IN HOT WEATHER, WHICH CAUSES VEHICLE TO LOSE ALL POWER. DEALERS ARE AWARE OF PROBLEM.
THE GAS LINE DISCONNECTED, LEAKING GAS ON THE EXHAUST WHICH RESULTED IN A FIRE.
THE TRUCK CAUGHT ON FIRE DUE TO PREVIOUS RECALL WORK INVOLVING FUEL LINE COUPLING 87V139000. *AK *JB
FAILURE ON THE FUEL PUMP AND SENDING UNIT, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO NOT KNOW THE AMOUNT OF GAS IS IN THE VEHICLE. *AK
FUEL SWITCH VALVE, TAKES FUEL FROM THE REAR TANK AND PUT FRONT TANK. TT
THE REAR FUEL LINE BROKE IN THE REAR GAS TANK AND CAUSES THE TRUCK TO STALL AND THE GASOLINE POURS OUT. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
AUXILLARY SELECTOR SWITCH FAILED, CAUSING GAS TO BE PUMPED INTO FRONT TANK, CAUSING TANK TO OVERFLOW. *SKD
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