Illustration2ND WIRE HARNESS FIRE ON THIS VEHICLE. 1ST WAS UNDER THE HOOD THE SECOND WAS UNDER THE VEHICLE WHEN IT WAS AT THE DEALER IN NEW PORT RICHEY FLORIDA. *JB
1988 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: 9 of 139 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 49 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 27 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 11 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 reports47 fire reports4 injury reports
What owners actually said
139 reportsSTEERING SHAFT LOST STEERING COMPLETELY. UPPER SHOCK BRACKETS ROTTED OUT AND SHOCKS PUT HOLE IN GAS TANK AND LOST ALL FUEL. *JB
WHILE DRIVING THE REAR TIRE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION WHICH RESULTED IN DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE, AT THE TIME OF FAILURE THE TIRE REMAINED FULLY INFLATED, THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMT FROM FIRESTONE BUT WAS DECLINED BECAUSE THEY SAID THAT THE TIRE APPEARED TO HAVE BEEN OPERATING FOR AND UNKNOWN AMOUNT OF TIME WITH INSUFFIC…
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WHILE DRIVING THE REAR TIRE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION WHICH RESULTED IN DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE, AT THE TIME OF FAILURE THE TIRE REMAINED FULLY INFLATED, THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMT FROM FIRESTONE BUT WAS DECLINED BECAUSE THEY SAID THAT THE TIRE APPEARED TO HAVE BEEN OPERATING FOR AND UNKNOWN AMOUNT OF TIME WITH INSUFFICIENT AIR PRESSURE (FIRESTONE, FR721, P235/75R15, DOT VDHLF7U434, THE TIRE WAS MOUNTED ON A 1988 FORD F150 AND HAD 41002 MILES AT TIME OF FAILURE). *AK *NLM
TIRE BLEWOUT ON EXPRESSWAY. DEALER AGREE AND GAVE DISCOUNT ON NEW TIRE. NOTICED SIDE WALL WHERE TREAD AND SIDEWALL COME TOGETHER HAD FUNNY CRACK IN SIDEWALL AND LOOKS LIKE WIRE OR FIBERS COMING OUT. ALL AROUNG THE PERIMETER OF THE TIRES.
VEHICLE HAS DUAL TANKS AND GAS IS COMING FROM FRONT TANK FILLING UP THE REAR TANK, AND CAUSING GAS TO SPRAY OUT OF GAS CAP. THE CAUSE IS UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
CONSUMER HAS TWO TANK ATTACHMENTS TO TRUCK, WHEN REAR TANK IS FULL OF GASOLINE, FRONT TANK WILL LEAK OUT GASOLINE ONTO GROUND, DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK CONSUMER IS STATING THAT THE VEHICLE HAS DUEL FUEL TANKS, WHEN REAR TANK IS USED AND FRONT TANK IS FULL GASOLINE WILL LEAK OUT FROM FRONT FUEL TANK FILLER NECK ONTO …
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CONSUMER HAS TWO TANK ATTACHMENTS TO TRUCK, WHEN REAR TANK IS FULL OF GASOLINE, FRONT TANK WILL LEAK OUT GASOLINE ONTO GROUND, DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK CONSUMER IS STATING THAT THE VEHICLE HAS DUEL FUEL TANKS, WHEN REAR TANK IS USED AND FRONT TANK IS FULL GASOLINE WILL LEAK OUT FROM FRONT FUEL TANK FILLER NECK ONTO GROUND. ALSO THE FUEL GAUGE ON THE REAR TANK WILL FLUCTUATE RAPIDLY, CONSUMER THINKS THE PROBLEM IS IN THE SWITCH, WHICH CONTROLS THE RETURN LINE OF THE FUEL, INSTEAD OF ROUTING TO REAR TANK IT GOES INTO FRONT TANK. *YD
FUEL LEAK DUE TO CRACK IN SEAM OF GAS TANK. *AK
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE BECAME TO WOBBLE, AS THE CONSUMER WAS PULLING OVER THE LEFT REAR WHEEL CAME OFF THE VEHICLE STRIKING A PASSING SEMI, AS A RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED DAMAGE TO THE LEFT REAR QUARTER AND AXLE, THE DRIVER INDICATED THAT 250 MILES PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT HE HAD A BRAKE JOB AND IT APPEARED T…
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WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE BECAME TO WOBBLE, AS THE CONSUMER WAS PULLING OVER THE LEFT REAR WHEEL CAME OFF THE VEHICLE STRIKING A PASSING SEMI, AS A RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED DAMAGE TO THE LEFT REAR QUARTER AND AXLE, THE DRIVER INDICATED THAT 250 MILES PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT HE HAD A BRAKE JOB AND IT APPEARED THAT ALL FIVE LUG NUT CAME OFF CAUSING THIS ACCIDENT. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT) *YH
THIS IGNITION MODULE HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS BEING A PROBLEM IN FORD VEHICLES AND SHOULD BE RECALLED AS I JUST HAD TO PAY OVER $530 TO TROUBLE SHOOT AND REPLACE THIS COMPONENT ALONG WITH OTHER IGNITION PARTS. THIS IS MY SECOND REPLACEMENT IN TWO YEARS AND I'M NOT HAPPY ABOUT MAKING THE FORD DEALER RICHER FOR THEIR KNOWN DEFECTI…
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THIS IGNITION MODULE HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS BEING A PROBLEM IN FORD VEHICLES AND SHOULD BE RECALLED AS I JUST HAD TO PAY OVER $530 TO TROUBLE SHOOT AND REPLACE THIS COMPONENT ALONG WITH OTHER IGNITION PARTS. THIS IS MY SECOND REPLACEMENT IN TWO YEARS AND I'M NOT HAPPY ABOUT MAKING THE FORD DEALER RICHER FOR THEIR KNOWN DEFECTIVE PARTS.*AK
GOING FROM A STOP TO ABOUT 5 MPH, FOUR THREE INCH RIPS APPEARED ON SIDEWALL AREA ON TREAD PART. TIRE WENT IMMEDIATELY FLAT. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I HAVE HAD THE SAME TYPE OF TIRE TO GO FLAT FROM THE SIDE WALL AREA.*AK (DOT NUMBER: BE668L1D4S TIRESIZE: 30X9.5R15L)
Official recalls
296V071000 · Electrical System:ignition
Apr 25, 1996
THE IGNITION SWITCH COULD EXPERIENCE AN INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE OVERHEATING, SMOKE, AND POSSIBLY FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN AREA OF THE VEHICLE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH.
88V146000 · Visibility:glass, Side/rear
Sep 2, 1988
SLIDING REAR WINDOW MAY CONTAIN GLAZING PANELS WHICH DO NOT MEET REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS 205.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A FRACTURED WINDOW MAY CONTAIN FRAGMENTS THAT ARE LARGERTHAN THE 425 GRAMS ALLOWED.
Remedy: REPLACE SUSPECT WINDOW PANELS.
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
6EA91044 · Loss Of Brake Effectivenes
Opened Oct 30, 1991 · Closed Oct 30, 1992
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
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PE91077 · Loss Of Brake Effectivenes
Opened May 23, 1991 · Closed Oct 31, 1991
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
There is no summary currently available
PE91017 · Ford Truck Inconsistent Vehicle Control.
Opened Nov 27, 1990 · Closed Apr 17, 1991
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
SEE CLOSE RESUME
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
PE89003 · Steering Column Drops
Opened Oct 13, 1988 · Closed Feb 8, 1989
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering
There is no summary currently available