IllustrationMODULE THAT FITS ON DISTRIBUTOR USUALLY STALLED WHEN ENGINE GOT TO NORMAL TEMPERATURE. FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING 25-30MPH, AND ENGINE WAS AT NORMAL OPERATING TEMPERATURE. TOOK VEHICLE TO A PERSONAL MECHANIC, AND PROBLEM WAS FIXED, PROBLEM HAS NOT REOCCURRED YET. *AK
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 reportsTREADWEAR 420. TRACTION A. TEMPERATURE B. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT HOME THE FUTURA 2000,RADIAL ATD,P215/75R15 TIRE SEPARATED. THE TIRE REMAINS INFLATED AT THE TIME THIS REPORT IS SUBMITTED. I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT THIS BRAND OF TIRE MAY BE EXPERIENCING SIMILAR PROBLEMS AS THOSE OF MAJOR BRANDS THAT ARE BEING RECALLED…
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TREADWEAR 420. TRACTION A. TEMPERATURE B. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT HOME THE FUTURA 2000,RADIAL ATD,P215/75R15 TIRE SEPARATED. THE TIRE REMAINS INFLATED AT THE TIME THIS REPORT IS SUBMITTED. I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT THIS BRAND OF TIRE MAY BE EXPERIENCING SIMILAR PROBLEMS AS THOSE OF MAJOR BRANDS THAT ARE BEING RECALLED. I FEAR FOR MY SAFETY AND WELFARE AS WELL AS MY FAMILY AND OTHERS ON THE ROADWAYS. PLEASE ADVISE AS WHAT SHOULD BE DONE NEXT. FORTUNATELY, NOBODY WAS INJURED. TIRE REPLACEMENT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED. PLEASE NOTIFY ME AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THANK YOU.*AK (DOT NUMBER: U9HFB1T405 TIRESIZE: P215/75R15)
WHEN USING SHOULDER BELT SYSTEM SHOULDER PART DOES NOT RETRACT AFTER MOVING AROUND WITH IT ON. FORD HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK
FRAME HAS CRACKED AT POWER STEERING BOX, FRAME MAY SEPARATE AT ANY TIME IF MAKING A SHARP TURN OR IF THE VEHICLE IS STOPPED SUDDENLY. PROBLEM IS CAUSING EXCESSIVE WEAR OF FRONT TIRES. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
PASSENGER SEAT BELT CONTINUE TO ROLL ITSELF LOOSE WHEN IN USE. PASSGENER HAS TO PULL BELT TIGHT TO PREVENT IT FROM COMING LOOSE. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND REPLACE THE RETAINER CLIP, BUT CONDITION REOCCURRING. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
IF A PASSENGER PULLS ON THE SEATBELT TO ADJUST IT FOR COMFORT, IT DOESN'T RETRACT LIKE IT'S SUPPOSED TO AND THUS, COULD CAUSE THE PASSENGER TO BE SERIOUSLY INJURED IN A CRASH OR IF THE VEHICLE IS BRAKED TO A SUDDEN SLOW-DOWN OR STOP. IN ORDER FOR THE SEATBELT TO RETRACT, ONE MUST OPEN THE DOOR TO GET IT TO RETRACT. THIS CAN BE …
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IF A PASSENGER PULLS ON THE SEATBELT TO ADJUST IT FOR COMFORT, IT DOESN'T RETRACT LIKE IT'S SUPPOSED TO AND THUS, COULD CAUSE THE PASSENGER TO BE SERIOUSLY INJURED IN A CRASH OR IF THE VEHICLE IS BRAKED TO A SUDDEN SLOW-DOWN OR STOP. IN ORDER FOR THE SEATBELT TO RETRACT, ONE MUST OPEN THE DOOR TO GET IT TO RETRACT. THIS CAN BE DANGEROUS IF THE VEHICLE IS MOVING. *AK
THIS TRUCK WAS MANUFACTURED WITH NO HEADRESTS/HEADRESTRAINTS TO GUARD AGAINST WHIPLASH. IF THERE WERE AN ACCIDENT, THE BACK OF A PERSON'S HEAD WOULD HIT THE GLASS BEHIND THEM ON THE CAB'S REAR WINDOW, RESULTING IN POSSIBLE HEAD INJURY FROM GLASS BREAKAGE AND WHIPLASH. *AK
THE PAINT ON THIS VEHICLE FAILED AT 40,000 MILES.I CONTACTED DEALER WHO SAID THE WARRANTY ON THE PAINT HAD EXPIRED AND THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO FOR ME, SHORT OF REPAINTING THE TRUCK AT MY EXPENSE. NOW I HAVE A TRUCK WITH NO DENTS IN IT, BUT PEELING PAINT. I WAS TOLD THIS WAS A FAILURE OF THE OUTSIDE COAT TO BIND TO THE P…
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THE PAINT ON THIS VEHICLE FAILED AT 40,000 MILES.I CONTACTED DEALER WHO SAID THE WARRANTY ON THE PAINT HAD EXPIRED AND THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO FOR ME, SHORT OF REPAINTING THE TRUCK AT MY EXPENSE. NOW I HAVE A TRUCK WITH NO DENTS IN IT, BUT PEELING PAINT. I WAS TOLD THIS WAS A FAILURE OF THE OUTSIDE COAT TO BIND TO THE PRIMER BECAUSE EPA WOULD NO ALLOW LEAD TO BE USED AS A BONDING AGENT IN THE PRIMER. IF IT WAS NOT FOR THIS PAINT PROBLEM, THIS TRUCK WOULD LOOK SIMILAR TO A NEW TRUCK. I TALKED WITH THE DEALER ABOUT JUNE OF 1998.
THE ENTIRE FRONT PART OF THE FRAME UNDERNEATH IS RUSTING OUT. CONTACTED DEALER & MANUFACTURER & NOTHING CAN BE DONE. *AK
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