IllustrationCAR IGNITION WAS ON AND THE CAR WAS PARKED AND SMOKE CAME FROM THE CAR AND CAUGHT FIRE. *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 reportsFUEL OVREFLOWS FROM ONE TANK TO ANOTHER, CAUSING A HEAVY SPILLAGE 0F FUEL WHILE DRIVING .VEHICLE HAS DUAL GAS TANKS. OWNER IS VERY CONCERNED FOR SAFETY. *AK
RECALL 96V071000. THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE 35 DAYS AFTER BEING SERVICED FOR THE RECALL. *AK RECALL WAS FOR THE IGNITION, CONSUMER STATED FIRE WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND AROUND THE STEERING COLUMN, VEHICLE WAS TOTALLY DESTROYED. *SLC
RECEIVED RECALL FOR THE IGNITION SWITCH AND HAD RECALL REPAIRED IN SEPTEMBER OF 96. A YEAR LATER THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE AND WAS BURNED BEYOND RECOGNITION. CONSUMER HAD JUST LEFT THE VEHICLE PARKED FOR AN HOUR WHEN HE RETURNED AND FOUND THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE.THE ENGINEER SAID THERE WAS NO DEFECT FOUND ON THE VEHICL…
Read full complaint
RECEIVED RECALL FOR THE IGNITION SWITCH AND HAD RECALL REPAIRED IN SEPTEMBER OF 96. A YEAR LATER THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE AND WAS BURNED BEYOND RECOGNITION. CONSUMER HAD JUST LEFT THE VEHICLE PARKED FOR AN HOUR WHEN HE RETURNED AND FOUND THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE.THE ENGINEER SAID THERE WAS NO DEFECT FOUND ON THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER THINKS IT WAS A RESULT FROM THE IGNITION RECALL. *AK FORD STATED THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO VERIFY A MANUFACTURER DEFECT THAT MAY HAVE CAUSED THE FIRE, CONSUMER FEELS IT'S RELATED TO THE IGNITION SWITH, COULD ALSO HAVE BEEN ENGINE FAILURE. *SLC
ENGINE WILL SHUT DOWN WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION.
WHEN VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, GASOLINE WOULD OVERFLOW FROM REAR TANK TO FRONT TANK. FUEL IN FRONT TANK WOULD THEN OVERFLOW BACK TO REAR TANK WHICH FLOWS BACK TO FRONT TANK, CAUSING SPILLAGE. *AK
CLUTCH ASSEMBLY LINKAGE UNDERNEATH THE DASHBOARD GIVES OUT. ALSO, THEY'VE HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED 3 TIMES. CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY AT ABOUT 65 MPH THE VEHICLE MAKES A NOISE AND THE GEARS JUST FALL APART, THEY JUST STOP WORKING.
RECALL REPAIR NOT DONE ON BACK WINDOW EVEN THOUGH DEALER SAID WINDOW FIXED.
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE.
FRONT FRAME CRACKED, CAUSING NOISE.
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