IllustrationCONSUMER HAD THE IGNITION SWITCH FIXED ON 7-29-96. TWO WEEKS LATER THE SWITH DID NOT WORK, AND FORD REFUSED TO FIX IT AT NO CHARGE.*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 reportsIGNITION SWITCH SHORTED, CAUSING FIRE. *DH
DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT SPEED 20MPH, CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED, VEHICLE WENT INTO OPEN THROTTLE POSITION IMPACT 11:00 POSITION, ACCELERATED TO SPEED UNKNOWN. *AK
FUEL SYSTEM PUMPS FUEL FROM ONE TANK TO THE OTHER, WHEN BOTH TANKS ARE FULL, FUEL OVERFLOWS.
FIRE STARTED IN THE IGNITION SWITCH AREA. *AK
TRUCK WAS PARKED AND CAUGHT ON FIRE.*AK CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED FOR 20 MINUTES WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT BEGAN TO SMOKE, FIRE WAS CONCENTRATED ON DRIVER'S SIDE INTERIOR, CONSUMER WAS RECENTLY INFORMED THAT MANUFACTURER THAT TERE WAS A FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH AND THEY WOULD REPLACE IT,CONSUMER NOTIFIED MANUFACTURER A…
Read full complaint
TRUCK WAS PARKED AND CAUGHT ON FIRE.*AK CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED FOR 20 MINUTES WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT BEGAN TO SMOKE, FIRE WAS CONCENTRATED ON DRIVER'S SIDE INTERIOR, CONSUMER WAS RECENTLY INFORMED THAT MANUFACTURER THAT TERE WAS A FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH AND THEY WOULD REPLACE IT,CONSUMER NOTIFIED MANUFACTURER AND ADVISED HAD ALREADY BEEN REPLACED AND HE IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENTCONSUMER HAS NOT HEARD FROM MANUFACTURER.*JB
THE AUXILLARY GAS TANK PUSHES GAS INTO THE FRONT, FULL TANK AND WILL CAUSE THE TRUCK TO CUT OFF.*AK *JB
THE DEALERSHIP SAYS HIS RECALL LETTER SAYS IT IS FOR THE IGNITION SWITCH BUT THE DEALER SAYS ITS FOR SOMETHING ELSE AND HAS TO PAY FOR THE IGNITION SWITCH. *AK
AUTO STALLS OUT ALL THE TIME, AFRAID OF HAVING SOMEONE HIT HER BECAUSE OF IT. *AK CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE WILL RESTART AFTER IT SITS FOR A FEW MINUTES, CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE ACTS LIKE IT IS NOT GETTING GAS WHILE DRIVING. *SLC
THERES A CRACK IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD, ALSO SPRINGS HAVE SNAPPED. *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