1996 Ford F-150 complaints

SMOKE IN HOUSE. OWNER INVESTIGATED PROBLEM. SAW FIRE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD IN PICKUP. GAS TANK EXPLODED. BURNED DOWN ATTACHED GARAGE AND HOUSE, KILLING ONE PERSON AND INJURING ANOTHER.

1996 FORD F150 CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED.*MR TRUCK BURST INTO FLAMES WITH IGNITION OFF. TRUCK HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN FOR APPROXIMATELY 30 DAYS. FIREWALL HELD UP PRETTY WELL KEEPING FIRE OUT OF CAB. THE HEAT WAS SO INTENSE, THE DASH MELTED TO THE FLOOR. *BF *NM

WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR 3 HOURS A FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK *SC *JB

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH WITH CRUISE, VEHICLE SUDDENLY DROPPED INTO A LOW GEAR AND SLOWED QUICKLY. ALSO, INTERMITENTLY WILL NOT SHIFT OUT OF FIRST GEAR WHEN FIRST STARTED.*AK

I HAVE A 1996 FORD F-150 PICKUP TRUCK. THE TRUCK CAUGHT ON FIRE ON APRIL 20, 2005, AT A FORD REPAIR FACILITY, WHILE IT WAS THERE FOR REPAIR. THE FIRE INITIATED AT THE CRUISE CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH, WHICH IS LOCATED ON THE MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER. ITEMS AFFECTED BY THE FIRE INCLUDED THE CRUISE CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH, THE MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER AND POWER BRAKE DIAPHRAGM, MELTED COVERS, HOSES AND WIRING, AND BURNED AND SCORCHED THE HOOD, PEALING A LARGE SPOT OF THE PAINT. THE TRUCK HAS JUST 77,986 MILES. PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE DAMAGE ARE AVAILABLE ON REQUEST. EVEN THOUGH THIS SWITCH IS THE SAME PART, IDENTIFIED WITH THE SAME PART NUMBER BY FORD, AND THE SAME DESIGN AS THAT CURRENTLY UNDER RECALL IN MODEL YEARS 2000 ? 2001, FORD HAS REFUSED TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. I LEARNED ABOUT THIS DECISION FROM A CONVERSATION I HAD WITH THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE. THE ESTIMATED COST FOR THE REPAIRS, USING SOME USED COMPONENTS, IS ABOUT $1,000. WHEN I CALLED THE PARTS DEPARTMENT AT THE DEALERSHIP, I WAS INFORMED THAT THE CURRENT SWITCH IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE. IT WOULD BE REPLACED WITH A NEW DESIGN, THE SAME AS ON THE RECALL FOR THE 2000 ? 2001 MODELS. THE NEW PART INCLUDES A SWITCH (TRANSDUCER), AS WELL AS A JUMPER CABLE CONTAINING A NEW DIODE AND PLUG. THE NEW PART SELLS FOR $24.29. IT IS FORTUNATE THAT THIS FIRE OCCURRED WHILE THE UNIT WAS PARKED OUTSIDE OF THE REPAIR FACILITY. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN MUCH MORE SERIOUS IF IT WERE INSIDE THE BUILDING, EXPOSING THE MECHANICS TO SMOKE AND FIRE. T

1996 FORD F150 PICKUP EXPLODED INTO A BALL OF FIRE WITH IGNITION OFF. TRUCK HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH.*AK

CRUISE CONTROL STARTED ACTING UP ONE DAY,. IT WOULD UNEXPLAINABLY DROP OUT PERIODICALLY, CAUSES VEHICLE TO RAPIDLY DECELERATE ON FREEWAY, RESULTING IN UNSAFE CONDITONS ON BUSY INTERSATE. NOW CRUISE CONTROL QUIT WORKING ALL TOGETHER.*AK

OUR TRUCK CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AT 4:00 IN THE MORNING. THERE WAS NO AFTER MARKET WIRING DONE ON THE TRUCK. WE BOUGHT THE TRUCK NEW, AND HAVE NEVER HAD ANY TROUBLE WITH IT. THIS WAS NOT AN INSURANCE JOB. WE TOOK OUR FULL COVERAGE OFF OF IT WHEN WE BOUGHT OUR CAR. THE TRUCK IS AVAILABLE FOR AN INVESTIGATION.*AK

NORMAL DRIVING. STOPPED TO REFUEL. UPON ATTEMPTING TO OPEN REAR GAS CAP PRESSURE BLEW CAP OFF AND LARGE AMOUNT FUEL ALL OVER ME AND THE SIDE OF THE TRUCK. *AK CONDITION NOT REPAIRED AS YET.

VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE FOR A FEW HOURS WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT CAUGHT ON FIRE ON ITS OWN. RESULTS SHOWED THAT THERE WAS A SHORT WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH.*AK

WHEN CRUISE CONTROL WAS ENGAGED AND CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH FAILED. THE CAUSE HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED. *AK

THE VEHICLE HAD DUAL GAS TANKS. THE FRONT TANK WAS LEAKING FUEL OUT OF THE CAP SINCE THE FUEL FROM THE BACK TANK WAS TRAVELING TO THE FRONT. *AK THE DEALER REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP. *BF *SC

AFTER VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR ONE DAY A FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD. THE FIRE WAS PUT OUT. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

MY 1996 FORD F-150 CAUGHT ON FIRE AND BURNED, TOTALING OUT THE PICKUP AND CAUSING EXTENTSIVE DAMAGE TO OUR HOUSE AND DRIVEWAY. *AK

AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. *JB *TT

DUAL GAS TANKS. GAS IS PRESSURIZED FROM REAR TANK TO THE FRONT TANK, CAUSING A FUEL TRANSFER TO THE FRONT TANK, FRONT TANK IS OVERFILLING, GAS IS UNDER PRESSURE, SPILLING FROM THE OVERFLOW. WHEN THE CAP IS REMOVED, GAS EXPLODES FROM THE FILLER NECK. *AK

THE TRUCK CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED. DRIVER CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND TOTALED. *AK

I SAW ON THE NEWS THE RECALL FOR 2000-2001 MODEL FORD 150 TRUCK, THE TRUCKS ARE CATCHING ON FIRE WHILE SITTING FOR HOURS. MY HUSBAND HAD A 1996 FORD 150- THAT DID THE SAME THING SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY. THE TRUCK SIT THERE FOR 8 HOURS THEN CAUGHT ON FIRE AT 1:00 AM. THAT MORNING WHILE WE WERE IN BED. A FRIEND THAT WAS GETTING OFF WORK STOPPED AND WAKE US UP OUT OF BED. WAS IS THERE NOT A RECALL ON THIS YEAR OF TRUCK. WE HAVE A FIRE MARSHALL COME OUT AND LOOK AT IT. IT WAS STARTED ALONG THE FIREWALL. WE HAD TO HAVE THE FIRE DEPT COME AND PUT OUT THE FIRE. WE CONTACTED FOR AND THEY SAID MORE LESS SORRY ABOUT YOUR LUCK. *JB

WHILE BEING PARKED VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CAUSE OF THIS WAS STILL UNDETERMINED.*AK

THE TOP OF THE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE FOR AN INSPECTION. RESULTS SHOWED THAT THERE WAS A SHORTAGE WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL WIRE. *JB

NOTICED REAR OF TRUCK WAS NOT LEVEL-NOTICED CONTROL DIFFERENCE ON CURVES IN ROAD. INSPECTED TRUCK AND FOUND RIGHT REAR SPRING SHACKLE RUSTED AWAY. PARKED TRUCK UNTIL REPAIRS ARE MADE. THE OLD PART IS STILL ON TRUCK. *NM

DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT WILL NOT LATCH. IF THE VEHICLE BECOMES INVOLVED IN A CRASH. CONSUMER WOULD BE WITHOUT ANY RESTRAINT. DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED.*AK

CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE(04V35700)FOR A CAM SHAFT POSITION SENSOR. DEALER WAS NOT IN OPERATION. *JB BRAKELINE RUSTED THROUGH AND CAUSED FLUID TO LEAK. *SC

FUEL LEAKS FROM THE FRONT TANK VENT CAP DOWN THE VEHICLE SIDE TO THE GROUND. OCCURS REGULARLY WHEN BOTH TANKS ARE FILLED AND REAR TANK IS USED FIRST. HAVE TO SWITCH BETWEEN TANKS FREQUENTLY TO KEEP CONTENTS FROM OVERFLOWING. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM. NOT ENOUGH PEOPLE DEAD YET? RECALL IT. *JB

NEIGHBOR WOKE ME UP ABOUT 11:30 PM TELLING ME THAT MY TRUCK WAS ON FIRE. IT HAD BEEN PARKED FOR ABOUT 5 HOURS. THE FIRE WAS UNDER THE HOOD ON DRIVERS SIDE. VEHICLE IS A TOTAL LOSS. FORD REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM. THEY SAID THAT THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE AND IT'S MY PROBLEM.*AK

MY WIFE CAME HOME FROM WORK, WAS TALKING ON THE PHONE AND NOTICE SMOKE DRIFING BY THE SLIDING GLASS WINDOWS. SHE WENT OUT ONTO THE BACK DECK AND SAW THAT THE 1996 FORD F-150 (4-WHEEL DRIVE) WAS ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. (AUGUST 9, 2004) THE TRUCK WAS PARKED AT THE BASEMENT LEVEL ON OUR HOUSE. SHE HEARD THE TRUCK REPEATLY TRYING TO START AS IF SOMEONE WAS IN SIDE, SHE THOUGHT THAT I HAD COME HOME AND SAW THE FIRE AND WAS TRYING TO MOVE IT AWAY FROM OUR HOUSE. SHE CALL 911. THE FRONT OF THE HOOD WAS COMPLETELY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. SHE WENT TO THE BEDROOM WINDOW TO SEE IF I HAD PULLED UP BUT I HAD NOT ARRIVED HOME YET. SHE WENT BACK OUT OF THE DECK AND THE TRUCK WAS STILL TRYING TO START. THE FIRE HAD BROKE THE FRONT WINDSHIELD AND HAD MELTED THE TIRES. OUR SONS TRUCK WAS PARKED BESIDE IT. HE HAD DAMAGE TO THE HEADLAMPS, FRONT HOOD AND REAR VIEW MIRROR OF HIS TRUCK. THE VINYL SIDING WHICH WAS ON THE SECOND LEVEL OF OUR HOUSE HAD MELTED.WE HAD DRIVEN THE TRUCK ON SUNDAY AUGUST 8TH TO GET GROCERY. THE TRUCK HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN SINCE THEN.THE VEHICLE HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN PARKED IN MY MOTHER-IN-LAWS CARPORT. SHE IS 79 YEARS OLD AND IS WIDOWED, HAS SLIGHT DEMENTIA AND LIVES ALONE AND IS NO LONGER ABLE TO DRIVE. IF THIS HAD OCCURRED IN HER CARPORT, HER HOUSE WOULD HAVE CAUGHT FIRE, WITH HER INSIDE.WE LIVE NEXT TO HER AND SHE WANTED TO KEEP THE TRUCK AT HOUSE BECAUSE SHE LIVES ON THE HIGHWAY.THE TRUCK HAD RECENTLY BEEN PAID OFF AND INSURANCE WAS DROPPED TO LIABILITY, SINCE IT WAS SELDOM EV

1996 FORD F-150 DUAL GASOLINE TANKS, FRONT FUEL PUMP FAILURE CAUSES REAR FUEL TANK TO PRESSURIZE FRONT FUEL TANK, CAUSING FUEL TO LEAK FROM FRONT FUEL TANK FILL PIPE, FRONT TANK IS CAUSED TO BE OVERFILLED AND UNDER PRESSURE, UPON REMOVAL OF FRONT FILL CAP WITH OR WITHOUT VEHICLE IGNITION ON, GASOLINE IS RELEASED IN SPRAY AND LIQUID FORM APPROXIAMATELY 1/2 TO 1 GALLON OF GASOLINE AT A TIME CAUSING A SEVERE FIRE/EXPLOSION HAZARD. *AK

DEALER COMPLAINED ABOUT LUGS, NUTS, AND BOLTS BEING TOO LOOSE. CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEELS FEEL AS IF THEY ARE COMING OFF WHEN VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. *AK

DUAL GAS TANKS. GAS IS PRESSURIZED FROM REAR TANK TO THE FRONT TANK. CAUSING A FUEL TRANSFER TO THE FRONT TANK, FRONT TANK IS OVERFILLING, GAS IS UNDER PRESSURE, SPILLING FROM THE OVERFLOW. WHEN THE CAP IS REMOVED, GAS EXPLODES FROM THE FILLER NECK. *AK

FUEL IS TRANSFERING TO FRONT TANK WHEN USING REAR TANK CAUSING FUEL OVERFLOW ONTO GROUND AND POOR IDLING WHEN FRONT TANK GETS PRESSURIZED.*AK

1996 FORD F-150 TRUCK , ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE. *AK

I OWN A 1992 FORD F250 AND A 96 FORD F150. BOTH HAVE DUAL TANKS.ON BOTH VEHICLES THE FRONT FUEL GAUGE HAS STOPPED FUNCTIONING AND WHEN USING THE REAR TANK IT TRANFERS FUEL TO THE FRONT TANK RESULTING IN FUEL SPILLING OUT.WITH THE GUAGES NOT FUNCTIONING THERE IS NO NOTICE OF WHEN THE FRONT TANK IS OVERFILLING.THIS IS A FIRE HAZARD AS WELL AS AN ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUE.I HAVE SPOKE TO THE CUSTOMER RELATIONS PERSON AT OUR LOCAL FORD DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS NOT A DEALER ISSUE.I HAVE INSERTED AN INCIDENT,HOWEVER THE PROBLEM IS A RECURRING PROBLEM.*AK

THE CONSUMER NOTICED THE TRUCK STARTED BURNING LATE AT NIGHT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT PUT OUT THE FIRE. THE INSURANCE INVESTIGATOR STATED THAT THE FIRE WAS COMPUTER RELATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY A FAULTY COMPUTER BOX. *SCC *JB

OWNER STATES THAT BRAKE LINE RUPTURED, CAUSING BRAKE FAILURE. *AK (THE RIGHT FRONT STEEL BRAKE LINE RUPTURED) *SCC *JB

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE AT 50 MPH AND WITH NO WARNING RIGHT REAR PASSENGER TIRE TREAD SEPARATED. CONSUMER HAD TO PULL OFF THE ROAD, DAMAGING THE TRUCK FENDER. FIRESTONE, FR 480, SIZE# P235/75R15, DOT UNKNOWN. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 30/40 MPH VEHICLE WAS IN A FRONTAL COLLISION. DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY UPON IMPACT.*AK

VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED FOR APPROXIMATELY 1 HOUR AND 10 MINUTES, VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER HOOD. BURNED WIRING, ALL PLASTIC UNDER HOOD ON DRIVERS SIDE, HOOD AND DRIVERS SIDE FRONT FENDER. CALLED FIRE DEPT. PUT OUT WITH FIRE EXTINGUISHER.*AK

WHEN BOTH TANKS WERE FULL AND THE REAR TANK WAS USED THE FUEL WOULD LEAK FROM THE NECK OF THE FRONT TANK. *NLM RETURNED USPS, 2ND ATTEMPT MADE 06/08/07 FAILED. *LJ

THE VEHICLES AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING . *NLM

OUR FORD F150 CAUGHT ON FIRE IN OUR DRIVEWAY FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THANK GOD IT DID NOT START OUR NEIGHBOR'S HOUSE ON FIRE. ALSO THANK GOD THAT IT WAS NOT IN OUR GARAGE AT THE TIME. *NLM

1996 F150 WITH LESS THAN 51,000 MILES, CLUTCH SEEMS TO BE GOING OUT. CAN NOT SHIFT INTO 1ST GEAR WITHOUT GREAT FORCE, SAME WITH OTHER GEARS INCLUDING REVERSE. TRUCK HAS NEVER BEEN USED SO CLUTCH WOULD BE UNDER EXTREME CONDITION. 2ND HAS ALWAYS BEEN HARD. *JB

THE STEERING WHEEL BROKE OFF, WITHOUT WARNING. *JB

THE HORN BUTTONS ON MY 1996 FORD F-150 ARE ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO PRESS WITHOUT TAKING YOUR EYES OFF THE ROAD AND SCANNING THE STEERING WHEEL TO LOCATE THEM. NUMEROUS TIMES I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND THEM IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS. IN EVERY EMERGENCY SITUATION I HAVE EXPERIENCED, MY HANDS END UP PRESSING ON THE AIR BAG COVER AND THEN ON THE CRUISE CONTROL BUTTONS. ONLY AFTER I HAVE NARROWLY AVOIDED A CRASH DUE TO NOT HAVING TIME TO LOOK DOWN AT THE STEERING WHEEL TO DISCOVER WHERE THE HORN BUTTONS ARE. THE HORN BUTTON LAYOUT COULD NOT POSSIBLY HAVE PROCEEDED THROUGH THE DESIGN AND TESTING PROCESS WITHOUT NUMEROUS WARNINGS AND COMPLAINTS BY THE TEST ENGINEERS AND OTHER ANALYST'S. FORD APPEARS TO HAVE LEFT THIS DESIGN FLAW IN PLACE TO AVOID AN EXPENSIVE REDESIGN OF THE 1996 MODEL F-150. IT WAS ONLY IN PRODUCTION FROM SEPTEMBER 1995 THROUGH DECEMBER 1995 THEN FORD INTRODUCED THE REDESIGNED 1997 MODEL IN JANUARY 1996. IT APPEARS THAT THEY OPTED TO SACRIFICE OPERATOR SAFETY IN THEIR RUSH TO MIGRATE TO THE NEW TRUCK DESIGN.*JB

WHEN FILLING FRONT FUEL TANK THE TANK WON'T ACCEPT ANY FUEL.WHEN SELECTOR SWITCH IS PUT ON THE FRONT FUEL TANK,FUEL GUSHES OUT OF THE FRONT FUEL PIPE IF THE CAP IS OFF.

CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN DRIVE WAY, WHEN THE VEHICLE ROLLED INTO THE STREET. CONSUMER STATES THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS ON WHEN THE VEHICLE ROLLED. TS

FORD F150 1996 MODEL YEAR,300 CUBIC 6 CYLINDER WITH 5 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION. VERY COLD MORNING STARTED TRUCK HAD IT IN GEAR PARKING BRAKE ON AND THE CLUTCH PEDAL ON THE FLOOR. STARTED ENGINE STILL HOLDING THE CLUTCH PEDAL TO THE FLOOR THE CLUTCH ENGAGED TRYING TO MOVE THE VEHICLE FORWARD. SINCE THE BRAKE WAS ON THIS KILLED THE ENGINE. I LET UP ON THE CLUTCH TH PEDAL STAYED ON THE FLOOR . I KICKD THE PEDAL IT CAME BACK UP. I PUMPED THE PEDAL A FEW TIMES AND RESTARTED THE ENGINE, IT WAS FINE THEN AND THE CLUTCH SEEMED FINE FROM THEN ON OUT. I DID CHECK THE CLUTCH FLUID IT WAS FINE. 2 YEARS LATER VERY COLD MORNING ABOUT 7 F THE CLUTCH DID THE SAME THING IT ENGAGED AND WOULD NOT RELEASE UNTIL IT HAD WARMED UP.

A PORTION OF THE UNUSED FUEL FROM REAR TANK TO BE RETURNED TO THE FRONT TANK, WHEN THIS OCCURRED THE CAPACITY OF THE FRONT TANK WAS EXCEEDED WHICH CAUSED FUEL SPILLAGE. DEALER NOTIFIED THAT VEHICLE YEAR WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL. CONSUMER COULD SMELL GAS AT VARIOUS TIMES. SPILLED FUEL CAN RESULT IN A FIRE WHEN EXPOSED TO A SOURCE OF THE IGNITION. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED BUT WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING. *TT

MY DAUGHTER PLACED THE TRANSMISSION IN PARK. SHE GOT OUT OF THE TRUCK WHICH WAS PARKED ON A SLIGHT INCLINE AND WALKED BEHIND THE SMALL TRAILER SHE WAS PULLING TO CLOSE A GATE. THE TRUCK TRANSMISSION FAILED OR RELEASED AND THE TRAILER AND TRUCK BOTH RAN OVER, RESULTING IN HER DEATH. DT

DUAL TANK VALVE ALLOWS FUEL TO BE PUMPED INTO FRONT TANK UNTIL FUEL LEAKS OUT OF FILLER NECK. DT

CONSUMER STATES HE NOTICE THAT THE OIL PAN RUSTED CAUSING A LEAK. TS THE CONSUMER FEELS THAT THIS PART SHOULD BE RECALLED. SCC