1996 Ford F Series

Routine

Owners filed 16 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the fuel system, gasoline. No safety recall has been issued.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Fuel System, Gasoline4
000
Electrical System3
030
Vehicle Speed Control › Cruise Control2
020
Vehicle Speed Control1
000
Unknown or Other1
001
Structure › Body › Door1
000
Steering › Column1
000
Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System › Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe1
000
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine1
000
Electrical System › Wiring › Fuses and Circuit Breakers1
000

What owners reported

Newest filings
Electrical SystemFire
Filed Sep 11, 2015219,000 milesKY

TRUCK WAS DRIVEN THEN PARKED, 15 MINUTES LATER WHILE MOWING THE GRASS, I LOOKED OVER AT THE PARKED TRUCKAND IT WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE STARTED AT THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER AND IT WAS A TOTAL LOSS.

Fuel System, Gasoline
Filed Jun 20, 201490,000 milesMA

OPENED REAR TANK CAP AND FUEL SPURTED OUT AND WOULD NOT STOP HAD TO PUT CAP BACK ON, I NEVER USE THIS TANK ONLY REFUEL IN THE FRONT TANK. *TR

Structure › Body › Door
Filed Sep 27, 2013197,832 milesNM

I HAVE TRIED NUMEROUS TIMES TO REPLACE MY DOOR HANDLES FROM THE INSIDE OF MY TRUCK. THEY KEEP BREAKING, AND NOW I AM DRIVING A TRUCK THAT I CAN ONLY OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE AFTER ROLLING MY WINDOWS DOWN. I HAVE TALKED TO FORD ABOUT THIS DEFECT, WHICH I CONSIDER A HIGH SAFETY ISSUE IN AN EMERGENCY. THEY SAY THEY HAVE A BETTER DESIGN BUT WILL COST ME $250 EACH TO REPLACE. I KNOW I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT HAS THIS PROBLEM SO WHY ISN'T IT SOMETHING THAT FORD SHOULD REPLACE FREE? MEANWHILE.. I CAN'T AFFORD $500 FOR TWO DOOR HANDLES, PLUS LABOR, ONTOP OF THE COST OF THE ONES I HAVE ALREADY BOUGHT, AND TRIED REPLACING MYSELF. *TR

Fuel System, Gasoline
Filed Nov 13, 2011MO

GASOLINE IS LEAKING OUT OF THE FRONT FUEL CAP OF MY 1996 FORD F-150 TRUCK. MY TRUCK HAS DUAL TANKS. I CONSIDER THIS TO BE A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM THAT COULD CAUSE A FIRE OR EXPLOSION. MY RESEARCH ONLINE FOUND NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 91V146000. THIS IS THE PROBLEM MY TRUCK IS HAVING BUT IT IS NOT CURRENTLY COVERED UNDER THIS RECALL. I AM WRITING THIS SUNDAY EVENING SO I AM WAITING TILL MORNING TO CONTACT FORD AND REPORT THIS PROBLEM TO THEM. THE RECALL THAT I FOUND CALLED FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE DUAL FUEL TANK SELECTOR VALVE ON 1989 FORD F-150'S. BUT SINCE I AM HAVING THE EXACT SAME DEFECT AND THE EFFECT OF SUCH AN EQUIPMENT FAILURE IS LIFE THREATENING I BELIEVE THE RECALL NEEDS TO BE EXPANDED TO INCLUDE ALL FORD VEHICLES THAT HAVE DUAL FUEL TANKS. *TR

Fuel System, Gasoline
Filed Aug 18, 2011120,000 milesCA

A MALFUNCTIONING CHECK VALVE WITHIN THE FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY CAUSES A PORTION OF THE UNUSED FUEL FROM ONE TANK TO BE RETURNED TO THE SECOND TANK. WHEN THIS OCCURS, THE CAPACITY OF THE SECOND TANK CAN BE EXCEEDED, CAUSING FUEL SPILLAGE. *KB

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Mar 10, 2010105,000 milesMN

CRUISE CONTROL REFUSES TO DISENGAGE WHEN BRAKES APPLIED. ISSUE REPORTED TO FORD DLR. IN 2002 AND DLR. REFUSED TO REPAIR AS NOT UNDER WARRANTY RECALL AND UNIT OUT OF WARRANTY. I DO NOT TRY TO USE CRUISE CONTROL AS VEHICLE ACCELERATES WITH CONTROL ON AND WILL NOT DISENGAGE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT FORD NEEDS TO CORRECT AT NO CHARGE TO ME. *TR

Fuel System, Gasoline
Filed Apr 20, 2009102,000 milesGA

THE REAR FUEL TANK DRAINS FUEL FROM THE FRONT FUEL TANK AND CAUSES FUEL TO OUT PAST THE FILL CAP. *TR

Steering › Column
Filed Nov 30, 2007179,000 milesAR

1996 FORD F 150 AUTO TRANS W/ OVERDRIVE CRUISE & TILT, THE PROBLEM IS STEERING COLUMN FAILURE FIRST TIME WAS ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO AND AGAIN NOW 11/30/2007. THE 1ST TIME AT ABOUT 78,000 MI. AND THE MILEAGE NOW IS 179,000 MI THE DESCRIPTION OF THE FAILURE STARTS AS POPPING SOUNDS ALONG WITH THE SOUNDS OF A RUSTY SCREEN DOOR SPRING THEN IT GETS WORSE TO THE POINT THAT THE STEERING WHEEL HANGS AND IT TAKES BOTH HANDS TO FREE IT. (TRUST ME THIS WILL SCARE THE HECK OUT OF YOU TURNING IN A BUSY INTERSECTION) EVENTUALLY IT WILL LOCK UP COMPLETELY. *TR

Vehicle Speed Control › Cruise ControlFire
Filed Sep 17, 200591,000 milesTX

ON 1/10/05, I ARRIVED HOME FROM WORK AND PARKED MY VEHICLE AT APPROXIMATELY 6:00 PM. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED UNDER THE CARPORT 15 FEET AWAY FROM MY BEDROOM WINDOW. AT 12:30 AM, MY WIFE AND I HEARD A NOISE, LOOKED OUT THE BLINDS TO FIND FIRE COMING FROM DRIVERS SIDE EDGES OF HOOD. ME AND MY SON RAN OUT TO GET A GARDEN HOSE AS MY WIFE CALLED 911. AS I WAS PASSING BY THE VEHICLE THE PAINT WAS BEGINNING TO BURN OFF DIRECTLY ABOVE THE BREAK BOOSTER. I BEGAN SPRAYING THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE RADIATOR GRILL, AS MY SON WAS TRYING TO POP THE HOOD. I SPRAYED AROUND THE EDGES, FLAMES WERE COMING OUT MOSTLY FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE. THEN THE DRIVERS SIDE PLASTIC TIRE WELL BURNED OUT ENOUGH, I WAS ABLE TO GET WATER UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AT 12:34 AM. THEY POPPED THE HOOD USING THEIR CABLE TOOL AND BEGAN TO APPLY WATER. LUCKILY THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED WITHIN ABOUT 15 MINUTES, DUE TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IS ONLY A COUPLE OF BLOCKS AWAY. BECAUSE OF THE QUICK RESPONSE OF EXTINGUISHING THE FIRE, YOU CAN DEFINITELY TELL WHERE THE FIRE ORIGINATED. AS YOU CAN TELL BY THE PICTURES I HAVE ENCLOSED, THE AIR FILTER ON THE RIGHT-HAND SIDE SUFFERED HEAT DAMAGE, BUT WERE NOT DESTROYED. ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ENGINE THE RUBBER HOSES AND FUEL LINES WERE STILL INTACT AND NOT BURNED. THE ONLY THING THAT WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED WAS THE BREAK FLUID RESERVOIR, AND THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH. WHEN THE FIREMAN EXAMINED IT, THEY THOUGHT IT MAY HAVE COME FROM THE WIRING HARNESS, THEY HAD NEV

Electrical SystemFire
Filed Sep 6, 2005155,000 milesVA

MY SONS TRUCK 1996 FORD F150 CAUGHT FIRE SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY IT HAD BEEN SITTING THERE A LITTLE OVER TWO HOURS. IT STARTED ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE UNDER THE HOOD. THE TRUCK IS TOTALED, MY SOFIC AND GUTTER WAS DESTROYED MY GARAGE. MY 2005 CAR-MATE TRAILER HAS HEAT DAMAGE ON THE FRONT OF IT AND DESTROYED MY NEIGHBORS FENCE AND BUSHES. *NM

Electrical SystemFire
Filed Aug 23, 2005103,000 milesNC

13-21 AUG TRUCK WAS PARKED IN DRIVEWAY WHILE WE VISITED FAMILY IN SOUTH CAROLINA. TRUCK NOT DRIVEN. DROVE TRUCK 22 AUG TO WORK APPROX. 12.5 MILES. TRUCK WAS PARKED IN PARKING LOT UNTIL 4PM WHEN I DROVE IT HOME. TRUCK WAS PARKED IN DRIVEWAY FROM 4:30 PM UNTIL THE FIRE WAS DISCOVERED BETWEEN 8:30 AND 9:00 PM. I DO NOT KNOW WHEN THE FIRE STARTED AND I HAVE HAD NO PROBLEMS AT ALL WITH THE TRUCK AND I DO NOT KNOW WHAT STARTED THE FIRE. BUT I BELIEVE THE HOTEST PART OF THE FIRE WAS ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ENGINE NEAR THE TOP WHERE MOST OF THE DESTRUCTION WAS LOCATED.

Vehicle Speed Control › Cruise ControlFire
Filed Jun 21, 200573,000 milesMN

DT: CONTACT STATES: A FIRE STARTED WHICH WAS RELATED TO THE CRUISE CONTROL MODULE SITTING ON THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER. THE FIRE STARTED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF IN A PARKING LOT BY ITSELF. SOME OF THE ENGINE EQUIPMENT BURNED. CONSUMER CONTACTED FORD ,AND FORD SAID THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER RECALL BECAUSE OF THE YEAR OF THE VEHICLE AND TBE VIN. CONSUMER PAID FOR THE REPAIR OF OUT OF HIS POCKET. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System › Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe
Filed Mar 5, 200520,000 milesNY

NYS VEHICLE INSPECTION REQUIRES EMISSION TESTING ON 96 & NEWER MODELS. I HAD MY OXYGEN SENSORS REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES & TWICE IN ONE YEARS TIME. THE OXYGEN SENSORS THAT FORD MAKES ARE DEFECTIVE. IT COSTS ME OVER $500 EACH TIME TO REPLACE THESE SENSORS. *AK

Electrical System › Wiring › Fuses and Circuit Breakers
Filed Feb 7, 2005152,002 milesPA

1996 FORD F150 FUSE BLOWN # 13 (IN DASH) BRAKE LIGHT FAILURE; SPEED CONTROL ASSOCIATED SENSORS. LOCAL FORD DEALER SERVICED 9-27-04 @ $510.30 TO DIAGNOSE SITUATION AND REMEDIED BY REPLACING THE WHOLE MASTER CYLINDER WHERE IT WAS OBVIOUS THAT THE SWITCH FROM THE SPEED CONTROL ON THIS BRAKE UNIT WAS BURNT. ADDITIONAL REMEDY WAS TO DISCONNECT THE WIRING HARNESS THAT CONTROLS THE SPEED CONTROL RENDERING MY HORN USELESS AS WELL. THE MALE HARNESS CONNECTOR IS PRESENTLY TAPED AS I WAS INSTRUCTED THAT HOOKING IT BACK UP WOULD CREATE THIS SAME FIRE HAZARD CONDITION. THEREFORE, I HAVE NO HORN AND MY SPEED CONTROL ISN'T WORKING EITHER. THE FUSE HASN'T BLOWN AND I DO HAVE BRAKE LIGHTS. ( PA REQUIRES THAT THE HORN WORK TO PASS SAFETY INSPECTION ) THE BRAKING SYSTEM DID NOT FAIL ME AT ANY TIME OTHER THAN THIS ELECTRICAL PROBLEM (BLOWN FUSE) AND THE CHANGING OF THE MECHANICAL/HYDROLOGICS WAS NOT WARRANTED.*JB

Unknown or Other1 injured
Filed Jan 15, 200457,000 milesAZ

SEPT. 5TH I ENCOUNTERED A PROBLEM I THOUGHT I WOULD NEVER HAVE TO DEAL WITH. I HAVE BEEN A LONG TIME SUPPORTER OF FORD, BUT THIS HAS TURNED ME SOUR. I HAVE A PUPPY THAT I PUT INTO THE CAB OF MY TRUCK. AS HE WAS MOVING TOWARDS THE PASSENGERS SEAT (ON THE FLOOR) HE MUST HAVE RUBBED HIS PAW UP NEXT TO THE BLACK BENCH SEAT FRAME. I ONLY FIGURED THIS OUT HOURS LATER AFTER BRINGING HIM HOME FROM THE EMERGENCY ANIMAL CLINIC. HE RECIEVED A CUT THAT WENT DEEP ENOUGH TO CUT A TENDON IN HIS FOOT AND PUT ABOUT A THREE INCH GASH IN HIS FOOT. AFTER EXAMINING EVERY POSSIBLY REASON FOR HIS INJURY I LOOKED IN THE TRUCK. LOW AND BEHOLD THE SEAT FRAME ON MY TRUCK IS RAZOR SHARP AND THERE IS BLOOD ALL OVER IT. I CAN BELIEVE THIS! I HAVE HAD THIS TRUCK SINCE IT WAS NEW...THIS COULD HAVE HAPPENED TO ME, OR EVEN MY LITTLE DAUGHTER JUST BY MOVING THE WRONG WAY...IT COULD HAVE PUT A SERIOUS GASH IN ONE OF OUR FEET OR LEGS, OR EVEN WORSE A TENDON OR SOMETHING. ITS BAD ENOUGH IT HAPPENED TO OUR FIVE MONTH OLD PUPPY. I AM REALLY UPSET ABOUT THIS. ALONG WITH THE VET BILLS THAT ARE NOW GROWING AS WE SPEAK. I PLAN TO CONTACT FORD TO SEE IF THEY ARE WILLING TO PAY FOR THESE BILLS AND ALSO FIX THIS PROBLEM IN THE TRUCK.

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Jun 10, 2003OH

MY F150 ONLY HAS 65000 MILES AND IS 7 YRS. OLD AND DTHE OIL PAN IS RUSTED OUT. FROM THE SOUNDS OF IT, THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH FROD TRUCKS BASED ON INFO. POSTED ON A WEBSDSITE BULLETIN BOARD. I THINK FORD SHOULD TAKE CARE OF THIS.*AK

16 of 16 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1997
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20081000Routine
20074000Routine
20064000Routine
20059000Routine
20047000Routine
20031100Routine
200234110Routine
2001441100Routine
200041150Routine
199936030Routine
199820000Routine
199747090Routine
1996 — this page16050Routine
199516060Routine
19947140Routine
19935110Routine
19922100Routine
19916000Routine
19902200Routine

Compare every F Series year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Most recent recall on file: none. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.