Problems · NHTSA complaints

1996 Ford F-150 problems

Owners filed 360 complaints about the 1996 Ford F-150 with NHTSA between Oct 1995 and Apr 2024. The most-cited component is electrical system (60).

Complaints
360
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
22
Reported by owners
Fires
81
Reported by owners
Injuries
24
People reported injured
Deaths
2
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Electrical system60
  2. Fuel system, gasoline47
  3. Vehicle speed control40
  4. Service brakes, hydraulic35
  5. Engine and engine cooling28
  6. Power train27
  7. Air bags24
  8. Tires24
  9. Steering23
  10. Suspension23
  11. Seats9
  12. Structure8
  13. Fuel/propulsion system6
  14. Wheels6

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 7, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
19953
199628
199726
199823
199918
200044
200127
200221
200315
200411
200566
200610
200710
20089
20096
20107
201111
20122
20133
20143
20154
20161
20171
20182
20191
20201
20212
20221
20232
20242

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Electrical system

60 reports43 fires
“The contact owns a 1996 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at unknown speeds, the speedometer became inoperable. The driver was unable to accurately determine the speed. There were no warning lights illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 218,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 9, 2024Electrical systemODI 11581863

Fuel system, gasoline

47 reports1 crash1 fire
“The contact owns a 1996 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving 45 MPH, the vehicle started to shutoff and restart independently. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was diagnosed by an independent mechanic. The mechanic informed the contact that the rear tank’s fuel pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and confirmed that there was no open recall associated with the VIN for the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000. The contact stated there is an issue with the front fuel tank feeding fuel into the rear tank when the rear tank pump is not operational and having to switch the fuel supply over to the front tank. When the rear tank is full from the front tank feed, it spills over out of the rear tank fill spout, and runs out on the ground.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 25, 2023Fuel system, gasoline, EngineODI 11540729

Vehicle speed control

40 reports29 fires1 related recall
“The contact owned a 1996 Ford F-150. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 05V017000 (Vehicle Speed Control). The contact stated that while parked in the driveway, she observed fire between the finder and the hood. The heat from the fire rippled the front of the garage causing property damage. The vehicle was not diagnosed and the origin of the fire was not determined. The fire was extinguished by the fire department. The vehicle was towed to an unknown impound lot. It was unknown if a police report or fire department report was filed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 11, 2024Vehicle speed controlFire reportedODI 11582443

Service brakes, hydraulic

35 reports1 crash4 fires
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT WAS NOTIFIED BY HIS MOTHER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE WHILE PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY. THE CONTACT NOTICED FLAMES UNDER THE HOOD ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE NEAR THE WINDSHIELD. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. WHEN THE CONTACT OPENED THE HOOD, HE NOTICED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS, FUSE BOX, AND RELAY BOX WERE BURNED, AND THE MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER WAS COMPLETELY MELTED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V017000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 23, 2017Service brakes, hydraulic, Electrical system, Vehicle speed controlFire reportedODI 10968179

Engine and engine cooling

28 reports6 fires
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD F-150. SHE NOTICED THAT THERE WERE FIRE BALLS UNDER THE VEHICLE, NEAR THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL AND FLOOR BOARD. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE ABS LIGHT FUSE WAS REPLACED CONTINUOSLY. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 140000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 19, 2009Engine and engine coolingFire reportedODI 10288968

Power train

27 reports3 crashes
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE BEGAN ROLLING AFTER BEING PARKED FOR APPROXIMATELY FOUR MINUTES. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A DITCH, WHICH CAUSED MODERATE VEHICLE DAMAGE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT ASSUME ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE FAILURE BECAUSE THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE VEHICLE IS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED. THE CONTACT HAS A COPY OF THE POLICE REPORT. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 187,000. UPDATED 04/21/09. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE JUMPED OUT OF GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS IN IDLE AND RUNNING. UPDATED 04/21/09.*JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 10, 2009Power trainCrash reportedODI 10258212
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 7, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.