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1987 Ford F150

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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: 5 of 89 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 37 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 9 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 reports43 fire reports3 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

37 reports
Clear category filter
102,313 miles · Oct 13, 2005
Electrical SystemFire

SHUT VEHICLE OFF, THEN, ON RESTART AND IGNITION SWITCH FAILED FOLLOWED BY SMOKE UNDER HOOD. FUSIBLE LINK CAUGHT FIRE BY SOLENOID. IF I HAD NOT BEEN NEAR THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME OF THE FIRE IT COULD HAVE CAUSED DAMAGE TO PROPERTY AROUND ME. IF I HAD BEEN DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE WHEN THIS HAPPENED AND WAS NOT NOTICED IMMEDIAT…

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SHUT VEHICLE OFF, THEN, ON RESTART AND IGNITION SWITCH FAILED FOLLOWED BY SMOKE UNDER HOOD. FUSIBLE LINK CAUGHT FIRE BY SOLENOID. IF I HAD NOT BEEN NEAR THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME OF THE FIRE IT COULD HAVE CAUSED DAMAGE TO PROPERTY AROUND ME. IF I HAD BEEN DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE WHEN THIS HAPPENED AND WAS NOT NOTICED IMMEDIATELY, IT COULD HAVE ENDANGERED MY LIFE OR OTHERS. MY VEHICLE WAS NOT MANUFACTURED UNTIL AUGUST OF 1987 WELL AFTER THE SWITCH REDESIGN THAT FROM WHAT I CAN COLLECT INFORMATION ON WAS REDESIGNED IN MAY OF 1987 SO THE SWITCH DESIGN ON MY VEHICLE APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN THE SAME PART BEING RECALLED. FIVE YEARS AGO I OWNED A 1990 F150 THAT HAD THE SAME EXACT IGNITION SWITCH AND THEY SENT ME A RECALL FOR THAT VEHICLE. I CHECKED FOR RECALL ON THIS ONE AND THEY DO NOT OFFER IT. I AM OUTRAGED CONSIDERING THAT THIS VEHICLE HAS THE SAME EXACT IGNITION SWITCH DESIGN AND DID FAIL AS THE RECALL MENTIONED SOME VEHICLES WOULD AND YET I AM LEFT HAVING TO PAY FOR THE DAMAGE. NOT ONLY THAT, HERE IS A PORTION OF INFORMATION TAKEN FROM "THEAUTOCHANNEL.COM" FORD MOTOR COMPANY IS DEFENDING THEIR STANCE ON THE RECALL. HERE ARE SOME FACTS COMPILED BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS IN RELATION TO THE ISSUE: * THERE HAVE BEEN MORE THAN 900 REPORTS OF FIRES FROM THE SWITCHES IN THIS COUNTRY. IN SOME CASES, FIRES OCCURRED EVEN WHEN THE VEHICLES WERE PARKED AND SHUT OFF. * FORD HAS LONG SAID THE FIRE REPORTS FORD DISCLOSED TO NHTSA INCLUDED ALL THOSE THEY KNEW OF THAT COULD HAVE STARTED NEAR THE STEERING COLUMN _ MEANING UNVERIFIED REPORTS AS WELL AS FIRES THAT COULD HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY SOMETHING OTHER THAN THE IGNITION SWITCH. * FORD DID NOT RECALL ANY VEHICLES PRIOR TO 1988 BECAUSE THE AUTOMAKERS TIED THE SWITCH FIRES TO A FAULTY DESIGN CHANGE MADE BY A MANUFACTURER IN MAY 1987. THAT CHANGE REDUCED THE SPACE BETWEEN A BATTERY AND GROUND TERMINAL, CREATING THE POTENTIAL FOR A SHORT CIRCUIT AND FIRE, FORD OFFICIALS SAID. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10139530

Mileage unknown · Feb 16, 2005
Electrical SystemFire

SUDDEN AND SPONTANEOUS FIRE COMPLETELY DESTROYED CONSUMER 1987 F 150 FORD TRUCK. *BF THIS WAS FOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED INFORMATION ABOUT OTHER SAME MAKE/MODEL VEHICLES WITH CRUISE CONTROL THAT MAY HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. *SC

NHTSA ODI #10112957

Mileage unknown · Jan 27, 2005
Electrical SystemFire

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

NHTSA ODI #10109100

Mileage unknown · Nov 17, 2001
Electrical SystemFire

I HAVE HAD MANY PROBLEMS WITH RUNNING MY TRUCK AND ONCE THE ENGINE IS HOT, WHEN YOU TRY TO START IT UP WITHOUT LETTING IT SET FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES IT RUINS THE STARTER AND BATTERY CABLES. IT HAS SMOKED 4 TIMES AND I HAD TO USE MY FIRE EXTINQUISHER ONCE. I HAVE HAD 8 STARTERS IN LESS THAN 1 YEAR, 1 NEW BATTERY, AND THREE SETS O…

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I HAVE HAD MANY PROBLEMS WITH RUNNING MY TRUCK AND ONCE THE ENGINE IS HOT, WHEN YOU TRY TO START IT UP WITHOUT LETTING IT SET FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES IT RUINS THE STARTER AND BATTERY CABLES. IT HAS SMOKED 4 TIMES AND I HAD TO USE MY FIRE EXTINQUISHER ONCE. I HAVE HAD 8 STARTERS IN LESS THAN 1 YEAR, 1 NEW BATTERY, AND THREE SETS OF BATTERY CABLES. I HAVE SPENT A FORTUNE TRYING TO FIND OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS AND NOT EVEN FORD'S MASTER MECHANICS HAVE HAD AN ANSWER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #754633

Mileage unknown · Jan 11, 2001
Electrical SystemFuel System, GasolineFire

DROVE VEHICLE HOME. NEXT DAY HOOD HAD BURNED FROM INSIDE DUE TO A DEFECTIVE FUEL INJECTOR WIRING WHICH MELTED AND BURNED. FORD NOT WILLING TO ASSIST CONSUMER. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ODI #877994

Mileage unknown · Oct 15, 2000
Electrical System

DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. HAD NO PRIOR WARNING. MANAGD TO GET TO SIDE OF ROAD. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO REPAIR SHOP. MECHANIC INDICATED THE PROBLEM WAS THE IGNITION MODULE & IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. MODULE WAS REPLACED. PROBLEM REAPPEARED AFTER TOWING LIGHT BOAT UP HILL & VEHICLE STALLED AGAIN …

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DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. HAD NO PRIOR WARNING. MANAGD TO GET TO SIDE OF ROAD. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO REPAIR SHOP. MECHANIC INDICATED THE PROBLEM WAS THE IGNITION MODULE & IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. MODULE WAS REPLACED. PROBLEM REAPPEARED AFTER TOWING LIGHT BOAT UP HILL & VEHICLE STALLED AGAIN WHILE ON A CURB. IT WAS THE SAME SPEED. TOWED VEHICLE HOME. OWNER REPLACED IGNITION MODULE AFTER PURCHASING IT.*AK

NHTSA ODI #873013

Mileage unknown · Oct 12, 2000
Electrical System

I HAVE HAD TWO TFI MODULES FAIL ON MY TRUCK.BOTH TIMES I WAS STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF A SIX LANE ROAD.THE FIRST TIME I WAS ALMOST REARENDED AND HAD TO PUSH THE TRUCK OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD.I WAS STILL BLOCKING THE RIGHT LANE UNTIL A TOW TRUCK ARRIVED.I WAS NOT INJURED BUT I WAS PUT IN A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION.THE SECOND TIM…

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I HAVE HAD TWO TFI MODULES FAIL ON MY TRUCK.BOTH TIMES I WAS STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF A SIX LANE ROAD.THE FIRST TIME I WAS ALMOST REARENDED AND HAD TO PUSH THE TRUCK OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD.I WAS STILL BLOCKING THE RIGHT LANE UNTIL A TOW TRUCK ARRIVED.I WAS NOT INJURED BUT I WAS PUT IN A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION.THE SECOND TIME THE MODULE FAILED I WAS STILL UNDERWAY AND WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE STREET BUT STILL BLOCKING ONE LANE.E

NHTSA ODI #734178

Mileage unknown · Oct 3, 2000
Electrical SystemFire

CONNECTOR ON ALTERNATOR OVERHEATED AND CAUGHT FIRE, CAUSING DAMAGE TO VEHICLE. *SLC

NHTSA ODI #555533

Mileage unknown · Sep 28, 2000
Electrical System

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #732765

Mileage unknown · Jun 1, 1999
Electrical SystemFire

STARTED AS UNDER HOOD FIRE - TOTALLY BURNED THE TRUCK - BURNED ALL PLASTIC, MELTED ALUMINUM BRACKETS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #707083

Official recalls

3

87V139000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

Sep 4, 1987

SPRING LOCK FUEL LINE COUPLING MAY NOT BE PROPERLY ENGAGED.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: COUPLING COULD DISENGAGE DUE TO FUEL PRESSURE,VIBRATION, AND ENGINE MOVEMENTS; THIS WOULD CAUSE LOSS OF FUEL WHICH, INPRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, CREATES A FIRE RISK.

Remedy: INSTALL RETAINER CLIPS OVER THE COUPLINGS TO PREVENT COUPLING SEPARATION AND FUEL LEAKAGE.

87V140000 · Wheels:lugs/nuts/bolts/studs

Sep 4, 1987

WHEEL LUG NUT CONE ANGLES DO NOT MATCH LUG NUT SEATING ANGLES.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: NUTS COULD LOOSEN IN SERVICE CREATING POTENTIAL FORWHEELS TO SEPARATE FROM TRUCK.

Remedy: REPAIR TO PREVENT LOOSENING OF LUG NUTS.

87V077000 · Suspension:front:wheel Bearing

May 26, 1987

FRONT INNER WHEEL BEARINGS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN LUBRICATED ADEQUATELY AT TIME OF ASSEMBLY.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THIS CONDITION WERE TO OCCUR, FRICTION WILL CAUSEPREMATURE DETERIORATION OF THE WHEEL BEARINGS AND STEERING CONTROL COULD BEAFFECTED ADVERSELY.

Remedy: INSPECT AND REPLACE ANY BEARING OR RACE SHOWING SIGNS OF GALLING OR HEAT SPOTS.

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

2

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