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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.

About this comparison →
89Owner complaints

Model-year median: 3.5

3Recall campaigns

View recall details →

2Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
13
198428
198561
198689
1987139
1988210
1989254
1990
Compare all F150 years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Electrical System
37Fuel System, Gasoline
21Engine And Engine Cooling
9Structure
5Tires
4
All reported categories
Vehicle Speed Control
4Seat Belts
3Service Brakes, Hydraulic
3Power Train
2Steering
2Unknown Or Other
2Wheels
2Equipment
1Trailer Hitches
1

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

What owners actually said

89 reports
Mileage unknown · Aug 12, 1996
EquipmentService Brakes, HydraulicVehicle Speed Control

CONSUMER HAS PUT ON TWO PAIRS OF BRAKES AT 23262 MILES. ALSO CONSUMER HAD A COMPLETE BRAKE JOB DONE ON THE FRONT ROTORS, AND AFTER HAVING THIS DONE THE WHOLE FRONT END OVERHEATED THE CONSUMER ALSO COMPLAINS THAT THE ABS HAS NEVER WORKED.*AK PEDL WENT ALL THE WAY TO FLOOR THERE IS NO STOPPING AVAILABLE, ALSO AIR CONDITION HAS…

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CONSUMER HAS PUT ON TWO PAIRS OF BRAKES AT 23262 MILES. ALSO CONSUMER HAD A COMPLETE BRAKE JOB DONE ON THE FRONT ROTORS, AND AFTER HAVING THIS DONE THE WHOLE FRONT END OVERHEATED THE CONSUMER ALSO COMPLAINS THAT THE ABS HAS NEVER WORKED.*AK PEDL WENT ALL THE WAY TO FLOOR THERE IS NO STOPPING AVAILABLE, ALSO AIR CONDITION HAS FAILED, ALSO CRUISE CONTROL INOPERATIVE.*JB

NHTSA ODI #800725

Mileage unknown · Aug 2, 1996
Electrical SystemFire

THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE DRIVING FROM THE AREA OF THE IGNITION SWITCH.*AK

NHTSA ODI #800386

Mileage unknown · Jul 4, 1996
Electrical SystemFire

IGNITION SWITCH FIRE. *SD

NHTSA ODI #506493

Mileage unknown · Jun 25, 1996
Electrical System

TWO SPARK PLUGS BROKE IN ENGINE, CAUSING LOSS OF COMPRESSION. *DH

NHTSA ODI #505866

Mileage unknown · Jun 19, 1996
Engine And Engine CoolingFire

UPON STARTING, HEARD LOUD POP SOUND, SMOKE CAME FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT, THEN SUDDENLY VEHICLE BECAME ENGULFED IN FLAMES. *AK

NHTSA ODI #985890

Mileage unknown · Jun 17, 1996
Electrical SystemFire

VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN AND PARKED FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES, UNDER THE HOOD COMPARTMENT FIRE, ELECTRICAL SHORT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #985745

Mileage unknown · May 16, 1996
Fuel System, GasolineFire

THE TRUCK CAUGHT ON FIRE DUE TO PREVIOUS RECALL WORK INVOLVING FUEL LINE COUPLING 87V139000. *AK *JB

NHTSA ODI #984539

Mileage unknown · May 16, 1996
Electrical SystemFire

WIRING HARNESS UNDER DASH SHORTED, CAUSING FIRE. *DH

NHTSA ODI #504684

Mileage unknown · May 16, 1996
Engine And Engine CoolingFire

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE. *SD

NHTSA ODI #504372

Mileage unknown · May 15, 1996
Fuel System, Gasoline

FAILURE ON THE FUEL PUMP AND SENDING UNIT, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO NOT KNOW THE AMOUNT OF GAS IS IN THE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #984510

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