IllustrationWHEN VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, GASOLINE WOULD OVERFLOW FROM REAR TANK TO FRONT TANK. FUEL IN FRONT TANK WOULD THEN OVERFLOW BACK TO REAR TANK WHICH FLOWS BACK TO FRONT TANK, CAUSING SPILLAGE. *AK
1988 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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all F150 years →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: 9 of 139 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 49 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 27 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 11 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 reports47 fire reports4 injury reports
Fuel System, Gasoline complaints
27 reportsTHE SELECTIVE VALVE WHEN IT FAILS WHEN IT PUMPS GAS FROM ONE TANK TO ANOTHER, CAUSING THE TANK TO WHICH ITS PUMPS THE GAS TO OVERFILL AND SPILL GAS OUT OF THE VENT WHICH CAUSES A FUEL LEAK, PUDDLES UNDER THE CAR. *AK
FUEL LEAK, CAUSING FIRE.
FUEL LINE LEAK, CAUSING FIRE.
FAILURE ON THE FUEL TANK AND SENDING UNIT, WHEN TURNING OFF THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE COUNTINES TO RUN. *AK
PARKED TRUCK FOR FIFTEEN MINUTES WHEN TRUCK CAUGHT FIRE. A FORD REPRESENTATIVE EXAMINED AND STATED FIRE CAUSED BY CARBURETOR WHICH IN THIS TRUCK IS FUEL INJECTED. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK
FUEL LEAK, CAUSING FIRE.
FUEL GAUGE MOVES ERRACTICALLY FROM EMPTY TO FULL DUE TO SHORT, RUINING FUEL PUMP/SWITCH.
FUEL SYSTEM PUMPS FUEL FROM ONE TANK TO THE OTHER, WHEN BOTH TANKS ARE FULL, FUEL OVERFLOWS.
THE AUXILLARY GAS TANK PUSHES GAS INTO THE FRONT, FULL TANK AND WILL CAUSE THE TRUCK TO CUT OFF.*AK *JB
Official recalls
296V071000 · Electrical System:ignition
Apr 25, 1996
THE IGNITION SWITCH COULD EXPERIENCE AN INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE OVERHEATING, SMOKE, AND POSSIBLY FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN AREA OF THE VEHICLE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH.
88V146000 · Visibility:glass, Side/rear
Sep 2, 1988
SLIDING REAR WINDOW MAY CONTAIN GLAZING PANELS WHICH DO NOT MEET REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS 205.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A FRACTURED WINDOW MAY CONTAIN FRAGMENTS THAT ARE LARGERTHAN THE 425 GRAMS ALLOWED.
Remedy: REPLACE SUSPECT WINDOW PANELS.
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
6EA91044 · Loss Of Brake Effectivenes
Opened Oct 30, 1991 · Closed Oct 30, 1992
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
===
PE91077 · Loss Of Brake Effectivenes
Opened May 23, 1991 · Closed Oct 31, 1991
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
There is no summary currently available
PE91017 · Ford Truck Inconsistent Vehicle Control.
Opened Nov 27, 1990 · Closed Apr 17, 1991
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
SEE CLOSE RESUME
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
PE89003 · Steering Column Drops
Opened Oct 13, 1988 · Closed Feb 8, 1989
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering
There is no summary currently available