RoadVitals

1986 Ford E-150

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
9
Latest Mar 7, 2003
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
0
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
4
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
3

Overview

Our database contains 9 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1986 Ford E-150, most frequently naming the electrical, driver assistance and tires & wheels categories. 4 NHTSA investigations name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Electrical440.0%
  • Driver assistance220.0%
  • Tires & wheels220.0%
  • Interior & seats110.0%
  • Steering110.0%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

No recalls in our database for this model year

That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

PE88054ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

FUEL TANK OVERPRESSURIZATI

Opened May 16, 1988
Closed Mar 1, 1989

There is no summary currently available

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
EA87019ClosedEngineering Analysis

FUEL EXPULSION

Opened Apr 30, 1987
Closed Oct 23, 1987

SYNOPSIS: UNDER CERTAIN OPERATING CONDITIONS, FUEL IS EXPELLED FROM THEFUEL FILLER PIPE, WHEN THE FILLER CAP IS REMOVED. IT HAS BEEN REPORTEDTHAT VEHICLE FIRES AND PERSONAL INJURIES HAVE RESULTED. THE PROBLEMAPPEARS TO BE ONE OF EXCESSIVE HEAT COLLECTING UNDER THE VEHICLES, USUALLYWHILE STATIONARY WITH THE ENGINES IDLING OR BEING OPERATED UNDER EXTREMESERVICE CONDITIONS. THIS HEAT CAUSES THE FUEL TO VAPORIZE IN THE FUELTANK AND DEVELOP PRESSURES IN EXCESS OF WHAT THE FUEL TANK VENT SYSTEMCAN HANDLE.STATUS: BY LETTER DATED 9/9/87, FORD NOTIFIED NHTSA OF RECALL OF 188,000E-250 & E-350 VEHICLES TO INSTALL PARTIAL VERSION OF M-53A AMBULANCE RECALLKIT(87V-144)===

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
PE87017ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

FUEL LEAKS/FIRES

Opened Jan 28, 1987
Closed May 26, 1987

SUMMARY OF INFORMATION FROM MANUFACTURER:INSTANCES WERE FOUND WHERESPRING LOCK COUPLINGS FAILED CAUSING GASOLINE TO BE RELEASED THROUGHOUTTHE ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUSING FIRES.LEAKS FROM FUEL LINES MAY ALSO BE ACONTRIBUTING CAUSE TO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES.---------------------------------------------------------------------------ANALYSIS:DATA INDICATES THAT THE ALLEGED PROBLEM MAY BE CAUSED BY THESPRING LOCK QUICK CONNECT COUPLINGS WHICH CONNECT THE FUEL SUPPLY ANDRETURN LINES TO THE ENGINE AS WELL AS FUEL LEAKAGE FROM THE FUEL LINES.---------------------------------------------------------------------------PROPOSED ACTION: UPGRADE THIS PE TO AN EA.(EA87-020)===

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
EA87002ClosedEngineering Analysis

FILLER NECK SPURT

Opened Nov 4, 1986
Closed Apr 29, 1987

SUMMARY OF INFORMATION FROM MANUFACTURER:FORD HAS SUPPLIED INFORMATION REQUESTED CONCERNING VEHICLE POPULATIONAND THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS.ANALYSIS:THE PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE ONE OF EXCESSIVE HEAT COLLECTING UNDER THEVEHICLES, USUALLY WHILE STATIONARY WITH THE ENGINE IDLING.THIS HEATCAUSES THE FUEL TO VAPORIZE IN THE FUEL TANK AND DEVELOP PRESSURES INEXCESS OF WHAT THE VENT SYSTEM CAN HANDLE.STATUS:IR TO FORD SENT ON 2/20/87. MEETING WITH FORD AND FINAL STAGE MANUFACTUR-ERS HELD ON MARCH 11 & 12, 1987. ADDITIONAL MEETING HELD ON MARCH 7, 1987.ALSO ON APRIL I, 1987.FORD ANNOUNCED SERVICE CAMPAIGN, NO SAFETY RECALL.RECALL REQUEST LETTER SENT ON 4/7/87. FORD DID NOT AGREE TO A SAFETYRECALL, CONSEQUENTLY A PANEL MEETING WAS HELD ON 4/29/87 AND INVESTIGATIVECASE C87-003 WAS OPENED.THIS EA WAS CLOSED AS A RESULT OF THE CASE OPEN-ING ON 4/27/87.===

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Driver assistance
Filed Mar 7, 2003

THE THROTTLE STUCK, WHICH CAUSED UNWANTED SUDDEN ACCELERATION. ON ONE OCCASION THE THROTTLE BODY WAS DIRTY AND ON ANOTHER OCCASION, WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ON, THE VACUUM LINE MALFUNCTIONED. IN EITHER CASE, PRESSING DOWN ON THE BRAKE PEDAL DID NOT STOP THE VEHICLE. THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THE VEHICLE WAS TO TURN OFF THE IGNITION. *TT *JB

NHTSA ID
10007321
Driver assistance
Filed Feb 28, 2003

THE CRUISE CONTROL VACUUM LINE HAD KINKED WHILE THR CRUISE WAS ON, THE THROTTLE BODY HAD STUCK, AND THE BRAKE PEDAL HAD BECOME INOPERATIVE. SCC *JB

NHTSA ID
10009086
Tires & wheels
Filed Sep 29, 2000

DURING TEXAS TRIP, 1 TIRE WENT FLAT. UPON INSPECTION AND REPLACEMENT, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE CAUSE WAS TREAD SEPARATION. FOLLOWING SUMMER, OTHER TIRES WERE SHOWING SIMILAR BREAKDOWN (NOTELABLY DEEP CRACKS IN THE SIDEWALLS). I WENT BACK TO THE TIRE DEALER THAT HAD SOLD ME THE FIRESTONES AND BOUGHT NEW TIRES (NOT FIRESTONES). I ASKED THE DEALER TO INQUIRE ABOUT THE CRACKS WITH A FIRESTONE REP. I WAS NEVER APPRAISED AS TO THE REPS. ANSWER BUT WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT NEXT TIME I NEEDED TIRES I WOULD GET A GOOD DEAL ON THEM. SEEING AS THE TIRES WERE OLD, I FELT THIS WAS ABOUT THE BEST I COULD EXPECT. I DIDN'T THINK MUCH OF IT UNTIL I HEARD ABOUT THE PROBLEM WITH FIRESTONE LIGHT TRUCK TIRES ON THE RADIO TODAY. I STILL HAVE MY ORIGINAL RECEIPT FOR THE TIRES AND MAY STILL HAVE A PHOTOGRAPH OF THE TIRE THAT WAS REPLACED IT TEXAS. OBVIOUSLY, I NO LONGER HAVE THE TIRES. THEY WERE ORIGINALLY PURCHASED IN 1993. *AK (TIRESIZE: LTP235R15)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: LTP235R15 )

NHTSA ID
732891
Incident
Dec 22, 1997
Tires & wheels
Filed Aug 20, 1997

RIGHT REAR WHEEL FELL OFF, DAMAGING VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID
520746
Incident
Jul 2, 1997
Electrical
Filed Aug 30, 1996
Fire reported

IGNITION SWITCH SHORTED, CAUSING FIRE, BURNING WIRING HARNESS UNDER THE HOOD.

NHTSA ID
508143
Incident
Jun 26, 1996
ElectricalInterior & seats
Filed Aug 15, 1996

WIRING HARNESSES BURNT OUT.

NHTSA ID
507580
Incident
Aug 1, 1996
Electrical
Filed Jun 28, 1996
Fire reported

ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT TO IAR ALTERNATOR GETS TOO HOT START TO ARC AND SHORTS OUT. RESULTING IN VEHCILE FIRE. *AK

NHTSA ID
986287
Incident
Jun 28, 1993
Electrical
Filed Apr 18, 1996
Fire reported

AFTER PARKING CAR, NOTICED WHITE SMOKING COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE CAR, THEN NOTICED FIRE, POSSIBILE ELECTRICAL SHORT. *AK

NHTSA ID
982987
Incident
Oct 4, 1995

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Ford E-150 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2023010
2022000
2021100
2020000
2019000
2018000
2016810
2015810
2014660
2013196046.3
2012128052.9
20112313045.9
2010109054.4
20097140
20081118049.0
20071219041.6
20061716046.5
2005164050.1
2004337153.8
2003216159.5
2002283155.1
2001374150.7
2000506153.5
1999836158.0
1998605155.7
19971026155.3
1996593161.3
1995713259.2
19941217260.5
1993714158.3
1992644364.9
1991151454.2
1990173455.5
1989312361.7
1988140248.7
1987170152.7
1986Viewing904
1985304
1984324
1983111
1982321
1981111
1980031
1979051
1978041
1976210

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.