1987 Ford E-150 Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1987 Ford E-150, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Electrical844.4%
- Engine422.2%
- Fuel system316.7%
- Brakes15.6%
- Steering15.6%
- Tires & wheels15.6%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
VEHICLE STALLS AT ANY SPEED. MECHANIC REPLACED COIL, IGNITION MODULE AND OUTPUT WIRE. *AK
ELECTRICAL SHORT, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE. *AK *SLC
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD IS CRACKED ON THE RIGHT SIDE. THE EXHAUST FUMES LEAK. THE CONSUMER FEELS THIS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. *AK *TS
VEHICLE STALLS AT ANY TIME/ ANY SPEED. MECHANIC CANNOT FIND CAUSE. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
PE88050, THE DUAL TANKS SELECTOR VALVE MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE TANKS TO GET OVERPRESSURIZED, WHICH CAUSED THE FUEL SPILL OVER. MAY CAUSE A FIRE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
EXPERIENCING AN OVERFILL IN ONE TANK, RESULTING IN AN OVERFLOW IN THE SECOND TANK, CAUSING A FUEL LEAK AT THE FILLER NECK. ALSO THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE PROBLEM 91V146000, MFR 91S39. VEHICLE NOT INCLUDED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
ELECTRICAL WIRES BURNT ON (2) OCCASIONS.AK CONSUMER STATES EXHAUST LEAKED BUT DEALER COULD NOT FIND THE LEAK, CLAMP WAS MISSING , FRONT BRAKES WOLD VIBRATE DEALER SAID THERE WAS NO PROBLEM, RIGHT FRONT ROTOR AND CALIPER WAS REPLACED, ON TWO OCCASIONS, THE PROBLEM WAS THE PISTON IN CALIPER OT WOULD GRIND.*JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
CONSUMER WAS BACKING UP WHEN THE THREE BOLTS SECURING THE STEERING GEARBOX TO THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE FRACTURES AT THE FACE OF THE GEARBOX RENDERING THE VEHICLE UNSTEERABLE. NLM
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
TIRE TREAD SEPARATION WITH NEAR LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AT 65 MPH IN A STRAIGHT LINE. TIRE PRESSURE ABOUT 30 PSI. VEHICLE WAS EMPTY EXCEPT FOR DRIVER. AN IDENTICAL TIRE ON THIS VEHICLE ALSO HAD TREAD SEPARATION, BUT FAILURE WAS NOT DRAMATIC.*AK (DOT NUMBER: VDHH1LH416 TIRESIZE: P225/75R15)
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .