Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Our database contains 91 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1987 Ford F-150, most frequently naming the electrical, fuel system and engine categories. 3 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 2 NHTSA investigations name it; and 19 manufacturer communications are on file.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
When owners filed reports about this model year
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Apr 1995 | 1 | 2 |
| May 1995 | 1 | 3 |
| Jul 1995 | 1 | 4 |
| Sep 1995 | 1 | 5 |
| Jan 1996 | 2 | 7 |
| Feb 1996 | 3 | 10 |
| Mar 1996 | 2 | 12 |
| Apr 1996 | 6 | 18 |
| May 1996 | 5 | 23 |
| Jun 1996 | 3 | 26 |
| Jul 1996 | 1 | 27 |
| Aug 1996 | 6 | 33 |
| Oct 1996 | 3 | 36 |
| Nov 1996 | 1 | 37 |
| Dec 1996 | 1 | 38 |
| Jan 1997 | 1 | 39 |
| Apr 1997 | 1 | 40 |
| May 1997 | 1 | 41 |
| Sep 1997 | 2 | 43 |
| Oct 1997 | 1 | 44 |
| Nov 1997 | 1 | 45 |
| Dec 1997 | 1 | 46 |
| Feb 1998 | 1 | 47 |
| May 1998 | 1 | 48 |
| Aug 1998 | 1 | 49 |
| Oct 1998 | 2 | 51 |
| Dec 1998 | 1 | 52 |
| Feb 1999 | 2 | 54 |
| Mar 1999 | 1 | 55 |
| May 1999 | 1 | 56 |
| Jun 1999 | 1 | 57 |
| Oct 1999 | 1 | 58 |
| Dec 1999 | 1 | 59 |
| Mar 2000 | 1 | 60 |
| Jun 2000 | 1 | 61 |
| Aug 2000 | 1 | 62 |
| Sep 2000 | 2 | 64 |
| Oct 2000 | 3 | 67 |
| Jan 2001 | 2 | 69 |
| Feb 2001 | 1 | 70 |
| Apr 2001 | 1 | 71 |
| Aug 2001 | 2 | 73 |
| Sep 2001 | 1 | 74 |
| Nov 2001 | 1 | 75 |
| Mar 2002 | 1 | 76 |
| Aug 2002 | 1 | 77 |
| Sep 2002 | 1 | 78 |
| Mar 2003 | 1 | 79 |
| Oct 2003 | 1 | 80 |
| Dec 2004 | 1 | 81 |
| Jan 2005 | 1 | 82 |
| Feb 2005 | 1 | 83 |
| Apr 2005 | 1 | 84 |
| Jul 2005 | 1 | 85 |
| Oct 2005 | 1 | 86 |
| Nov 2005 | 1 | 87 |
| Jan 2006 | 1 | 88 |
| Jul 2006 | 1 | 89 |
| Jun 2013 | 1 | 90 |
| Jan 2017 | 1 | 91 |
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
3 campaigns cover this model year
Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.
Check a VIN on NHTSA.govWHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING
NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
PROBLEM WITH THE DUEL FUEL TANKS, AFTER FILLING THE REAR FUEL TANK I STARTED SMELLING GAS FUMES WHILE DRIVING ON CITY STREETS. I PULLED OVER TO CHECK AND GAS WAS LEAKING FROM BENEATH THE TRUCK . WHEN I OPENED THE FRONT TANK GAS CAP , FUEL SPEWED OUT AS IF IT WAS UNDER PRESSURE. AT THAT TIME I WAS OPERATING ON THE REAR TANK. I OPENED THE REAR GAS TANK CAP AND NOTHING HAPPENED. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS ISSUE HAS HAPPENED BEFORE AND AN EXTENDED SAFETY " RECALL " WAS ISSUED BY THE MANUFACTURER. IT SEEMS THE PROBLEM HAS RESURFACED AND NEEDS TO BE DEALT WITH AGAIN BY " FORD " AS , ONCE AGAIN THE IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I BOUGHT THIS TRUCK FOR MY GRANDSONS FIRST VEHICLE AND IT ONLY HAS 114,450 MILES ON IT. I ONLY DRIVE FORD PRODUCTS. *TR
DRIVING HOME, ENGINE STARTED SPUTTERING, STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE. GAS SPILLING FROM FRONT GAS CAP. I HAVE HAD THIS IN FOR REPAIRS AND NO ONE SEEMS TO KNOW WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. VEHICLE STARTS AT TIMES BUT SEEMS TO BE FLOODING ITSELF OUT AND GAS CONTINUES TO SPILL FROM FRONT TANK. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A RATHER SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE BUT FORD WANTS $900 TO FIX. NOTE: THEY HAVE ALREADY CHARGES ME $200 FOR A REPAIR THAT THE VEHICLE DID NOT REQUIRE. *TR
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TREAD ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE SEPARATED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, CAUSING SLIGHT LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE REPAIR SHOP,WHERE THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE SEPARATION.
MY 1987' FORD F150 HAS DUAL FUEL TANKS, WITH THE TANK SELECTOR SWITCH ON THE DASHBOARD TO THE LEFT OF THE STEERING COLUMN. I WAS DRIVING HOME ON 01/25/06 AND NOTICED A STRONG FUEL SMELL WHEN I PULLING INTO DRIVEWAY BEFORE SHUTTING IT OFF. I LEFT IT RUNNING WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN NEUTRAL, STEPPED OUT OF THE TRUCK, AND GAS WAS SPILLING OUT OF THE FILLER HOLE FOR THE FRONT TANK. I ONLY RAN OFF THE REAR TANK. EVIDENTLY, THE FUEL SWITCHING VALVE WAS PUTTING THE UNUSED FUEL IN THE FRONT TANK INSTEAD OF THE REAR TAN, , CAUSING THE FRONT TANK TO OVERFLOW. IT WAS A POSSIBLE FIRE RISK. ! I CONTACTED THE LOCAL FORD DEALER & THE SVC/PARTS MANAGER WHO WAS WELL AWARE OF THIS EXISTING PROBLEM. HE SAID IT WOULD BE $400 TO FIX IT. FORD CHANGED THE DESIGN OF THE DUAL FUEL TANK SYSTEM IN 1990 , BUT DIDN'T ISSUE A RECALL TO CORRECT THE TRUCKS PRIOR TO THE CHANGE. *AK
DT: THE CONTACT STATES THERE IS NHTSA RECALL 87V139000 CONCERNING THE FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE: DELIVERY: HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS. THIS VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL, BUT IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. THE CONTACT HAS NOT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE AT THIS TIME. *AK
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
DT: WED. JUNE 29, 2005 CALLER HAD NEW TIRES PUT ON AFTER MARKET WHEELS AND WAL-MART OVER TORQUED LUGS:NUTS. SHOULD HAVE BEEN TORQUED AT 84 FOOT POUNDS, INSTEAD THERE WERE TORQUES AT 100 FOOT POUND. ASA RESULT, LUGS:NUTS WERE STRIPPED ON DRIVER?S SIDE FRONT AND BACK. CALLER WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE OTHER WHEELS AS WELL. WALL MART ADVISED CALLER TO GET NEW ONES, THEY WILL POT THEM ON, AND PAY HIM BACK. CALLER WAS CONCERNED ABOUT DRIVING VEHICLE WITHOUT LUGS:NUTS. *AK
1987 FORD F150 CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDERNEATH THE HOOD WHILE PARKED.*MR *NM
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
INFORMATION REGARDING TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE CHARTS. *SLC
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE
SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT HEATER CORE LEAKS. *SLC
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
INFORMATION REGARDING THE NEW TRANSMISSION COOLER FLUSHER- SERVICE TIP. *MJS
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
SUBJECT ON A WIRE HARNESS TERMINAL REPAIR KIT AVAILABLE FOR REPAIRING ELECTRICAL WIRING HARNESSES. *TT
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
INFORMATION ON IDENTIFYING NON-APPROVED / ALTERNATE REFRIGERANTS WHICH COULD CAUSE SAFETY, AND PERFORMANCE CONCERNS IF INSTALLED IN FORD A/C SYSTEMS. *TT
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS RELEASED A NEW ELECTRICAL GREASE ( F8AZ - 19G208-AA ) TO REDUCE THE POSSIBILITY OF MOISTURE CORROSION AT THE TERMINALS. *YC
Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Investigations | Issue Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 4 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2025 | 100 | 12 | 0 | 62.6 |
| 2024 | 183 | 10 | 0 | 68.1 |
| 2023 | 396 | 12 | 0 | 60.7 |
| 2022 | 574 | 23 | 2 | 68.2 |
| 2021 | 974 | 29 | 1 | 63.2 |
| 2020 | 709 | 11 | 1 | 64.2 |
| 2019 | 1,302 | 9 | 1 | 64.0 |
| 2018 | 2,265 | 19 | 2 | 66.3 |
| 2017 | 1,401 | 18 | 3 | 70.1 |
| 2016 | 2,010 | 14 | 4 | 67.5 |
| 2015 | 1,671 | 14 | 5 | 68.3 |
| 2014 | 1,515 | 8 | 2 | 62.6 |
| 2013 | 2,970 | 3 | 3 | 61.0 |
| 2012 | 1,776 | 4 | 4 | 58.8 |
| 2011 | 2,184 | 6 | 4 | 58.8 |
| 2010 | 842 | 1 | 0 | 42.6 |
| 2009 | 324 | 2 | 0 | 50.5 |
| 2008 | 368 | 1 | 1 | 51.0 |
| 2007 | 488 | 7 | 1 | 59.4 |
| 2006 | 585 | 14 | 2 | 63.9 |
| 2005 | 1,112 | 14 | 3 | 62.1 |
| 2004 | 2,028 | 16 | 4 | 60.6 |
| 2003 | 422 | 11 | 3 | 66.8 |
| 2002 | 821 | 10 | 3 | 66.2 |
| 2001 | 1,236 | 19 | 6 | 70.9 |
| 2000 | 1,074 | 17 | 4 | 74.6 |
| 1999 | 1,044 | 18 | 5 | 65.6 |
| 1998 | 1,381 | 18 | 11 | 65.5 |
| 1997 | 2,758 | 26 | 18 | 66.9 |
| 1996 | 324 | 7 | 2 | 67.6 |
| 1995 | 626 | 7 | 1 | 64.4 |
| 1994 | 676 | 13 | 2 | 66.4 |
| 1993 | 586 | 13 | 2 | 60.0 |
| 1992 | 470 | 9 | 8 | 67.2 |
| 1991 | 304 | 6 | 12 | 68.8 |
| 1990 | 275 | 5 | 11 | 68.3 |
| 1989 | 224 | 4 | 5 | 67.8 |
| 1988 | 139 | 2 | 6 | 70.4 |
| 1987Viewing | 91 | 3 | 2 | 71.1 |
| 1986 | 61 | 1 | 4 | 61.0 |
| 1985 | 28 | 1 | 2 | 60.8 |
| 1984 | 15 | 1 | 2 | 55.9 |
| 1983 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 59.8 |
| 1982 | 5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1981 | 2 | 3 | 0 | — |
| 1980 | 3 | 4 | 0 | — |
| 1979 | 2 | 10 | 0 | — |
| 1978 | 4 | 10 | 0 | — |
| 1977 | 3 | 6 | 0 | — |
| 1976 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 1975 | 1 | 4 | 0 | — |
| 1973 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1968 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1966 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1955 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — |
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.