1988 Ford F-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 1988 Ford F-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
- Electrical4227.8%
- Fuel system2818.5%
- Engine117.3%
- Seat belts106.6%
- Body & structure96.0%
- Visibility85.3%
- Brakes85.3%
- Interior & seats74.6%
- Transmission64.0%
- Tires & wheels53.3%
- Suspension42.6%
- Driver assistance42.6%
- Steering32.0%
- Powertrain (other)21.3%
- Other / unspecified21.3%
- Exterior lighting10.7%
- Heating & air conditioning10.7%
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
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1988 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS HESITANT TO START AND WOULD SPORADICALLY OVERHEAT. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THEIR RECORDS ONLY WENT BACK AS FAR AS TEN YEARS AND THEY COULD NOT VERIFY WHETHER THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 96V071000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION). THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO VERIFIED THE INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THE DEALER AND PROVIDED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NEITHER DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED FOR THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 69,000.
VEHICLE FAILED TO START WHEN THE KEY WAS TURNED IN THE IGNITION TO THE ON POSITION. THE DEALERSHIP WAS CONTACTED. *AK
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1988 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT WAS STOPPED WHEN SHE BEGAN TO SMELL GASOLINE. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER AND UPON FURTHER EXAMINATION, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT FUEL WAS SPILLING OUT OF THE FUEL TANK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THE FUEL TANK CHECK VALVE HAD FAILED AND FUEL FROM ONE OF THE FUEL TANKS WAS OVERFLOWING INTO THE SECOND TANK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1988 FORD F150. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT LOOKED UNDERNEATH IT AND NOTICED FUEL LEAKING. HE DISCOVERED A RECALL FOR THE SAME FAILURE FOR THE 1989 MODEL. THE DEALER STATED THAT WHEN THE RECALL WAS ISSUED ON THE 1989 MODEL, THEY HAD TO INSTALL TWO FUEL PUMPS IN EACH TANK. THE DEALER ALSO INSTALLED A CHECK VALVE TO STOP THE LEAKAGE. THE CONTACT WAS NOTIFIED THAT HIS VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE A CHECK VALVE, WHICH WAS THE REASON FOR THE FUEL LEAK. THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE BECAUSE IT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT FEELS THAT IT SHOULD. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 91,000.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
CONSUMER STARTED VEHICLE. THEN TOOK THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION, VEHICLE CUT OFF AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
DRIVING AT 60 MPH THE CONSUMER NOTICED HEAVY SMOKE COMING FROM THE CAR PART OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE,CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD . WAS ABLE TO PUT OUT THE FIRE. CONTACTED DEALER . *AK
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHEN USING SHOULDER BELT SYSTEM SHOULDER PART DOES NOT RETRACT AFTER MOVING AROUND WITH IT ON. FORD HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE SELF INSPECTING THE VEHICLE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE FRAME BROKE OFF FROM THE FRONT AND THE REAR. *AK
FRAME HAS CRACKED AT POWER STEERING BOX, FRAME MAY SEPARATE AT ANY TIME IF MAKING A SHARP TURN OR IF THE VEHICLE IS STOPPED SUDDENLY. PROBLEM IS CAUSING EXCESSIVE WEAR OF FRONT TIRES. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
FORD COMPANY SOLD ME A DEFUNCT ENGINE, HAS 10,000 MILE ON THE ENGINE,THAT THAY SOLD ME. THAY WELL NOT STAN BEHINE IT. THE DEALER HERE IN PERRY SAID THAT IT WAS DEFUNCT, BUT COULD NOT HELP ME BECOUSE IT WAS FORD MOTOR COMPANY WARRANTY, NOT THERE. CAN YOU HELP ME? THANKS.*AK
INTERMITTENTLY WHEN THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE ON THEY WILL MALFUNCTION. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE REAR BRAKES WHEN APPLIED IN POOR TRACTION CONDITIONS, OR WHEN TOWING A TRAILER, LOCK UP. THEN THE ABS LETS THE REAR WHEELS GO FREE WITHOUT REAPPLYING THE BRAKES. ALL BRAKING IS NOW ON THE FRONT WHEELS ONLY. THIS IS NO PROBLEM WHEN IN GOOD TRACTRION CONDITIONS. HOWEVER, IN POOR TRACTION CONDITION AS SOON AS ONE OF THE FRONT WHEELS BEGINS TO LOCK ALL BRAKING IS WITH ONE FRONT WHEEL ONLY. THE TRUCK GOES TOTALLY OUT OF BRAKING CONTROL AS THE TRUCK IS NOW SKIDDING ON ONE FRONT WHEEL AND NO REAR WHEELS. IT TOOK ME YEARS TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS GOING ON. I TOOK IT TO THE FORD DEALER AND THEY COULD SEE NO PROBLEM. HOWEVER, I HAD COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS PROBLENM TO THE NHTSA SEVERAL YEARS AGO WITH NO HELP. BUT REMEMBER, IT WASNT UTIL AFTER OWNING THE TRUCK FOR MANY YEARS AND SEEING THIS PROBLEM OCCUR WHEN TOWING MY BOAT IN THE RAIN THAT I BEGAN TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS HAPPENING AND WHY IT WAS
THIS IS THE SECOND FORD PICKUP I HAVE SEEN WHER E THE REAR BRAKE LINE RUSTED THROUGH. BOTH TIMES THE LINE RUSTED THROUGH WHERE IT IS IN CONTACT WITH THE FLEXIBLE METAL SHEATH COVERING IT. *AK
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
TRAVELED TWO BLOCKS SMOKE CAME THROUGH THE DASH AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. *AK
UNDER THE DASH FIRE, ELECTRICAL SHORT WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, SAW SMOKE AND VEHCILE COMPLETE BURNED. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
CLUTCH REPLACED BY LOCAL MECHANIC LASTED 8942 MILES. CLUTCH REPLACED BY DEALER LASTED 4861 MILES.
CLUTCH ASSEMBLY LINKAGE UNDERNEATH THE DASHBOARD GIVES OUT. ALSO, THEY'VE HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED 3 TIMES. CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY AT ABOUT 65 MPH THE VEHICLE MAKES A NOISE AND THE GEARS JUST FALL APART, THEY JUST STOP WORKING.
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
WHILE DRIVING THE REAR TIRE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION WHICH RESULTED IN DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE, AT THE TIME OF FAILURE THE TIRE REMAINED FULLY INFLATED, THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMT FROM FIRESTONE BUT WAS DECLINED BECAUSE THEY SAID THAT THE TIRE APPEARED TO HAVE BEEN OPERATING FOR AND UNKNOWN AMOUNT OF TIME WITH INSUFFICIENT AIR PRESSURE (FIRESTONE, FR721, P235/75R15, DOT VDHLF7U434, THE TIRE WAS MOUNTED ON A 1988 FORD F150 AND HAD 41002 MILES AT TIME OF FAILURE). *AK *NLM
TIRE BLEWOUT ON EXPRESSWAY. DEALER AGREE AND GAVE DISCOUNT ON NEW TIRE. NOTICED SIDE WALL WHERE TREAD AND SIDEWALL COME TOGETHER HAD FUNNY CRACK IN SIDEWALL AND LOOKS LIKE WIRE OR FIBERS COMING OUT. ALL AROUNG THE PERIMETER OF THE TIRES.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE FRAME IS CRACKED ON THE DRIVES' SIDE AROUND THE GEAR BOX AND IN ANOTHER AREA WHICH LEAVES IT VERY UNSTABLE. THE TIRE IS WOBBLY, DODGES AND DARTS AROUND ON THE ROAD. *AK ALL OF THE FRONT SUSPENSION, WHEEL BEARINGS ON THE LEFT SIDE AND THE LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED. *SC *JB
STEERING SHAFT LOST STEERING COMPLETELY. UPPER SHOCK BRACKETS ROTTED OUT AND SHOCKS PUT HOLE IN GAS TANK AND LOST ALL FUEL. *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
THROTTLE PEDAL STICKS WHEN PEDAL IS AT >80% THROTTLE POSITION. AFTER TRACING THE PROBLEM, I HAVE FOUND IT IS IN THE PEDAL ASSEMBLY. APPLYING OIL WILL FIX FOR 1-2 MONTHS BEFORE PROBLEM RETURNS. MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE!
VEHICLE WA SPARKED, DRIVER GOT INTO VEHICLE AND STARTED IT, VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT/INJURY. *AK
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
STEERING SHAFT LOST STEERING COMPLETELY. UPPER SHOCK BRACKETS ROTTED OUT AND SHOCKS PUT HOLE IN GAS TANK AND LOST ALL FUEL. *JB
STEERING COLUMN FIRE.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE YOKE THAT HOLDS THE DRIVE SHAFT RUSTED AND BROKE OFF AND DAMAGED THE SIDE OF THE FUEL TANK.
DIFFERENTIAL REPLACED DUE TO OIL LEAK.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE BECAME TO WOBBLE, AS THE CONSUMER WAS PULLING OVER THE LEFT REAR WHEEL CAME OFF THE VEHICLE STRIKING A PASSING SEMI, AS A RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED DAMAGE TO THE LEFT REAR QUARTER AND AXLE, THE DRIVER INDICATED THAT 250 MILES PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT HE HAD A BRAKE JOB AND IT APPEARED THAT ALL FIVE LUG NUT CAME OFF CAUSING THIS ACCIDENT. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT) *YH
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STARTED SHAKING, TURNED CORNER AND LEFT REAR JUST FELL OFF. ON ANOTHER INCIDENT (4) OF THE (5) LUG BOLTS SHEARED OFF THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL.*AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
DIMMER SWITCH CAUSED A FIRE. TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Heating & air conditioning
Reports naming the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system.
From owner reports, verbatim
'O'-RINGS IN A/C DETERIORATE, ALLOWING FREON TO LEAK. *DSH
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 .