Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1996 Ford F-150 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 53 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 53, in the owner's own words
The contact owns a 1996 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at unknown speeds, the speedometer became inoperable. The driver was unable to accurately determine the speed. There were no warning lights illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 218,000.
I am unsure of what happened. This truck was sitting in my driveway and caught fire. While on fire it kept trying to start even though no one was in it and the keys were no where near it. The fire truck was called out due to the trucks proximity to the home and the fire was put out. There has not been any insoection done on the vehicle since it is burnt to a crisp.
The brake fluid pressure sensor is leaking on to the electrical main computer wires its also leaking from the electrical harness coming from the brake fluid pressure sensor causing the brake tail lights to fail intermittently during vehicle operation
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT WAS NOTIFIED BY HIS MOTHER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE WHILE PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY. THE CONTACT NOTICED FLAMES UNDER THE HOOD ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE NEAR THE WINDSHIELD. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. WHEN THE CONTACT OPENED THE HOOD, HE NOTICED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS, FUSE BOX, AND RELAY BOX WERE BURNED, AND THE MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER WAS COMPLETELY MELTED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V017000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1996 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
ABOUT THREE MINUTES AFTER I PARKED AND SHUT OFF THE TRUCK IN THE DRIVEWAY, I HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSION, STEPPED OUTSIDE AND SAW FLAMES SHOOTING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD ACCOMPANIED BY BILLOWING SMOKE. THE FIRE LASTED 15-20 MINUTES, WENT THROUGH THE FIREWALL, ENTERED AND MELTED DOWN THE CAB. DURING THIS PERIOD OF TIME, I WAS ATTEMPTING TO PUT OUT THE FIRE IN ORDER TO PREVENT IT FROM SPREADING TO THE GARAGE AND THE PROPANE TANK. AS A RESULT, I HAD TO BE TREATED FOR MODERATE SMOKE INHALATION BY THE FIRST RESPONDERS ON THE SCENE. THE TRUCK WAS PART OF THE 2005 RECALL CONCERNING THE LEAKING BRAKE FLUID AND ITS CORROSION OF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS. I BROUGHT THIS TRUCK TO COPPER COUNTRY FORD IN ORDER FOR THEM TO PERFORM THE NECESSARY REPAIRS TO COMPLY WITH THE RECALL NOTICE, WHICH, TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE, WAS PERFORMED. *TR
TL* - THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A FIRE UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. THE CONTACT CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, BY THE TIME THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED THE ENGINE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT THE FIRE HAD TO DO WITH SOMETHING ELECTRICAL UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR CONTACTS VEHICLE, BUT CONTACT STATED HE NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE. *AK
I HAVE PREVIOUSLY SUBMITTED A COMPLAINT ODI ID NUMBER 10110013 DATED 8-3-05. AT THIS TIME, I WILL INSIST THAT A SERIOUS CONSIDERATION BE GIVEN TO THE WIRING HARNESS CONNECTED TO THE CRUISE CONTROL SERVO WHEREBY- THE HORN IS IN PLAY THERE!!! I AM OF COURSE TALKING ABOUT RECALL #05V388000 (NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER) FORD F150 /SUV '95- '01 WITH CRUISE CONTROL FIRE POTENTIAL. THE FUSE (#13 AS LISTED IN THE MANUAL - CHECK OUT THE NUMBER OF ITEMS CONNECTED TO THAT ONE FUSE!) HAD BLOWN BEFORE A FIRE DESTROYED MY WHOLE TRUCK. THAT IS TO SAY I HAD SUSTAINED DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE. FORD SERVICE -MCCAFFERTY OF LANGHORNE, PA RECENTLY INSTALLED THE INLINE BANDAID AT THE MFG. REQUEST. MCCAFFERTY AGAIN LEFT ME TO THERE STREETS WITH AN OBVIOUSLY BURNED HARNESS/CRUISE SERVO PIN CONNECTIONS. (WITH THE HARNESS DISCONNECTED THERE IS NO HORN! CAN I STRESS THIS ENOUGH? MY POINT IS THIS - THE SERVICE TECHS' AND MANAGEMENT DON'T BELIEVE THAT THIS HARNESS HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH MY HORN. QUESTION - DO THE ENGINEERS AT FORD FEEL THE SAME WAY? FROM TODAY'S INQUIRE ON THIS SITE THERE ARE UNCERTAINTIES AS TO WHAT ACTUALLY IS THE CAUSE. THIS COULD BE IT!!!! THE OWNERS GUIDE LISTS THE HORN TO BE CONNECTED AT #3 OF THE POWER DISTRIBUTION BOX LOCATED UNDER THE HOOD. SO BE IT ! IT IS ALSO CONNECTED TO THE #13 FUSE UNDER THE DASH. THE CHART ON PG 357 OF THE MANUAL DOESN'T LIST THE HORN AS PART OF THE CIRCUITRY. IT IS HOWEVER CONNECTED TO THE HARNESS THAT IS CONNECTED TO THAT CIRCUITRY. ON A PERSONAL NOTE, I'D LIKE TO GET MY CRUISE CONTROL PARTS REPLACED - THEY WERE BURNED UP PRIOR TO THE RECALL OF MY '96 F150. MY TRUCK DIDN'T FLAME UP BUT I SMELLED BURNING. *NM
1998 F-150 SITTING IN YARD - FIRE STARTED IN FRONT OF TRUCK - JUST PURCHASED IN OCT. 05. NEVER RECEIVED ANY NOTICES ON RECALL . *NM
DT: THE CONSUMER OWNS A 1996 FORD F150. HE RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER REGARDING THE SCDS ON 10-06-05. THE CONSUMER WAS IN THE PROCESS OF MOVING TO MAINE. ON 10-13-05 THE TRUCK CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED OUTSIDE IN THE DRIVEWAY. THE CONSUMER HAD NOT BEEN ABLE TO TAKE THE TRUCK TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE SCDS DISCONNECTED. THE FIRE ORIGINATED FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONSUMER TOOK PICTURES OF THE TRUCK. THE TRUCK WAS NOT DRIVABLE. THE CONSUMER LIVED IN A RURAL AREA IN WHICH HE PUT OUT THE FIRE HIMSELF. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DID NOT HAVE TO BE CALLED. T HE POLICE DID NOT RESPOND. THE CONSUMER REPORTED SOMETHING SMELLED LIKE PLASTIC BURNING FOR THE PAST MONTH AND HALF PRIOR TO THE FIRE. THE TRUCK WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC IN WEST VIRGINIA, HIS PREVIOUS RESIDENCE, AND THE MECHANIC COULD NOT FIND THE ORIGIN OF THE SMELL. THE CONSUMER REPORTED NO OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE TRUCK. THE INSURANCE COMPANY WAS INFORMED ABOUT THE FIRE AND THEY HAD NOT CALLED THE CONSUMER BACK. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED FORD AT A TOLL FREE NUMBER AND THEY TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT CONSUMER AFFAIRS WOULD BE CONTACTING HIM WITHIN SEVEN TO TEN DAYS. THE CONSUMER HAD NOT HEARD FROM FORD. *AK (11/17/05) RECALL CAMPAIGN # EA05005. *SC
HAVE A 1996 FORD F-150 W/CRUISE CONTROL. IT WAS PARKED IN THE YARD AND STARTED ON FIRE. VEHICLE A TOTAL LOSS. I WAS OUT OF STATE AT THE TIME. *NM
ON AUG. 30TH AT 9:00 A.M. MY 1996 F150 TRUCK CAUGHT FIRE. I WAS NOT IN THE TRUCK I HAD NOT DRIVEN THE TRUCK FOR TWO HRS. IT WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY AND SELF IGNITED, THE FIRE STARTED IN THE ENGINE. IT WAS A REALLY HOT FIRE I HAD TO CALL OUR LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT TO PUT IT OUT. *NM
DT: THE CONTACT OWNED A 1996 FORD F150 XLT. A FIRE OCCURRED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE FIRE WAS FIRST NOTICED COMING UP THROUGH THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT OPERATING ANY DIFFERENTLY THAN BEFORE THE FIRE OCCURRED. THE CONSUMER'S HUSBAND IS A MECHANIC AND SAID IT HAD BURNED THE WIRING HARNESS, AND WAS STARTING IN THE BRAKE PRESSURE SWITCH. NHTSA INVESTIGATION EA05005. *AK *SC
AT ABOUT 4 A.M. ON JULY 16, 2005; MY 1996 FORD F150 STARTED TO BURN AFTER HAVING BEEN PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY FOR SEVERAL HOURS. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS DISPATCHED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE, BUT THE TRUCK WAS A TOTAL LOSS. THE FIRE CHIEF INDICATED THAT IT LOOKED LIKE AN ELECTRICAL FIRE THAT STARTED ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I WAS AWARE OF THE CRUISE SWITCH RECALL ON THE 2000-2001 FORD TRUCKS, BUT DID NOT REALIZE THAT MY TRUCK COULD ALSO BE AFFECTED BY THIS BECAUSE IT HAD THE SAME CRUISE CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH.
2ND INCIDENT CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON, HORN NOT WORKING CRUISE CONTROL MODUEL NOT WORKING, STEERING COLUMN CAUGHT FIRE. REMOVEED SHORTED POWER FEED TO CRUISE CONTROL. 1ST INCIDENT-ABS LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON. SHIFTER WILL NOT COME OUT OF PARK. NEEDED TO TOW VEHICLE, AND REPAIR BLOWN FUSE ON CRUISE CONTROL
ON SEPTEMBER 2, 2004, THE 1996 FORD F150 WAS PARKED IN FRONT OF THE HOUSE AND CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. THE TULSA FIRE DEPARMENT CAME AND PUT OUT THE FIRE. THEY REPORTED IT APPEARED TO BE ELECTRICAL AND UNDER THE HOOD
WHILE I WAS CHECKING THE OIL IN MY TRUCK THE CRUISE CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH BURST INTO FLAMES. I NEVER USE THE CRUISE CONTROL SO I NEVER REALLY THOUGHT ABOUT IT UNTIL I NOTICED THERE WERE SOME RECALLS FOR THIS ISSUE BUT NOT FOR MY MODEL YEAR. LUCKILY I HAD THE HOOD UP LOOKING AT SOMETHING ELSE WHEN IT HAPPENED SO ONLY THE PLASTIC ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR WAS DESTROYED. TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM I REPLACED THE SWITCH AND JUST LEFT IT DISCONNECTED. I NO LONGER HAVE THE SWITCH THAT MALFUNCTIONED. I CANNOT BE SURE ABOUT THE INCIDENT DATE OR PURCHASE DATE, BUT I HAVE GIVEN AN APPROXIMATE ESTIMATE FOR EACH.
THE TRUCK CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY FOR AN HOUR AND 45 MINUTES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD WHICH WAS CAUSED BY AN ELECTRICAL SWITCH FAILURE. THE TRUCK WAS TOTALED. *AK *SC *JB
DT:04/10/05. VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN DRIVEWAY OF RESIDENCE. CONTACT DOES NOT KNOW WHAT CAUSED THE FIRE OR WHERE IT BEGAN. MOSTLY BURNT ON THE LEFT SIDE, BLEW LEFT FRONT TIRE. CONTACT IS NOT SURE IF IT WAS ELECTRICAL OR FUEL FIRE.*AK REGULARLY SERVICED WITH SERVICE RECORDS AVAILABLE.
WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR 3 HOURS A FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK *SC *JB
1996 FORD F150 PICKUP EXPLODED INTO A BALL OF FIRE WITH IGNITION OFF. TRUCK HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH.*AK
OUR TRUCK CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AT 4:00 IN THE MORNING. THERE WAS NO AFTER MARKET WIRING DONE ON THE TRUCK. WE BOUGHT THE TRUCK NEW, AND HAVE NEVER HAD ANY TROUBLE WITH IT. THIS WAS NOT AN INSURANCE JOB. WE TOOK OUR FULL COVERAGE OFF OF IT WHEN WE BOUGHT OUR CAR. THE TRUCK IS AVAILABLE FOR AN INVESTIGATION.*AK
AFTER VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR ONE DAY A FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD. THE FIRE WAS PUT OUT. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
MY 1996 FORD F-150 CAUGHT ON FIRE AND BURNED, TOTALING OUT THE PICKUP AND CAUSING EXTENTSIVE DAMAGE TO OUR HOUSE AND DRIVEWAY. *AK
THE TRUCK CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED. DRIVER CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND TOTALED. *AK
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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