1987 Ford F Series 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 F Series, 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
- Electrical250.0%
- Brakes125.0%
- Exterior lighting125.0%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
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
FORD MOTOR COMPANY RECALLED 7.5 MILLION TRUCKS WITH DEFECTIVE IGNITION SWITCHES MADE FROM 1988-1996. THEIR LOGIC WAS THAT THE DEFECTIVE IGNITION SWITCHES BEGAN BEING USED IN 5/87, THUS NOT RECALLING 83-87 MODELS. MY COMPLAINT IS THAT I HAVE A LATE MODEL 87 PRODUCED 6/87, WHICH BY FORD'S OWN LOGIC, HAS A DEFECTIVE IGNITION SWITCH, BUT NO RECALL ON 87 MODELS. I WOULD LIKE FOR THE NHTSA TO PETITION FORD TO STEP UP AND RECALL LATE MODEL 87 TRUCKS TO REPLACE THIS IGNITION SWITCH. MY TRUCK HASN'T CAUGHT FIRE YET, BUT IT HAS SMOKED FROM THE STEERING COLUMN ONCE BEFORE AND I DON'T SLEEP WELL AT NIGHT KNOWING I MIGHT WAKE UP TO A FLAMING TRUCK. *TR
IGNITION SWITCH FIRE.
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
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, HAVE BROUGHT UP SOME SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEMS WITH MY EMPLOYER AND THEY SEEM TO THINK THAT IT'LL BE "OK"TO LEAVE THESE VEHICLES IN SERVICE.BUCKET TRUCKS IN SERVICE IN THE BRISTOL,VIRGINIA AREA.*AK EDWARDS TELECOMMUNICATIONS INC.BASED OUT OF CHESTER,SC. IS A SUBCONTRACTOR OF BRISTOL VIRGINIA UTILITY BOARD. SOME OF OUR CONCERNS ARE STROBE LIGHTS NOT WORKING,BUCKETS NOT GREASED,FLUIDS LEAKING OUT OF TRUCKS,BRAKES GOING TO THE FLOOR AT STOPLIGHTS. THERE SEEMS TO BE A GENERAL LACK OF CONCERN FOR THE EMPLOYEES SAFETY,WHICH IS WHY I AM BRINGING THIS TO YOUR ATTENTION.
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
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, HAVE BROUGHT UP SOME SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEMS WITH MY EMPLOYER AND THEY SEEM TO THINK THAT IT'LL BE "OK"TO LEAVE THESE VEHICLES IN SERVICE.BUCKET TRUCKS IN SERVICE IN THE BRISTOL,VIRGINIA AREA.*AK EDWARDS TELECOMMUNICATIONS INC.BASED OUT OF CHESTER,SC. IS A SUBCONTRACTOR OF BRISTOL VIRGINIA UTILITY BOARD. SOME OF OUR CONCERNS ARE STROBE LIGHTS NOT WORKING,BUCKETS NOT GREASED,FLUIDS LEAKING OUT OF TRUCKS,BRAKES GOING TO THE FLOOR AT STOPLIGHTS. THERE SEEMS TO BE A GENERAL LACK OF CONCERN FOR THE EMPLOYEES SAFETY,WHICH IS WHY I AM BRINGING THIS TO YOUR ATTENTION.
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 .