Total Complaints
20 filings
FORD E150 · model year
1987 FORD E150
20 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1987FORDE150 carries 20 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 8 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1987 E150 is electrical system:wiring with 4 filings, followed by fuel system, gasoline:storage:auxillary tank:selector devices (3) and electrical system:ignition:switch (2). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 177 investigation files overlapping the 1987 E150, and 8 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
20
Complaints
0
Crashes
8
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING | 4 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:AUXILLARY TANK:SELECTOR DEVICES | 3 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH | 2 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE | 2 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 2 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 1 |
| STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION) | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION | 1 |
| TIRES:TREAD/BELT | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20030714ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD IS CRACKED ON THE RIGHT SIDE. THE EXHAUST FUMES LEAK. THE CONSUMER FEELS THIS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. *AK *TS
Mileage: 70,000
20011127ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
VEHICLE STALLS AT ANY TIME/ ANY SPEED. MECHANIC CANNOT FIND CAUSE. *AK
20010424TIRES:TREAD/BELT
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)
20001109ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
VEHICLE STALLS AT ANY SPEED. MECHANIC REPLACED COIL, IGNITION MODULE AND OUTPUT WIRE. *AK
20000926STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
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
20000814FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED ENGINE FIRE WHILE DRIVING (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). *MJS
19981210FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:AUXILLARY TANK:SELECTOR DEVICES
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
19980616FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:AUXILLARY TANK:SELECTOR DEVICES
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
19980522ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD HAD CRACKED. STARTED TO LEAK CARBON MONOXIDE INTO PASSENGER'S COMPARMENT. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER & WAS INFORMED BY THE MECHANIC THAT THE COMPUTER IS NOT SHOWING ANYTHING WRONG WITH MANIFOLD. *AK
19960827FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
ELECTRICAL SHORT, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE. *AK *SLC
19960827FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ELECTRICAL SHORT, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE. *AK *SLC
19960701FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
THE TRUCK CAUGHT ON FIRE FROM UNDER THE HOOD, CLOSEST TO THE WINDOW. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
19960529FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
THE VEHICLE HAS CAUGHT ON FIRE TWICE DUE TO THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
19960528FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
VEHICLE WAS PARKED, UNDER THE HOOD COMPARTMENT FIRE, ELECTRICAL SHORT, IGNITION SWITCH, WIRING STARTED TO BURN. *AK
19960506ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
HAD IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED BECAUSE IT STOP WWORKING. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
19960502ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
THE TRUCK WIRING SYSTEM BURNED UP WHILE ON THE FORD CAR DEALESHIP LOT. NOW IT IS POPPING AND CRACKING AND IS BURNING AGAIN. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
19960502ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
THE TRUCK WIRING SYSTEM BURNED UP WHILE ON THE FORD CAR DEALESHIP LOT. NOW IT IS POPPING AND CRACKING AND IS BURNING AGAIN. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
19960422FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
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
19960422FireSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC
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
19950314FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:AUXILLARY TANK:SELECTOR DEVICES
WHEN FRONT TANK SELECTED, TRANSFER VALVE FILLS UP REAR TANK. WHEN REAR IS FULL, VALVE LEAKS. TT
Compare 1987FORDE150 to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 8 Open
EA26001Engineering AnalysisOpen
Unintended Transmission Downshift and Rear Wheel Lock-up
PE25020Preliminary EvaluationOpen
Timing Belt Failure
DP25001Defect PetitionOpen
Underbody shields detachment
PE25007Preliminary EvaluationOpen
B-Pillar Trim Detachment
PE25002Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Unintended Transmission Downshift and Rear Wheel Lock-up
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1987 FORD E150 have?▼
The 1987 FORD E150 has 20 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 8 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1987 FORD E150?▼
The most-complained component for the 1987 FORD E150 is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING with 4 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:AUXILLARY TANK:SELECTOR DEVICES and ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH.
Is the 1987 FORD E150 safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.