FORD F-SERIES · model year

1996 FORD F-SERIES

17 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1996FORDF-SERIES carries 17 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 5 fires, 1 injury, 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 1996 F-SERIES is fuel system, gasoline with 4 filings, followed by electrical system (3) and vehicle speed control:cruise control (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 1 investigation file overlapping the 1996 F-SERIES. 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.

17
Complaints
0
Crashes
5
Fires
1
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

17 filings

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

ComponentCount
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE4
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM3
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE1
UNKNOWN OR OTHER1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE1
STEERING:COLUMN1
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL1
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:AUXILLARY TANK:SELECTOR DEVICES1
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR1

Recent Complaints

20150911FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TRUCK WAS DRIVEN THEN PARKED, 15 MINUTES LATER WHILE MOWING THE GRASS, I LOOKED OVER AT THE PARKED TRUCKAND IT WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE STARTED AT THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER AND IT WAS A TOTAL LOSS.

Mileage: 219,000

20140620FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

OPENED REAR TANK CAP AND FUEL SPURTED OUT AND WOULD NOT STOP HAD TO PUT CAP BACK ON, I NEVER USE THIS TANK ONLY REFUEL IN THE FRONT TANK. *TR

Mileage: 90,000

20130927STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

I HAVE TRIED NUMEROUS TIMES TO REPLACE MY DOOR HANDLES FROM THE INSIDE OF MY TRUCK. THEY KEEP BREAKING, AND NOW I AM DRIVING A TRUCK THAT I CAN ONLY OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE AFTER ROLLING MY WINDOWS DOWN. I HAVE TALKED TO FORD ABOUT THIS DEFECT, WHICH I CONSIDER A HIGH SAFETY ISSUE IN AN EMERGENCY. THEY SAY THEY HAVE A BETTER DESIGN BUT WILL COST ME $250 EACH TO REPLACE. I KNOW I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT HAS THIS PROBLEM SO WHY ISN'T IT SOMETHING THAT FORD SHOULD REPLACE FREE? MEANWHILE.. I CAN'T AFFORD $500 FOR TWO DOOR HANDLES, PLUS LABOR, ONTOP OF THE COST OF THE ONES I HAVE ALREADY BOUGHT, AND TRIED REPLACING MYSELF. *TR

Mileage: 197,832

20111113FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

GASOLINE IS LEAKING OUT OF THE FRONT FUEL CAP OF MY 1996 FORD F-150 TRUCK. MY TRUCK HAS DUAL TANKS. I CONSIDER THIS TO BE A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM THAT COULD CAUSE A FIRE OR EXPLOSION. MY RESEARCH ONLINE FOUND NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 91V146000. THIS IS THE PROBLEM MY TRUCK IS HAVING BUT IT IS NOT CURRENTLY COVERED UNDER THIS RECALL. I AM WRITING THIS SUNDAY EVENING SO I AM WAITING TILL MORNING TO CONTACT FORD AND REPORT THIS PROBLEM TO THEM. THE RECALL THAT I FOUND CALLED FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE DUAL FUEL TANK SELECTOR VALVE ON 1989 FORD F-150'S. BUT SINCE I AM HAVING THE EXACT SAME DEFECT AND THE EFFECT OF SUCH AN EQUIPMENT FAILURE IS LIFE THREATENING I BELIEVE THE RECALL NEEDS TO BE EXPANDED TO INCLUDE ALL FORD VEHICLES THAT HAVE DUAL FUEL TANKS. *TR

20111113FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:AUXILLARY TANK:SELECTOR DEVICES

GASOLINE IS LEAKING OUT OF THE FRONT FUEL CAP OF MY 1996 FORD F-150 TRUCK. MY TRUCK HAS DUAL TANKS. I CONSIDER THIS TO BE A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM THAT COULD CAUSE A FIRE OR EXPLOSION. MY RESEARCH ONLINE FOUND NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 91V146000. THIS IS THE PROBLEM MY TRUCK IS HAVING BUT IT IS NOT CURRENTLY COVERED UNDER THIS RECALL. I AM WRITING THIS SUNDAY EVENING SO I AM WAITING TILL MORNING TO CONTACT FORD AND REPORT THIS PROBLEM TO THEM. THE RECALL THAT I FOUND CALLED FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE DUAL FUEL TANK SELECTOR VALVE ON 1989 FORD F-150'S. BUT SINCE I AM HAVING THE EXACT SAME DEFECT AND THE EFFECT OF SUCH AN EQUIPMENT FAILURE IS LIFE THREATENING I BELIEVE THE RECALL NEEDS TO BE EXPANDED TO INCLUDE ALL FORD VEHICLES THAT HAVE DUAL FUEL TANKS. *TR

20110818FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

A MALFUNCTIONING CHECK VALVE WITHIN THE FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY CAUSES A PORTION OF THE UNUSED FUEL FROM ONE TANK TO BE RETURNED TO THE SECOND TANK. WHEN THIS OCCURS, THE CAPACITY OF THE SECOND TANK CAN BE EXCEEDED, CAUSING FUEL SPILLAGE. *KB

Mileage: 120,000

20100310VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

CRUISE CONTROL REFUSES TO DISENGAGE WHEN BRAKES APPLIED. ISSUE REPORTED TO FORD DLR. IN 2002 AND DLR. REFUSED TO REPAIR AS NOT UNDER WARRANTY RECALL AND UNIT OUT OF WARRANTY. I DO NOT TRY TO USE CRUISE CONTROL AS VEHICLE ACCELERATES WITH CONTROL ON AND WILL NOT DISENGAGE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT FORD NEEDS TO CORRECT AT NO CHARGE TO ME. *TR

Mileage: 105,000

20090420FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

THE REAR FUEL TANK DRAINS FUEL FROM THE FRONT FUEL TANK AND CAUSES FUEL TO OUT PAST THE FILL CAP. *TR

Mileage: 102,000

20071130STEERING:COLUMN

1996 FORD F 150 AUTO TRANS W/ OVERDRIVE CRUISE & TILT, THE PROBLEM IS STEERING COLUMN FAILURE FIRST TIME WAS ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO AND AGAIN NOW 11/30/2007. THE 1ST TIME AT ABOUT 78,000 MI. AND THE MILEAGE NOW IS 179,000 MI THE DESCRIPTION OF THE FAILURE STARTS AS POPPING SOUNDS ALONG WITH THE SOUNDS OF A RUSTY SCREEN DOOR SPRING THEN IT GETS WORSE TO THE POINT THAT THE STEERING WHEEL HANGS AND IT TAKES BOTH HANDS TO FREE IT. (TRUST ME THIS WILL SCARE THE HECK OUT OF YOU TURNING IN A BUSY INTERSECTION) EVENTUALLY IT WILL LOCK UP COMPLETELY. *TR

Mileage: 179,000

20050917FireVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL

ON 1/10/05, I ARRIVED HOME FROM WORK AND PARKED MY VEHICLE AT APPROXIMATELY 6:00 PM. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED UNDER THE CARPORT 15 FEET AWAY FROM MY BEDROOM WINDOW. AT 12:30 AM, MY WIFE AND I HEARD A NOISE, LOOKED OUT THE BLINDS TO FIND FIRE COMING FROM DRIVERS SIDE EDGES OF HOOD. ME AND MY SON RAN OUT TO GET A GARDEN HOSE AS MY WIFE CALLED 911. AS I WAS PASSING BY THE VEHICLE THE PAINT WAS BEGINNING TO BURN OFF DIRECTLY ABOVE THE BREAK BOOSTER. I BEGAN SPRAYING THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE RADIATOR GRILL, AS MY SON WAS TRYING TO POP THE HOOD. I SPRAYED AROUND THE EDGES, FLAMES WERE COMING OUT MOSTLY FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE. THEN THE DRIVERS SIDE PLASTIC TIRE WELL BURNED OUT ENOUGH, I WAS ABLE TO GET WATER UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AT 12:34 AM. THEY POPPED THE HOOD USING THEIR CABLE TOOL AND BEGAN TO APPLY WATER. LUCKILY THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED WITHIN ABOUT 15 MINUTES, DUE TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IS ONLY A COUPLE OF BLOCKS AWAY. BECAUSE OF THE QUICK RESPON

Mileage: 91,000

20050906FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM

MY SONS TRUCK 1996 FORD F150 CAUGHT FIRE SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY IT HAD BEEN SITTING THERE A LITTLE OVER TWO HOURS. IT STARTED ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE UNDER THE HOOD. THE TRUCK IS TOTALED, MY SOFIC AND GUTTER WAS DESTROYED MY GARAGE. MY 2005 CAR-MATE TRAILER HAS HEAT DAMAGE ON THE FRONT OF IT AND DESTROYED MY NEIGHBORS FENCE AND BUSHES. *NM

Mileage: 155,000

20050823FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM

13-21 AUG TRUCK WAS PARKED IN DRIVEWAY WHILE WE VISITED FAMILY IN SOUTH CAROLINA. TRUCK NOT DRIVEN. DROVE TRUCK 22 AUG TO WORK APPROX. 12.5 MILES. TRUCK WAS PARKED IN PARKING LOT UNTIL 4PM WHEN I DROVE IT HOME. TRUCK WAS PARKED IN DRIVEWAY FROM 4:30 PM UNTIL THE FIRE WAS DISCOVERED BETWEEN 8:30 AND 9:00 PM. I DO NOT KNOW WHEN THE FIRE STARTED AND I HAVE HAD NO PROBLEMS AT ALL WITH THE TRUCK AND I DO NOT KNOW WHAT STARTED THE FIRE. BUT I BELIEVE THE HOTEST PART OF THE FIRE WAS ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ENGINE NEAR THE TOP WHERE MOST OF THE DESTRUCTION WAS LOCATED.

Mileage: 103,000

20050621FireVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL

DT: CONTACT STATES: A FIRE STARTED WHICH WAS RELATED TO THE CRUISE CONTROL MODULE SITTING ON THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER. THE FIRE STARTED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF IN A PARKING LOT BY ITSELF. SOME OF THE ENGINE EQUIPMENT BURNED. CONSUMER CONTACTED FORD ,AND FORD SAID THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER RECALL BECAUSE OF THE YEAR OF THE VEHICLE AND TBE VIN. CONSUMER PAID FOR THE REPAIR OF OUT OF HIS POCKET. *AK

Mileage: 73,000

20050305ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

NYS VEHICLE INSPECTION REQUIRES EMISSION TESTING ON 96 & NEWER MODELS. I HAD MY OXYGEN SENSORS REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES & TWICE IN ONE YEARS TIME. THE OXYGEN SENSORS THAT FORD MAKES ARE DEFECTIVE. IT COSTS ME OVER $500 EACH TIME TO REPLACE THESE SENSORS. *AK

Mileage: 20,000

20050207ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS

1996 FORD F150 FUSE BLOWN # 13 (IN DASH) BRAKE LIGHT FAILURE; SPEED CONTROL ASSOCIATED SENSORS. LOCAL FORD DEALER SERVICED 9-27-04 @ $510.30 TO DIAGNOSE SITUATION AND REMEDIED BY REPLACING THE WHOLE MASTER CYLINDER WHERE IT WAS OBVIOUS THAT THE SWITCH FROM THE SPEED CONTROL ON THIS BRAKE UNIT WAS BURNT. ADDITIONAL REMEDY WAS TO DISCONNECT THE WIRING HARNESS THAT CONTROLS THE SPEED CONTROL RENDERING MY HORN USELESS AS WELL. THE MALE HARNESS CONNECTOR IS PRESENTLY TAPED AS I WAS INSTRUCTED THAT HOOKING IT BACK UP WOULD CREATE THIS SAME FIRE HAZARD CONDITION. THEREFORE, I HAVE NO HORN AND MY SPEED CONTROL ISN'T WORKING EITHER. THE FUSE HASN'T BLOWN AND I DO HAVE BRAKE LIGHTS. ( PA REQUIRES THAT THE HORN WORK TO PASS SAFETY INSPECTION ) THE BRAKING SYSTEM DID NOT FAIL ME AT ANY TIME OTHER THAN THIS ELECTRICAL PROBLEM (BLOWN FUSE) AND THE CHANGING OF THE MECHANICAL/HYDROLOGICS WAS NOT WARRANTED.*JB

Mileage: 152,002

20040422UNKNOWN OR OTHER

SEPT. 5TH I ENCOUNTERED A PROBLEM I THOUGHT I WOULD NEVER HAVE TO DEAL WITH. I HAVE BEEN A LONG TIME SUPPORTER OF FORD, BUT THIS HAS TURNED ME SOUR. I HAVE A PUPPY THAT I PUT INTO THE CAB OF MY TRUCK. AS HE WAS MOVING TOWARDS THE PASSENGERS SEAT (ON THE FLOOR) HE MUST HAVE RUBBED HIS PAW UP NEXT TO THE BLACK BENCH SEAT FRAME. I ONLY FIGURED THIS OUT HOURS LATER AFTER BRINGING HIM HOME FROM THE EMERGENCY ANIMAL CLINIC. HE RECIEVED A CUT THAT WENT DEEP ENOUGH TO CUT A TENDON IN HIS FOOT AND PUT ABOUT A THREE INCH GASH IN HIS FOOT. AFTER EXAMINING EVERY POSSIBLY REASON FOR HIS INJURY I LOOKED IN THE TRUCK. LOW AND BEHOLD THE SEAT FRAME ON MY TRUCK IS RAZOR SHARP AND THERE IS BLOOD ALL OVER IT. I CAN BELIEVE THIS! I HAVE HAD THIS TRUCK SINCE IT WAS NEW...THIS COULD HAVE HAPPENED TO ME, OR EVEN MY LITTLE DAUGHTER JUST BY MOVING THE WRONG WAY...IT COULD HAVE PUT A SERIOUS GASH IN ONE OF OUR FEET OR LEGS, OR EVEN WORSE A TENDON OR SOMETHING. ITS BAD ENOUGH IT HAPPENED TO OUR FIVE MO

Mileage: 57,000

20030610ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

MY F150 ONLY HAS 65000 MILES AND IS 7 YRS. OLD AND DTHE OIL PAN IS RUSTED OUT. FROM THE SOUNDS OF IT, THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH FROD TRUCKS BASED ON INFO. POSTED ON A WEBSDSITE BULLETIN BOARD. I THINK FORD SHOULD TAKE CARE OF THIS.*AK

Compare 1996FORDF-SERIES to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1996 FORD F-SERIES have?
The 1996 FORD F-SERIES has 17 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 5 fires, 1 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1996 FORD F-SERIES?
The most-complained component for the 1996 FORD F-SERIES is FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE with 4 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ELECTRICAL SYSTEM and VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL.
Is the 1996 FORD F-SERIES 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.