Total Complaints
78 filings
FORD F150 · model year
1986 FORD F150
78 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1986FORDF150 carries 78 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 1 crash, 20 fires, 2 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 1986 F150 is electrical system:ignition with 8 filings, followed by electrical system:ignition:switch (6) and seat belts:front:buckle assembly (5). 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 2 investigation files overlapping the 1986 F150. 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.
78
Complaints
1
Crashes
20
Fires
2
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
1 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:IGNITION | 8 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH | 6 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY | 5 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 5 |
| STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS | 4 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH | 4 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY | 4 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | 3 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 3 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:AUXILLARY TANK:SELECTOR DEVICES | 3 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD | 2 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY | 2 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS | 2 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER | 2 |
| STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION) | 2 |
Recent Complaints
20080718FireVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
MY 1986 FORD F-150 WAS PURCHASED USED WITH 150,000 MILES AND WAS PARKED NEXT TO MY HOUSE, NOT RUNNING, WHEN A FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD AND THE TRUCK BURNED NEARLY BURNING MY HOUSE AND TRAILER, AS WELL AS ALL INSIDE IT AND SCARED MY SON AND I TERRIBLY. *TR
Mileage: 156,000
20030617STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
WHILE BACKING INTO THE GARAGE CONSUMER TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT AND HEARD A LOUD NOISE. CONSUMER GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE, AND SAW THE STEERING BOX ON THE GROUND UNDER THE VEHICLE. *AK
20030613FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
1986 FORD F150 WITH DUAL FUEL TANKS, FUEL SIPHONS FROM ONE TANK TO THE OTHER, TANK OVERFLOWS CAUSING SPILLAGE ON GROUND. SAME PROBLEM WITH CHECK VALVE ON FORD F150 MODELS DURING 1990 TO 1993 RESULTED IN A RECALL. DANGEROUS SITUATION COULD RESULT IN FIRE OR EXPLOSION. *NLM
Mileage: 85,000
20020219FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:AUXILLARY TANK:SELECTOR DEVICES
AFTER FILLING BOTH TANKS, FRONT TANK'S FUEL WOULD POUR INTO AND OUT OF REAR TANK. TOOK TO MECHANIC, AND PROBLEM COULD NOT BE RESOLVED. *AK CONSUMER WAS ADVISED BY MANUFACTURER TO GET TRUCK FIXED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AS THIS IS A DANGEROUS PART FAILURE. *TT
20020205ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK
20020110ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUTS DOWN WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
20011218SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE FOR APPROXIMATELY TEN YEARS AND HAVE REPLACED THE MASTER CYLINDER FOUR TIMES, ONCE WITH A REBUILT CYLINDER AND THREE TIMES WITH NEW CYLINDERS. IT IS BECOMING A HAZARD THAT RECURRS EVERY YEAR AND A HALF TO TWO YEARS, AND IS ALSO BECOMING EXPENSIVE. THE LAST INSTANCE COST $180 TO REPAIR.*AK
20011026ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
WHILE TRAVELING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE WOULD STALL WITHOUT ANY INDICATION INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
20010926STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED 4 MODULAR REPLACEMENTS. TRUCK WOULD SHUT OFF COMPLETELY, WHICH RESULTED IN STEERING LOCK; INOPERABLE. REPAIRS WERE FROM ALAMEDA FORD, ALL STAR FOD, WINNER FORD; ALAMEDA FORD INDICATED THE PART THAT WEN INTO MODULATOR HA TO BE RE-INVENTED AS PREVIOUS PART NO LONGER MADE. 6/01/99 PICKED UP VEHICLE FROM REPAIR, LOUD CLINK IN ENGINE. TRUCK DELIVERED TO BROADWAY MOTORS FOR REPAIR, CONTACTED B.A.R. TO HAVE MATTER REVIEWED; 4/01 BROADWAY FORD CALLED TO INFORM TRUCK WAS BEING AUCTIONED OFF. OWNER HAD TO REPURCHASE TRUCK, REPAY FOR REPAIRS, APPLY FOR A NEW LISCENCE W/SMOG CERTIFICATE, ETC. IN 6/01 RETURNED VEHICLE TO BROADWAY FORD FOR GEAR BOX REPAIR. ALL REPLACE PARTS AND INVOICES ARE IN OWNER'S HANDS @ 9/24/01.*AK
20010926ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED 4 MODULAR REPLACEMENTS. TRUCK WOULD SHUT OFF COMPLETELY, WHICH RESULTED IN STEERING LOCK; INOPERABLE. REPAIRS WERE FROM ALAMEDA FORD, ALL STAR FOD, WINNER FORD; ALAMEDA FORD INDICATED THE PART THAT WEN INTO MODULATOR HA TO BE RE-INVENTED AS PREVIOUS PART NO LONGER MADE. 6/01/99 PICKED UP VEHICLE FROM REPAIR, LOUD CLINK IN ENGINE. TRUCK DELIVERED TO BROADWAY MOTORS FOR REPAIR, CONTACTED B.A.R. TO HAVE MATTER REVIEWED; 4/01 BROADWAY FORD CALLED TO INFORM TRUCK WAS BEING AUCTIONED OFF. OWNER HAD TO REPURCHASE TRUCK, REPAY FOR REPAIRS, APPLY FOR A NEW LISCENCE W/SMOG CERTIFICATE, ETC. IN 6/01 RETURNED VEHICLE TO BROADWAY FORD FOR GEAR BOX REPAIR. ALL REPLACE PARTS AND INVOICES ARE IN OWNER'S HANDS @ 9/24/01.*AK
20010926ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED 4 MODULAR REPLACEMENTS. TRUCK WOULD SHUT OFF COMPLETELY, WHICH RESULTED IN STEERING LOCK; INOPERABLE. REPAIRS WERE FROM ALAMEDA FORD, ALL STAR FOD, WINNER FORD; ALAMEDA FORD INDICATED THE PART THAT WEN INTO MODULATOR HA TO BE RE-INVENTED AS PREVIOUS PART NO LONGER MADE. 6/01/99 PICKED UP VEHICLE FROM REPAIR, LOUD CLINK IN ENGINE. TRUCK DELIVERED TO BROADWAY MOTORS FOR REPAIR, CONTACTED B.A.R. TO HAVE MATTER REVIEWED; 4/01 BROADWAY FORD CALLED TO INFORM TRUCK WAS BEING AUCTIONED OFF. OWNER HAD TO REPURCHASE TRUCK, REPAY FOR REPAIRS, APPLY FOR A NEW LISCENCE W/SMOG CERTIFICATE, ETC. IN 6/01 RETURNED VEHICLE TO BROADWAY FORD FOR GEAR BOX REPAIR. ALL REPLACE PARTS AND INVOICES ARE IN OWNER'S HANDS @ 9/24/01.*AK
20010802FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:AUXILLARY TANK:SELECTOR DEVICES
FUEL IS LEAKING FROM ONE TANK TO ANOTHER TANK, CAUSING AN OVERFLOW, AND ALLOWING EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF FUEL TO LEAK ONTO GROUND DUE TO CROSSFLOW CONDITION, CHECK VALVE FAILUIRE.*AK *SLC
20010802FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:AUXILLARY TANK
FUEL IS LEAKING FROM ONE TANK TO ANOTHER TANK, CAUSING AN OVERFLOW, AND ALLOWING EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF FUEL TO LEAK ONTO GROUND DUE TO CROSSFLOW CONDITION, CHECK VALVE FAILUIRE.*AK *SLC
20010517ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ONGOING PROBLEM WITH ENGINE STALLING WHILE TRAVELING FROM 50 OR MORE MPH. VEHICLE BEEN IN DEALER SHOP ON THREE OCCASIONS, AND WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE CAUSE. *AK
20001025ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
WHEN DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY AT ANY GIVEN TIME VEHICLE WILL JUST SHUTDOWN, LOSING ALL POWER. FORD HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK
20001023ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I BOUGHT THE TRUCK USED AND HAD THE ENGINE REBUILT DUE TO LOW COMPRESSION, OIL CONSUMPTION AND LOW FUEL MILEAGE. THE TRUCK RUNS FINE, BUT WHEN IT GETS HOT IT HAS A TENDENCY TO STALL AND WILL NOT RESTART FOR QUITE A WHILE. I WAS IN OMAHA AND STOPPED, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND WOULD NOT RESTART, OVER THE RADIO CAME A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING, WITH MY FAMILY WITH ME THERE WAS NO PLACE I COULD TAKE THEM. THERE WAS HAIL BUT AND LUCKILY NO HAIL.. I LEFT MY FAMILY AND WENT TO GET OUR OTHER VEHICLE AND LEFT THE TRUCK. . I AM CURRENTLY OVERSEAS IN KOSOVO, SO I CAN NOT IMMEDIATELY RETURN THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER AT THIS TIME. IS THERE A TIME LIMIT ON THIS RECALL?*AK
20001016ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 60MPH ON HIGHWAY AND VEHICLE SHUT OFF WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. VEHICLE DROVE ROUGH/SLOW AND FAST SPEED. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM.*AK
20001010UNKNOWN OR OTHER
PAINT IS PEELING DUE TO A LEAD BASE PAINT. OVER THE TIRE WELLS IS RUSTING OUT BECAUSE OF PAINT PEELING OFF.NO SAFETY DEFECT. *AK
20000630STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
INSIDE HANDLE ON DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR KEEPS BREAKING OFF. CONSUMER HAS REPLACED HANDLE 3 TIMES, BUT IT KEEPS BREAKING OFF. *AK
20000427STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK
Compare 1986FORDF150 to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1986 FORD F150 have?▼
The 1986 FORD F150 has 78 NHTSA complaints, 1 crashes, 20 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1986 FORD F150?▼
The most-complained component for the 1986 FORD F150 is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION with 8 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH and SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY.
Is the 1986 FORD F150 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.