Model year record
1996 Ford F Series recalls & problems
The 1996 Ford F Series has no safety recalls on file with NHTSA, and 16 owner complaints. The most-reported problem area is fuel system, gasoline (5 complaints).
Safety recalls
No safety recalls have been filed for the 1996 Ford F Series.
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
What owners report
| Problem area | Complaints | Typical mileage* |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel system, gasolineStorage › Auxillary tank › Selector devices | 5 | 102,000 mi |
| Electrical systemWiring › Fuses and circuit breakers | 4 | 153,501 mi |
| Vehicle speed controlCruise control | 3 | 91,000 mi |
| Engine and engine coolingEngine; Exhaust system › Manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe | 2 | — |
| Unknown or other | 1 | — |
| SteeringColumn | 1 | — |
| StructureBody › Door | 1 | — |
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
- Electrical systemFire
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.
- Fuel 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
- Structure › 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
- Fuel 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…
- Fuel 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
- Vehicle 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
- Fuel system, gasoline
THE REAR FUEL TANK DRAINS FUEL FROM THE FRONT FUEL TANK AND CAUSES FUEL TO OUT PAST THE FILL CAP. *TR
- Steering › 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
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.
NHTSA defect investigations
- PINCHED WIRING HARNESSESClosedLed to recall 97V111000
wiring harnesses routed along left and/or right frame rails may become pinched between frame and cab.pinched harnesses may suffer loss of insulation integrity which results in a short to ground with the potential for vehicle fire.
- VEHICLE ELECTRICAL FIREClosed
ENGINE WIRING HARNESSBECOMES PINCHED BETWEEN THE VEHICLE CAB AND CHASSIS LEADING TO AN ELECTRICAL SHORT AND FIRE.