1996 Ford F-150 Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other F-150 years
- Far fewer complaints than other years 28th of 33 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 2 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 324 complaints with NHTSA about the 1996 Ford F-150. That ranks 28th out of 33 F-150 model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is electrical system (56 complaints, 17%), typically at around 100,500 miles. Complaints mention 21 crashes, 75 fires, 20 injuries. There are 2 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 2 defect investigations involving it.
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- 324owner complaints
- 2safety recalls
- 2NHTSA investigations
- 21complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1996 Ford F-150 problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System problems | 56 | 17% | 100,500 | “caught fire” (32%) | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 42 | 13% | 102,000 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 36 | 11% | 130,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 32 | 10% | 150,000 | — | — |
| Power Train | 26 | 8% | 109,750 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 23 | 7% | 100,000 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 23 | 7% | 119,967 | — | — |
| Suspension | 21 | 6% | 91,800 | — | — |
| Tires | 21 | 6% | 204,250 | — | — |
| Steering | 20 | 6% | 122,848 | — | — |
| Seats | 9 | 3% | 132,000 | — | — |
| Structure | 7 | 2% | 181,000 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 7 | 2% | 54,000 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 6 | 2% | 108,250 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Other | 6 | 2% | 104,876 | — | — |
| Wheels | 6 | 2% | 161,429 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 5 | 2% | 104,521 | — | — |
| Visibility | 4 | 1% | 170,000 | — | — |
| Engine | 3 | 1% | 131,000 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 3 | 1% | 125,225 | — | — |
| Equipment | 2 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Parking Brake | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1996 Ford F-150 recalls (2)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Vehicle speed control
Problem: On certain pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles equipped with speed control, the speed control deactivation switch may overheat, smoke, or burn.
Risk: A fire at the switch could occur.
Fix: By letter dated september 12, 2005, owners were instructed to return their vehicles to their dealers to have the speed control deactivation switch disconnected. Owners who have had their speed control deactivated are being notified that parts will be available and advised to make an appointment to reconnect the speed control beginning in february 2006. Owners who did not have their speed control deactivated are being notified to have their system remedied beginning in february 2006. Owners are urged to avail themselves of the free disconnect service as soon as possible because of the significant risk of fire. Owners may contact ford at 1-800-392-3673. (note: also see recalls 05v017 and 06v286)
Equipment:other:labels
Problem: The certification labels on the involved vehicles has incorrect rear tire inflation pressure designations. This does not comply with fmvss no. 120, "tire selection and rims for motor vehicles other than passenger cars."
Risk: Incorrect inflation pressures could cause premature wear of the rear tires. .
Fix: Owners will be provided with correct certification labels and instructions for installing these labels. Dealers can install this label if the owner so desires.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Engine compartment fires (EA05005) — opened Mar 22, 2005, closed Aug 2, 2006, led to recall 05V388000.
- Tie rod end failures (PE98024) — opened Apr 21, 1998, closed Jul 21, 1998.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
The contact owned a 1996 Ford F-150. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number:Â 05V017000 (Vehicle Speed Control). The contact stated that while parked in the driveway, she observed fire between the finder and the hood. The heat from the fire rippled the front of the garage…
The contact owns a 1996 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at unknown speeds, the speedometer became inoperable. The driver was unable to accurately determine the speed. There were no warning lights illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or…
I am unsure of what happened. This truck was sitting in my driveway and caught fire. While on fire it kept trying to start even though no one was in it and the keys were no where near it. The fire truck was called out due to the trucks proximity to the home and the fire was put out. There has not…
The contact owns a 1996 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving 45 MPH, the vehicle started to shutoff and restart independently. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was diagnosed by an independent mechanic. The mechanic informed the contact that the rear tankâs fuel…
The front fuel tank is overflowing when I run the vehicle with the rear tank. The return fuel is always to the front tank causing it to overflow its a hazardous situation.
Other Ford F-150 years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2027 F-150 | 0 | 1 |
| 2026 F-150 | 12 | 5 |
| 2025 F-150 | 107 | 13 |
| 2024 F-150 | 193 | 11 |
| 2023 F-150 | 413 | 13 |
| 2022 F-150 | 597 | 23 |
| 2021 F-150 | 1,028 | 29 |
| 2020 F-150 | 736 | 11 |
| 2019 F-150 | 1,336 | 9 |
| 2018 F-150 | 2,318 | 18 |
| 2017 F-150 | 1,449 | 17 |
| 2016 F-150 | 2,074 | 13 |
| 2015 F-150 | 1,729 | 13 |
| 2014 F-150 | 1,537 | 8 |
| 2013 F-150 | 2,989 | 3 |
| 2012 F-150 | 1,783 | 4 |
| 2011 F-150 | 2,191 | 6 |
| 2010 F-150 | 843 | 1 |
| 2009 F-150 | 324 | 2 |
| 2008 F-150 | 369 | 1 |
| 2007 F-150 | 488 | 2 |
| 2006 F-150 | 585 | 4 |
| 2005 F-150 | 1,112 | 3 |
| 2004 F-150 | 2,029 | 5 |
| 2003 F-150 | 423 | 4 |
| 2002 F-150 | 821 | 2 |
| 2001 F-150 | 1,236 | 8 |
| 2000 F-150 | 1,075 | 6 |
| 1999 F-150 | 1,044 | 7 |
| 1998 F-150 | 1,381 | 8 |
| 1997 F-150 | 2,758 | 14 |
| 1996 | 324 | 2 |
| 1995 F-150 | 626 | 2 |
See all Ford F-150 problems by year, every Ford model, or the Ford VIN decoder.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1996 Ford F-150?
Owners most often report electrical system, fuel system, gasoline, vehicle speed control problems. The top one, electrical system, accounts for 56 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1996 Ford F-150?
Yes, 2 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 1996 Ford F-150 a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other F-150 model years, the 1996 has far fewer complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.