1996 Ford F-150

▲ Better than typical
1996 Ford F-150
BUILT 2026-09-02

This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.

This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.

How is this computed?

COMPLAINTS PER YEAR

Complaints per year, Ford F-150 Bar chart of distinct NHTSA complaints filed per model year, 1996 highlighted. 1984: 2 complaints 1984 1987: 2 complaints 1989: 14 complaints 1990: 21 complaints 1991: 306 complaints 1992: 479 complaints 1992 1993: 588 complaints 1994: 700 complaints 1995: 626 complaints 1996: 324 complaints 1996 1997: 2758 complaints 1997 1998: 1381 complaints 1999: 1044 complaints 2000: 1075 complaints 2001: 1236 complaints 2002: 821 complaints 2002 2003: 423 complaints 2004: 2028 complaints 2005: 1112 complaints 2006: 585 complaints 2007: 488 complaints 2007 2008: 368 complaints 2009: 324 complaints 2010: 842 complaints 2011: 2185 complaints 2012: 1776 complaints 2012 2013: 2978 complaints 2014: 1520 complaints 2015: 1685 complaints 2016: 2026 complaints 2017: 1416 complaints 2017 2018: 2276 complaints 2019: 1312 complaints 2020: 717 complaints 2021: 991 complaints 2022: 581 complaints 2022 2023: 400 complaints 2024: 185 complaints 2025: 102 complaints 2026: 7 complaints 2026
1996: 324 complaints
View as data table
YearComplaints
19842
19872
198914
199021
1991306
1992479
1993588
1994700
1995626
1996324
19972758
19981381
19991044
20001075
20011236
2002821
2003423
20042028
20051112
2006585
2007488
2008368
2009324
2010842
20112185
20121776
20132978
20141520
20151685
20162026
20171416
20182276
20191312
2020717
2021991
2022581
2023400
2024185
2025102
20267

KNOWN PROBLEM AREAS

Percentages can add to more than 100% -- a complaint can name more than one system.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 18%

18% of complaints: electrical system — 57 distinct reports on file, most commonly citing front underhood and ignition.

FIRE INJURY
Show complaint excerpts

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.

NHTSA ODI report, 20230826

Also filed under ENGINE and UNKNOWN OR OTHER

ABOUT THREE MINUTES AFTER I PARKED AND SHUT OFF THE TRUCK IN THE DRIVEWAY, I HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSION, STEPPED OUTSIDE AND SAW FLAMES SHOOTING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD ACCOMPANIED BY BILLOWING SMOKE.

NHTSA ODI report, 20131129

Also filed under SEATS

VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED FOR APPROXIMATELY 1 HOUR AND 10 MINUTES, VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER HOOD. BURNED WIRING, ALL PLASTIC UNDER HOOD ON DRIVERS SIDE, HOOD AND DRIVERS SIDE FRONT FENDER. CALLED FIRE DEPT. PUT OUT WITH FIRE EXTINGUISHER.*AK

NHTSA ODI report, 20030707

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 14%

14% of complaints: fuel system, gasoline — 45 distinct reports on file, most commonly citing selector devices and auxillary tank.

CRASH FIRE INJURY
SERVICE BRAKES 12%

12% of complaints: service brakes — 40 distinct reports on file, most commonly citing hydraulic.

CRASH FIRE
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 11%

11% of complaints: vehicle speed control — 36 distinct reports on file, most commonly citing cruise control.

FIRE INJURY
Show complaint excerpts

The contact owned a 1996 Ford F-150. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 05V017000 (Vehicle Speed Control). The contact stated that while parked in the driveway, she observed fire between the finder and the hood.

NHTSA ODI report, 20240411

POWER TRAIN 9%

9% of complaints: power train — 28 distinct reports on file, most commonly citing automatic transmission and clutch assembly.

CRASH INJURY DEATH
Show complaint excerpts

MY DAUGHTER PLACED THE TRANSMISSION IN PARK. SHE GOT OUT OF THE TRUCK WHICH WAS PARKED ON A SLIGHT INCLINE AND WALKED BEHIND THE SMALL TRAILER SHE WAS PULLING TO CLOSE A GATE.

NHTSA ODI report, 20021114

SAFETY TIMELINE

R 19960819 — seats

THE SEAT RECLINER TO SEAT FRAME ATTACHING BOLTS ON THESE VEHICLES COULD LOOSEN, FATIGUE AND FRACTURE, ALLOWING THE SEAT BACK TO SUDDENLY RECLINE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE ALL FOAM AND/OR FABRIC SANDWICHED BETWEEN THE RECLINER ASSEMBLY AND THE SEAT FRAME, INSTALL WASHERS BETWEEN THE SEAT RECLINER AND THE SEAT FRAME AT EACH ATTACHMENT POINT, AND INSTA

Campaign 96E010000 — check if this car was fixed

R 19961211 — equipment

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 T

Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH CORRECT CERTIFICATION LABELS AND INSTRUCTIONS FOR INSTALLING THESE LABELS. DEALERS CAN INSTALL THIS LABEL IF THE OWNER SO DESIRES.

Campaign 96V161000 — check if this car was fixed

I 19980421 — PE (closed 19980721)

TIE ROD END FAILURES

I 20050322 — EA (closed 20060802)

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES

R 20050912 — vehicle speed control

ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH SPEED CONTROL, THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH MAY OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.

Remedy: 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 CONTRO

Campaign 05V388000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20060403 — exterior lighting

CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER S

Remedy: PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.

Campaign 06E026000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20060701 — exterior lighting

CERTAIN CK MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION HEADLIGHTS, CLEAR CORNER, BUMPER, AND SIDE MARKER LIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE N

Remedy: CK MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE NONCOMPLIANT LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CK MOTORSPORT AT 1-909-610-7211.

Campaign 06E049000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20090511 — exterior lighting

SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONF

Remedy: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.

Campaign 09E012000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20090728 — exterior lighting

DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONF

Remedy: DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.

Campaign 09E025000 — check if this car was fixed

BUY-SMART CHECKLIST

1996 Ford F-150 — pre-purchase inspection

  • Test/inspect for electrical system issues (57 reports on file for this year).
  • Test/inspect for fuel system, gasoline issues (45 reports on file for this year).
  • Test/inspect for service brakes issues (40 reports on file for this year).
  • Verify recall 96E010000 (seats) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 96V161000 (equipment) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 05V388000 (vehicle speed control) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 06E026000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 06E049000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 09E012000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 09E025000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.

OTHER YEARS OF THIS MODEL

BEST YEARS

▲ 2025 ▲ 2024 ▲ 1991

WORST YEARS

■ 2013 ■ 1997 ■ 2018

See all years ranked →

FAQ

Is the 1996 Ford F-150 reliable?

Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 1996 Ford F-150 is rated "better than typical".

What are the most common problems with the 1996 Ford F-150?

The most-reported component is electrical system, accounting for 18% of complaints on file.

How many recalls does the 1996 Ford F-150 have?

7 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-09-01 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.