1996 Ford F Series
Only 16 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
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.
Only 16 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict. The data below is complete but unranked.
- Complaints
- 16
- Recalls
- 0
- Investigations
- 2
- Top problem
- —
Too few to rank
None on file
Opened by NHTSA
Not enough data
Complaints per year
1996: 16 complaints
View as data table
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 1983 | 0 |
| 1984 | 1 |
| 1985 | 0 |
| 1986 | 0 |
| 1987 | 2 |
| 1988 | 4 |
| 1989 | 2 |
| 1990 | 2 |
| 1991 | 6 |
| 1992 | 2 |
| 1993 | 5 |
| 1994 | 7 |
| 1995 | 16 |
| 1996 | 16 |
| 1997 | 47 |
| 1998 | 20 |
| 1999 | 36 |
| 2000 | 41 |
| 2001 | 44 |
| 2002 | 34 |
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2004 | 7 |
| 2005 | 9 |
| 2006 | 4 |
| 2007 | 4 |
| 2008 | 1 |
Known problem areas
Only 16 complaints on file for this model year — too few to rank by share. Raw counts only, below.
Fuel system, gasoline
5 of 16 total reports mention: fuel system, gasoline, most commonly citing selector devices.
Show complaint excerpts
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.
NHTSA ODI report, 2014-06-20
Electrical system
4 of 16 total reports mention: electrical system, most commonly citing fuses and circuit breakers.
Show complaint excerpts
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.
NHTSA ODI report, 2015-09-11
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.
NHTSA ODI report, 2005-08-23
Vehicle speed control
3 of 16 total reports mention: vehicle speed control, most commonly citing cruise control.
Show complaint excerpts
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.
NHTSA ODI report, 2005-06-21
Engine and engine cooling
2 of 16 total reports mention: engine and engine cooling, most commonly citing manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe and engine.
Structure
1 of 16 total reports mentions: structure, most commonly citing door.
Show complaint excerpts
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.
NHTSA ODI report, 2013-09-27
Safety timeline
No recalls on file for this model year.
0 recalls · 2 investigations · oldest first
To check one car, enter its VIN on the NHTSA recall page. Check a VIN →
-
I
1996-06-13Preliminary evaluationClosed 1996-11-14 Vehicle electrical fire
-
I
1996-11-14Engineering analysisClosed 1997-07-25 Pinched wiring harnesses
Buy-smart checklist
1996 Ford F Series — pre-purchase inspection
Inspect
- Fuel system, gasoline: 5 reports on file for this year.
- Electrical system: 4 reports on file for this year.
- Vehicle speed control: 3 reports on file for this year.
FAQ
- Is the 1996 Ford F Series reliable?
- There isn't enough NHTSA complaint data on file yet to give this model year a verdict.
- What are the most common problems with the 1996 Ford F Series?
- The most-reported component is fuel system, gasoline, accounting for 31% of complaints on file.
- How many recalls does the 1996 Ford F Series have?
- No recalls are on file for this model year.
Data updated 2026-11-01 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.