1996 Ford F-150 Problems, Recalls & Reliability
383 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 1996 Ford F-150, alongside 7 recall campaigns and 2 defect investigations. It scores 15/100 on the trouble index — one of this model's quieter years. Electrical leads the reports, typically around 100,500 miles.
One of the quieter years. Relative to its siblings, the 1996 Ford F-150 has drawn well-below-average complaint volume with at least four years on the road.
Better year
Where 1996 sits among all F-150 years
What owners report
“On september 2, 2004, the 1996 ford f150 was parked in front of the house and caught fire under the hood. The tulsa fire deparment came and put out the fire. They reported it appeared to be electrical and under the hood”— owner report to NHTSA, 1996 F-150
“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.”— owner report to NHTSA, 1996 F-150
“When driving and put into four wheel drive put on the brake truck pulled to the left . Tt”— owner report to NHTSA, 1996 F-150
“I have a 1996 f-150 that the cruise control quit working onseveral months ago. Yesterday, the fuse that supplies power to the "brake pressure switch" blew. I found brake fluid in the electrical connector of the "brake pressure switch." why is this vehicle not part of the recall for this part? My…”— owner report to NHTSA, 1996 F-150
“3 of 4 original tires failed due to belt separation. I had e-mailed firestone, after the first failure, and replacement with a like firestone tire. Subsequent failures were replaced with michelin tires. Copies of e-mail correspondence are available upon request.( dot number: tire size: p235/75r15 )”— owner report to NHTSA, 1996 F-150
“Transmission and torque coverter locked up causing the vehicle to jerk and stall at an intersection.”— owner report to NHTSA, 1996 F-150
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 133 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 115,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 85,000 and 150,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (7)
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 CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY…
Fix: 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.
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 CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY…
Fix: 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.
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 NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO…
Fix: 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.
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 SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE…
Fix: 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.
ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH SPEED CONTROL, THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH MAY OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.
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…
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."
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.
THE SEAT RECLINER TO SEAT FRAME ATTACHING BOLTS ON THESE VEHICLES COULD LOOSEN, FATIGUE AND FRACTURE, ALLOWING THE SEAT BACK TO SUDDENLY RECLINE.
Fix: 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…
Federal defect investigations
Led to recall campaign 05V388000.
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 1996 Ford F-150 reliable?
The 1996 Ford F-150 drew 383 complaints in federal safety records — one of this model's quieter years. Its trouble index is 15/100, scored against the model's worst year (1997).
What are the most common 1996 Ford F-150 problems?
The top reported problems for the 1996 Ford F-150 are electrical (62 complaints), fuel system (51), and brakes & stability (42).
At what mileage do 1996 Ford F-150 problems show up?
Owners most often report 1996 Ford F-150 problems around 115,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 85,000 and 150,000 miles.
Does the 1996 Ford F-150 have recalls?
7 recall campaigns apply to the 1996 Ford F-150. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.