Ford F-150 Complaints (1996)

324 consumer complaints on file.

• #10132833August 15, 2005
  VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  FAULTY CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH FIRE ON MY 1996 FORD F-150 PICK-UP. THE FIRE STARTED THIS MORNING ABOUT 2 HOURS AFTER I GOT TO WORK TODAY. THIS IS THE SAME PROBLEM THAT I AM AWARE OF WITH THE 2000 F-150'S BUT MY TRUCK IS A 1996 AND I HAVE NEVER HAD TO REPLACE THE SWITCH. I BOUGHT THE TRUCK IN 1997 WHEN IT WAS ABOUT A YEAR OLD. THE FORD-SMART WEB SITE SAID TO CONTACT YOU IF ANY OTHER YEARS THAN 2000 HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM. *JB

  Crash:

  No

  Fire:

  Yes

  Injuries:

  0

  Deaths:

  0

• #10132141August 15, 2005
  ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

  DT: THE CONTACT OWNED A 1996 FORD F150 XLT. A FIRE OCCURRED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE FIRE WAS FIRST NOTICED COMING UP THROUGH THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT OPERATING ANY DIFFERENTLY THAN BEFORE THE FIRE OCCURRED. THE CONSUMER'S HUSBAND IS A MECHANIC AND SAID IT HAD BURNED THE WIRING HARNESS, AND WAS STARTING IN THE BRAKE PRESSURE SWITCH. NHTSA INVESTIGATION EA05005. *AK *SC

  Crash:

  No

  Fire:

  Yes

  Injuries:

  0

  Deaths:

  0

• #10132715August 13, 2005
  VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL

  THE CRUISE CONTROL CUT OUT SWITCH ON MY 1996 FORD F-150 CAUGHT ON FIRE BETWEEN NOON 7/23 AND 09:15 AM 7/24/2005 WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED SWITCH OFF IN MY GARAGE. THE BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR REMAINED INTACT BUT WAS DAMAGED BY THE FIRE. IF IT HAD DUMPED THE FLUID I SHOULD HAVE LOST MY HOUSE ,MY CAR AND PROBABLY MY LIFE. THIS ITEM HAS RESULTED IN A RECALL ON SOME LATE MODEL TRUCKS AND SUV'S BUT I WAS NOT NOTIFIED THAT THE SAME SWITCH AS THE RECALL UNITS WAS ON MY TRUCK. SYMPTOMS INCLUDED THE CRUISE CONTROL BECOMING INOPERATIVE A COUPLE OF WEEKS BEFORE THE FIRE. THANKS T HOGAN. *JB

  Crash:

  No

  Fire:

  Yes

  Injuries:

  0

  Deaths:

  0

• #10132051August 9, 2005
  STEERING:COLUMN, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

  DT: 1996 FORD F150 XLT PICK UP TRUCK. THE WHEEL ASSEMBLY AND THE SHAFT ON THE DRIVER SIDE IN THE BACK SLID OUT. THE TRUCK WAS BEING DRIVEN ON A SIDE ROAD ABOUT 35 -40 MPH WHEN THIS HAPPENED. THE MECHANIC TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT THESE VEHICLES WERE DESIGNED TO FAIL. IT WAS REPAIRED AT THE COST OF $1300.00. ALSO, WHILE TRYING TO BACK OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY THE SHIFTER WAS FLOPPING AROUND AND A BOLT FELL OUT AT THE CONSUMER'S FEET. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO INTO ANY GEAR. THE BOLT FELL OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN WHERE THE TWO HALVES MEET. OF THE TWO BOLTS ONE FELL OUT, AND THE OTHER WAS VERY LOOSE. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO FIX THEM WITH A RETAINING DEVICE WITH LOCK WASHERS ON BOTH BOLTS. THE THIRD PROBLEM, WAS SIMILAR TO THE FIRST PROBLEM. WHILE DRIVING SOMEONE RAN A RED LIGHT AND THE TRUCK WAS HIT ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE. THE WHEEL AND SHAFT DISENGAGED FROM THE REAR AXLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED, AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK UPDATED 08/02/06. *JB

  Crash:

  Yes

  Fire:

  No

  Injuries:

  0

  Deaths:

  0

• #10130574July 29, 2005
  VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL

  DT: 1996, FORD F150 PICKUP TRUCK CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED OUTSIDE OF THE GARAGE AND THE ENGINE WAS NOT RUNNING. THE TRUCK HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN FOR AT LEAST 2 HOURS PRIOR. THE LAST TIME IT DRIVEN WAS ON SHORT TRIP TO A LOCAL GAS STATION IN WHICH THE FUEL TANK WAS FILLED UP. CONSUMER WAS NOTIFIED BY A PASSING DRIVER, WHO WAS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND KNOCKED ON THE DOOR TO ALERT THEM, THAT TRUCK PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY ON FIRE. CONSUMER'S HUSBAND AND THE PASSER BY TRIED TO PUT OUT THE FIRE WITH A WATER HOSE AND FIRE EXTINGUISHERS. HOWEVER, THEY WERE UNSUCCESSFUL. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME AND PUT THE FIRE OUT. THE FIRE BEGAN ON THE LEFT FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE NEAR STEERING WHEEL. THE FIREMEN NOTED IT SMELLED ELECTRICAL IN NATURE, AND THAT THE HEAT FROM FIRE WAS MOST EXTENSIVE AND CONTAINED IN HEAT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THE CAB WAS BURNED EXTENSIVELY. THE BED WAS INTACT, AND NO FIRE WAS ABLE TO REACH TO THE GASOLINE TANKS. THE HEAT FROM FIRE WAS SO EXTENSIVE THAT LEFT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE MELTED AS WELL AS THE INTERIOR. CONSUMER SPOKE TO FORD ON 4 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS , WHO PROMISED THAT SOMEONE WILL CONTACT CONSUMER THROUGH THEIR LEGAL DEPARTMENT AND SOMEONE MAY COME OUT AND LOOK INTO THE CAUSES OF THE FIRE AND DAMAGES. BUT THIS HAS YET TO HAPPEN. NO REPAIRS WERE DONE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. . THERE WAS ONLY 68,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. *AK

  Crash:

  No

  Fire:

  Yes

  Injuries:

  0

  Deaths:

  0

• #10129432July 20, 2005
  ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

  AT ABOUT 4 A.M. ON JULY 16, 2005; MY 1996 FORD F150 STARTED TO BURN AFTER HAVING BEEN PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY FOR SEVERAL HOURS. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS DISPATCHED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE, BUT THE TRUCK WAS A TOTAL LOSS. THE FIRE CHIEF INDICATED THAT IT LOOKED LIKE AN ELECTRICAL FIRE THAT STARTED ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I WAS AWARE OF THE CRUISE SWITCH RECALL ON THE 2000-2001 FORD TRUCKS, BUT DID NOT REALIZE THAT MY TRUCK COULD ALSO BE AFFECTED BY THIS BECAUSE IT HAD THE SAME CRUISE CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH.

  Crash:

  No

  Fire:

  Yes

  Injuries:

  0

  Deaths:

  0

• #10121083July 19, 2005
  VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  DT: THE CONSUMER DROVE THE TRUCK FOR ABOUT 2 HOURS AND PARKED IT AT THE HOUSE. AFTER ABOUT FOUR OR FIVE HOURS, THE NEIGHBOR CAME OVER SAYING THAT THE TRUCK WAS ON FIRE. THERE WAS NO PRIOR WARNING. *TT THE FIRE OCCURRED UNDER THE HOOD. *SC *JB

  Crash:

  No

  Fire:

  Yes

  Injuries:

  0

  Deaths:

  0

• #10128440July 12, 2005
  VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

  DT: ON JUNE 22, 2005 THE CONSUMER'S FORD F 150 BEGAN SMOKING UNDER THE HOOD WHILE PARKED AND TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN SITTING FOR ABOUT 9 HOURS. THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH LOCATED ON TOP OF THE MASTER CYLINDER SHORTED OUT AND LOOKED LIKE IT WAS GETTING READY TO CATCH ON FIRE. THE SHORT MELTED THE PLASTIC RESERVIOR THAT HOLDS THE BRAKE FLUID TO THE POINT WHERE IT ALMOST BURNED THROUGH. THE OWNER REMOVED THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR TO STOP THE BURNING. THAT CONNECTOR WAS THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH. THE PART COOLED OFF AND THE OWNERS TAPED UP THE CONNECTOR SO IT WOULD NOT MAKE ANY CONNECTION WITH ANY METAL PARTS. THE OWNERS STATES THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP BECAUSE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON. THIS HAD BEEN A PROBLEM FOR ABOUT A YEAR. THE DEALERSHIP WOULD TURN OFF THE LIGHT OFF AND TELL THE OWNER THAT THE VEHICLE CHECKED OUT ALRIGHT ON THEIR COMPUTER. THEY COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. THEY THOUGHT IT WAS AN OXYGEN SENSOR. THERE WAS NO FIRE OR POLICE REPORT MADE. THE OWNER TOOK PICTURES OF THE PART FOR HIS RECORDS. THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN NOTIFIED AND THEY GAVE HIM A FORM LETTER TO CALL THE PHONE NUMBERS ON THE LIST. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED ALSO. THEY SAID THEY WOULD REVIEW THE INFORMATION, AND SENT THE OWNER A LETTER IN THE MAIL. FORD RESPONDED BY SAYING THAT THEY COULD NOT FIX THE PROBLEM BECAUSE IT WAS NOT UNDER RECALL. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REGULARLY MAINTAINED. ON THE DASHBOARD THERE IS A BLINKING ABS LIGHT THAT WILL NOT SHUT OFF BECAUSE THE PART HAS BEEN REMOVED, THEREFORE THE OWNER CAN NOT GET A INSPECTION STICKER ON HIS VEHICLE, BECAUSE THE LIGHT IS BLINKING. THE OWNER CAN NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM WITH THE BLINKING LIGHT BECAUSE THE COMPONENT NEEDS TO BE FIXED WITH THE CORRECT PART. *NM

  Crash:

  No

  Fire:

  No

  Injuries:

  0

  Deaths:

  0

• #10127421July 5, 2005
  ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  2ND INCIDENT CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON, HORN NOT WORKING CRUISE CONTROL MODUEL NOT WORKING, STEERING COLUMN CAUGHT FIRE. REMOVEED SHORTED POWER FEED TO CRUISE CONTROL. 1ST INCIDENT-ABS LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON. SHIFTER WILL NOT COME OUT OF PARK. NEEDED TO TOW VEHICLE, AND REPAIR BLOWN FUSE ON CRUISE CONTROL

  Crash:

  No

  Fire:

  Yes

  Injuries:

  0

  Deaths:

  0

• #10127320July 1, 2005
  VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL

  1)CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING SEVERAL MONTHS AGO 2)1996 F-150 PARKED IN DRIVE WAY, GOT IN TRUCK AND COULD NOT GET OUT OF PARK. LOOKED UNDER HOOD, FOUND CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH AND ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR BURNT UP. THE BRAKE RESERVOIR WAS SEARED FROM CRUISE CONTROL BURNING UP. IF IT HAD BURNED THRU THE RESERVOIR, THE TRUCK MIGHT HAVE CAUGHT ON FIRE. 3)TRUCK HAS NOT BEEN FIXED YET, DEALER SAID I SHOULD CONTACT FORD, EMAILED FORD ABOUT FIXING TRUCK, NO RESPONSE YET

  Crash:

  No

  Fire:

  Yes

  Injuries:

  0

  Deaths:

  0

• #10126114June 21, 2005
  ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

  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

  Crash:

  No

  Fire:

  Yes

  Injuries:

  0

  Deaths:

  0

• #10125340June 15, 2005
  SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER

  DT: THE VEHICLE HAS BUCKET SEATS THAT RECLINE. RECLINER BOLT BROKE AND THE SEAT FELL BACK. THERE IS RECALL 96E010000 BUT OWNER 'S VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP, BUT VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. VEHICLE IS NOT BEING DRIVEN. THE DRIVERS SEAT IS THE ONE WITH PROBLEMS. THE PASSENGER SEAT IS FINE.*AK

  Crash:

  No

  Fire:

  No

  Injuries:

  0

  Deaths:

  0

• #10125172June 13, 2005
  VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL

  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 DEALER SYAS HE HAS A REPLACEMENT SWITCH, BUT I AM HESITANT TO BUY. THINK I'LL JUST LEAVE IT UNPLUGGED FOR NOW.

  Crash:

  No

  Fire:

  No

  Injuries:

  0

  Deaths:

  0

• #10124230June 5, 2005
  EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH

  THE TRUCK WOULD NOT SHIFT FROM PARK TO DRIVE, OWNER FOUND A BLOWN FUSE, #13 ON THE FUSE PANEL.THIS FUSE HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE BRAKE INTERLOCK SYSTEM. WHEN REPLACING THE FUSE IT KEPT BLOWING. OWNER UNPLIGGED THE SWITCH ON THE MASTERCYLINDER AND PUT NEW FUSE IN AGAIN. FUSE DID NOT BLOW AND TRUCK WOULD SHIFT. THERE IS A SHORT IN THE SWITCH OR ELECTRICAL SYSTEM .THIS IS VERY MUCH A FIRE HAZZARD!!!!!!! STILL NOT FIXED.

  Crash:

  No

  Fire:

  Yes

  Injuries:

  0

  Deaths:

  0

• #10124032June 2, 2005
  VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL

  1996 FORD F150 HAD MADE A SHORT TRIP TO HOME DEPOT. APPROXIMATELY 1 HR. LATER I SMELLED WHAT SEEMED LIKE BURNING TAR. I LOOKED AND THERE WAS A LARGE AMOUNT OF SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER MY HOOD.. UPON INSPECTION I FOUND THE CRUISE CONTROL BRAKE SWITCH SMOKING PROFUSELY, A SMALL FLAME. AND EXTREMELY HOT. I UNPLUGGED IT AND THE IMMEDIATE PROBLEM STOPPED.. THE SWITCH IS BURNT AND MELTED. IF I HAD NOT BEEN OUTSIDE AND FOUND THIS EVEN 5 MINUTES LATER. I WOULD NOW HAVE A BURNED TRUCK. THIS IS THE SAME SWITCH THAT FORD HAS RECALLED ON THE 2000 MODELS.AND ADMITTED TO HAVING A PROBLEM AS FAR BACK AS THE 97 MODELS. BUT NOT ON 96. I HAVE CHECKED THEIR WEB SITE AND THERE IS NO RECALL ON THIS YEAR. I WILL BE TAKING IT TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP SOON.. BUT WAS WONDERING IF YOU HAD ANY MORE COMPLAINTS ON THIS MODEL FOR THIS PROBLEM.

  Crash:

  No

  Fire:

  Yes

  Injuries:

  0

  Deaths:

  0

• #10122468May 30, 2005
  ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

  WHILE I WAS CHECKING THE OIL IN MY TRUCK THE CRUISE CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH BURST INTO FLAMES. I NEVER USE THE CRUISE CONTROL SO I NEVER REALLY THOUGHT ABOUT IT UNTIL I NOTICED THERE WERE SOME RECALLS FOR THIS ISSUE BUT NOT FOR MY MODEL YEAR. LUCKILY I HAD THE HOOD UP LOOKING AT SOMETHING ELSE WHEN IT HAPPENED SO ONLY THE PLASTIC ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR WAS DESTROYED. TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM I REPLACED THE SWITCH AND JUST LEFT IT DISCONNECTED. I NO LONGER HAVE THE SWITCH THAT MALFUNCTIONED. I CANNOT BE SURE ABOUT THE INCIDENT DATE OR PURCHASE DATE, BUT I HAVE GIVEN AN APPROXIMATE ESTIMATE FOR EACH.

  Crash:

  No

  Fire:

  Yes

  Injuries:

  0

  Deaths:

  0

• #10108917May 23, 2005
  ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

  THE TRUCK CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY FOR AN HOUR AND 45 MINUTES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD WHICH WAS CAUSED BY AN ELECTRICAL SWITCH FAILURE. THE TRUCK WAS TOTALED. *AK *SC *JB

  Crash:

  No

  Fire:

  Yes

  Injuries:

  0

  Deaths:

  0

• #10120552May 10, 2005
  AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

  DT: VEHICLE WAS IN A FRONTAL CRASH ,AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. WAS CUT OFF AND HIT THE OTHER CAR. WAS GOING ABOUT 40-45 MPH WHEN IMPACT OCCURRED. NO WARNING THAT THE AIR BAGS WOULD NOT DEPLOY.*AK

  Crash:

  Yes

  Fire:

  No

  Injuries:

  1

  Deaths:

  0

• #10120327May 9, 2005
  ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  DT:04/10/05. VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN DRIVEWAY OF RESIDENCE. CONTACT DOES NOT KNOW WHAT CAUSED THE FIRE OR WHERE IT BEGAN. MOSTLY BURNT ON THE LEFT SIDE, BLEW LEFT FRONT TIRE. CONTACT IS NOT SURE IF IT WAS ELECTRICAL OR FUEL FIRE.*AK REGULARLY SERVICED WITH SERVICE RECORDS AVAILABLE.

  Crash:

  No

  Fire:

  Yes

  Injuries:

  0

  Deaths:

  0

• #10115849May 6, 2005
  VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL

  CRUISE CONTROL WAS INOPERATIVE. DEALERSHIP INFORMED CONSUMER THAT CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH MELTED. THE PROBLEM WAS NOT RESOLVED. *AK CONSUMER STATED THAT SOMETIMES THE CRUISE CONTROL WORKS AND SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T. WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS TURNED OFF IT WOULD NOT COME BACK ON FOR A WHILE. *BF *NM

  Crash:

  No

  Fire:

  No

  Injuries:

  0

  Deaths:

  0