Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 1986 Ford E150
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Electrical System
758.3%
0 crashes, 5 fires
Tires
216.7%
Acceleration & Cruise Control
216.7%
Steering
18.3%
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Feb 1996peak 2Mar 2003
NHTSA investigations into the 1986 Ford E150
An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough
complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks
something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.
PE88054Opened 16 May 1988Closed 1 Mar 1989VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
FUEL TANK OVERPRESSURIZATI
EA87019Opened 30 Apr 1987Closed 23 Oct 1987VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
FUEL EXPULSION
SYNOPSIS: UNDER CERTAIN OPERATING CONDITIONS, FUEL IS EXPELLED FROM THEFUEL FILLER PIPE, WHEN THE FILLER CAP IS REMOVED. IT HAS BEEN REPORTEDTHAT VEHICLE FIRES AND PERSONAL INJURIES HAVE RESULTED. THE PROBLEMAPPEARS TO BE ONE OF EXCESSIVE HEAT COLLECTING UNDER THE VEHICLES, USUALLYWHILE STATIONARY WITH THE ENGINES IDLING OR BEING OPERATED UNDER EXTREMESERVICE CONDITIONS. THIS HEAT CAUSES THE FUEL TO VAPORIZE IN THE FUELTANK AND DEVELOP PRESSURES IN EXCESS OF WHAT THE FUEL TANK VENT SYSTEMCAN HANDLE.STATUS: BY LETTER DATED 9/9/87, FORD NOTIFIED NHTSA OF RECALL OF 188,000E-250 & E-350 VEHICLES T...
PE87017Opened 28 Jan 1987Closed 26 May 1987VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
FUEL LEAKS/FIRES
SUMMARY OF INFORMATION FROM MANUFACTURER:INSTANCES WERE FOUND WHERESPRING LOCK COUPLINGS FAILED CAUSING GASOLINE TO BE RELEASED THROUGHOUTTHE ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUSING FIRES.LEAKS FROM FUEL LINES MAY ALSO BE ACONTRIBUTING CAUSE TO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES.---------------------------------------------------------------------------ANALYSIS:DATA INDICATES THAT THE ALLEGED PROBLEM MAY BE CAUSED BY THESPRING LOCK QUICK CONNECT COUPLINGS WHICH CONNECT THE FUEL SUPPLY ANDRETURN LINES TO THE ENGINE AS WELL AS FUEL LEAKAGE FROM THE FUEL LINES.-------------------------------------------------------...
EA87002Opened 4 Nov 1986Closed 29 Apr 1987VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
FILLER NECK SPURT
SUMMARY OF INFORMATION FROM MANUFACTURER:FORD HAS SUPPLIED INFORMATION REQUESTED CONCERNING VEHICLE POPULATIONAND THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS.ANALYSIS:THE PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE ONE OF EXCESSIVE HEAT COLLECTING UNDER THEVEHICLES, USUALLY WHILE STATIONARY WITH THE ENGINE IDLING.THIS HEATCAUSES THE FUEL TO VAPORIZE IN THE FUEL TANK AND DEVELOP PRESSURES INEXCESS OF WHAT THE VENT SYSTEM CAN HANDLE.STATUS:IR TO FORD SENT ON 2/20/87. MEETING WITH FORD AND FINAL STAGE MANUFACTUR-ERS HELD ON MARCH 11 & 12, 1987. ADDITIONAL MEETING HELD ON MARCH 7, 1987.ALSO ON APRIL I, 1987.FORD ANNOUNCED SERVICE CAMPAIG...
Complaints that involved harm
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
Eagle, MIFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
IGNITION SWITCH SHORTED, CAUSING FIRE, BURNING WIRING HARNESS UNDER THE HOOD.
NHTSA complaint #508143 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Eagle, MIFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
IGNITION SWITCH SHORTED, CAUSING FIRE, BURNING WIRING HARNESS UNDER THE HOOD.
NHTSA complaint #508143 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Columbus, OHFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT TO IAR ALTERNATOR GETS TOO HOT START TO ARC AND SHORTS OUT. RESULTING IN VEHCILE FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #986287 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Brizal, INFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
AFTER PARKING CAR, NOTICED WHITE SMOKING COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE CAR, THEN NOTICED FIRE, POSSIBILE ELECTRICAL SHORT.
NHTSA complaint #982987 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Brizal, INFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
AFTER PARKING CAR, NOTICED WHITE SMOKING COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE CAR, THEN NOTICED FIRE, POSSIBILE ELECTRICAL SHORT.
NHTSA complaint #982987 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
Lewisville, NC
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THE THROTTLE STUCK, WHICH CAUSED UNWANTED SUDDEN ACCELERATION. ON ONE OCCASION THE THROTTLE BODY WAS DIRTY AND ON ANOTHER OCCASION, WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ON, THE VACUUM LINE MALFUNCTIONED. IN EITHER CASE, PRESSING DOWN ON THE BRAKE PEDAL DID NOT STOP THE VEHICLE. THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THE VEHICLE WAS TO TURN OFF THE IGNITION. *TT
NHTSA complaint #10007321 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Unkown, DC
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
THE CRUISE CONTROL VACUUM LINE HAD KINKED WHILE THR CRUISE WAS ON, THE THROTTLE BODY HAD STUCK, AND THE BRAKE PEDAL HAD BECOME INOPERATIVE. SCC
NHTSA complaint #10009086 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Eagle, WI
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
DURING TEXAS TRIP, 1 TIRE WENT FLAT. UPON INSPECTION AND REPLACEMENT, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE CAUSE WAS TREAD SEPARATION. FOLLOWING SUMMER, OTHER TIRES WERE SHOWING SIMILAR BREAKDOWN (NOTELABLY DEEP CRACKS IN THE SIDEWALLS). I WENT BACK TO THE TIRE DEALER THAT HAD SOLD ME THE FIRESTONES AND BOUGHT NEW TIRES (NOT FIRESTONES). I ASKED THE DEALER TO INQUIRE ABOUT THE CRACKS WITH A FIRESTONE REP. I WAS NEVER APPRAISED AS TO THE REPS. ANSWER BUT WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT NEXT TIME I NEEDED TIRES I WOULD GET A GOOD DEAL ON THEM. SEEING AS THE TIRES WERE OLD, I FELT THIS WAS ABOUT THE BEST I COULD EXPECT. I DIDN'T THINK MUCH OF IT UNTIL I HEARD ABOUT THE PROBLEM WITH FIRESTONE LIGHT TRUCK TIRES ON THE RADIO TODAY. I STILL HAVE MY ORIGINAL RECEIPT FOR THE TIRES AND MAY STILL HAVE A PHOTOGRAPH OF THE TIRE THAT WAS REPLACED IT TEXAS. OBVIOUSLY, I NO LONGER HAVE THE TIRES. THEY WERE ORIGINALLY PURCHASED IN 1993. *AK (TIRESIZE: LTP235R15)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: LTP235R15 )
NHTSA complaint #732891 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Champaign, IL
TIRES
RIGHT REAR WHEEL FELL OFF, DAMAGING VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #520746 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Oakford, PA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
WIRING HARNESSES BURNT OUT.
NHTSA complaint #507580 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Oakford, PA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
WIRING HARNESSES BURNT OUT.
NHTSA complaint #507580 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Eagle, MIFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
IGNITION SWITCH SHORTED, CAUSING FIRE, BURNING WIRING HARNESS UNDER THE HOOD.
NHTSA complaint #508143 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Eagle, MIFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
IGNITION SWITCH SHORTED, CAUSING FIRE, BURNING WIRING HARNESS UNDER THE HOOD.
NHTSA complaint #508143 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Columbus, OHFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT TO IAR ALTERNATOR GETS TOO HOT START TO ARC AND SHORTS OUT. RESULTING IN VEHCILE FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #986287 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Brizal, INFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
AFTER PARKING CAR, NOTICED WHITE SMOKING COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE CAR, THEN NOTICED FIRE, POSSIBILE ELECTRICAL SHORT.
NHTSA complaint #982987 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Brizal, INFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
AFTER PARKING CAR, NOTICED WHITE SMOKING COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE CAR, THEN NOTICED FIRE, POSSIBILE ELECTRICAL SHORT.
NHTSA complaint #982987 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Millersvil, MD
STEERING:LINKAGES
WORN BUSHINGS, CAUSING STEERING TO BECOME LOOSE. *DSH
NHTSA complaint #483489 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.