Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 1988 Ford E150
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Electrical System
746.7%
0 crashes, 3 fires
Tires
213.3%
Fuel & Propulsion
213.3%
Acceleration & Cruise Control
16.7%
Body & Structure
16.7%
Brakes
16.7%
Steering
16.7%
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.
Jun 1995peak 3Oct 2000
NHTSA investigations into the 1988 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.
EA91044Opened 30 Oct 1991Closed 30 Oct 1992SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
LOSS OF BRAKE EFFECTIVENES
===
PE91077Opened 23 May 1991Closed 31 Oct 1991SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
LOSS OF BRAKE EFFECTIVENES
Complaints that involved harm
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
Rosamond, CAFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
WHILE DRIVING, LIGHTS KEPT ON FLICKERING, STOPPED, NOTICED SMOKE UNDER HOOD, CHECKED UNDER HOOD AND NOTICED FLAMES, PARTS STORE EMPLOYEE INFORMED DRIVER IT WAS ALTERNATOR, DID NOT GO TO DEALER. *AK *SLC
NHTSA complaint #806348 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Detrot, MIFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
STOPPED AT GAS STATION AND SAW SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER HOOD,AFTER OPENING THE HOOD, CONSUMER SAW FIRE FLAMES AND THEN THREW WATER ON IT TO PUT IT OUT.
NHTSA complaint #984155 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Howell, MIFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING: REAR COMPARTMENT/TRUNK
WIRING IN REAR OF VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE FROM LEFT REAR TAIL LIGHT. *SKD
NHTSA complaint #481763 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
Boulder, CO
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
COULD THIS BE THE SAME IGNITION MODULE THAT THEY ARE CONCERNED WITH IN CALIFORNIA? WHILE NO ONE WAS INJURED WHEN MY IGNITION MODULE FAILED, IT COST MY COMPANY $453.46 TO HAVE THE VAN TOWED AND REPAIRED. THIS IS IN ADDITION TO ABOUT $900.00 IN LOST REVENUES FOR THAT VAN.
NHTSA complaint #734100 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Cresco, IA
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
TWO OF THE FIRESTONE FR480 TIRES EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION AND AIR LOSS. *MJS
NHTSA complaint #554614 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Hickory, NC
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
WHILE DRIVING THE ENGINE CUT OFF COMPLETELY,WAS GOING 35MPH , HAD A VERY DIFFICULT TIME IN CONTROLLING STEERING AND OPERATING POWER BRAKES . VAN WOULD NOT RESTART ,HAD A PULL IN. DIAGNOSTIC TEST AT FORD DEALER INDICATED VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW IGNITION MODULE
NHTSA complaint #731667 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Portsmouth, VA
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE STARTED SHAKING.THEN FELT A BUMP UNDER VEHICLE, AND VEHICLE SHOOK HARDER. FOUND OUT THAT RIGHT REAR TIRE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION. TRIUMPH RADIO 2000 P235/75 R15. *AK DOT HYHLT28046, TIRE FAILURE CAUSED DAMAGE TO VEHICLE. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #869387 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ST. Pete Beach, FL
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
BOTTOM OF WHINDSHIELD WIPER ON DRIVER'S SIDE IS CORRODED AND, WATER COULD GET INSIDE OF VEHICLE THROUGH THAT CORRODED PART.
NHTSA complaint #856218 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Cleveland, OH
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP
GAS CAP DOES NOT VENT. ON HOT DAYS THE TANK PRESSURIZES AND GAS LEAKS FROM CAP. WHEN CAP IS THEN OPENED IT COMES OUT LIKE A HOT RADITOR. IS THERE A RECALL?
NHTSA complaint #540832 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Rosamond, CAFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
WHILE DRIVING, LIGHTS KEPT ON FLICKERING, STOPPED, NOTICED SMOKE UNDER HOOD, CHECKED UNDER HOOD AND NOTICED FLAMES, PARTS STORE EMPLOYEE INFORMED DRIVER IT WAS ALTERNATOR, DID NOT GO TO DEALER. *AK *SLC
NHTSA complaint #806348 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SAN Diego, CA
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE IT IDLES OKAY THEN AS PUTTING IT INTO GEAR ITS RPMS SEEM TO JUMP. AFTER ABOUT 10 SECONDS IT CALMS DOWN.
NHTSA complaint #805777 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Wichita, KS
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
ALTERNATOR FAILED FOUR TIMES.
NHTSA complaint #505860 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Detrot, MIFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
STOPPED AT GAS STATION AND SAW SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER HOOD,AFTER OPENING THE HOOD, CONSUMER SAW FIRE FLAMES AND THEN THREW WATER ON IT TO PUT IT OUT.
NHTSA complaint #984155 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Milton, FL
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
THE WIRES UNDERNEATH THE HOOD HAVE BURNED AND THE TRUCK WILL NOT TURN OFF WHEN KEY WAS REMOVED FROM THE IGNITON. PLEASE DESCRIBE.
NHTSA complaint #984137 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Warren, MI
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
PURCHASE USED THE TIE ROD AND BRAKE WAS BAD . TT
NHTSA complaint #973659 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Warren, MI
STEERING:LINKAGES
PURCHASE USED THE TIE ROD AND BRAKE WAS BAD . TT
NHTSA complaint #973659 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Rochester, MN
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
NOTICE HOLE IN UPPER PORTION OF THE GAS TANK.
NHTSA complaint #968068 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Howell, MIFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING: REAR COMPARTMENT/TRUNK
WIRING IN REAR OF VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE FROM LEFT REAR TAIL LIGHT. *SKD
NHTSA complaint #481763 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.