FaultScore

1991 Ford F-150 electrical problems

61 of the 357 complaints about the 1991 Ford F-150 are about the electrical system — 17% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 114,050 miles.

F

61

Complaints

0

Crashes

41

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Switch 25 41.0%
Ignition 9 14.8%
Wiring 5 8.2%
Interior/Under Dash 5 8.2%
Alternator/Generator/Regulator 5 8.2%
Electrical System 4 6.6%
12V/24V/48V Battery 3 4.9%
Front Underhood 3 4.9%
Module 1 1.6%
Fuses AND Circuit Breakers 1 1.6%

Electrical System across every Ford F-150 year

1991 61 1.6%
1992 58 1.5%
1993 40 1.0%
1994 90 2.3%
1995 66 1.7%
1996 57 1.5%
1997 207 5.3%
1998 91 2.3%
1999 87 2.2%
2000 196 5.0%
2001 138 3.5%
2002 110 2.8%
2003 48 1.2%
2004 100 2.6%
2005 73 1.9%
2006 60 1.5%
2007 42 1.1%
2008 29 0.7%
2009 46 1.2%
2010 166 4.3%
2011 234 6.0%
2012 172 4.4%
2013 321 8.2%
2014 161 4.1%
2015 169 4.3%
2016 186 4.8%
2017 129 3.3%
2018 171 4.4%
2019 98 2.5%
2020 84 2.2%
2021 133 3.4%
2022 127 3.3%
2023 82 2.1%
2024 40 1.0%
2025 22 0.6%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 83,100 miles Greensburg, KY

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THE TRUCK WONT CRANK. WHEN THE KEY IS TURNED OFF AND REMOVED SOME ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS STILL WORK AND CAUSE SMOKING. I HAVE HAD TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY IN FEAR THE TRUCK WILL BURN DOWN. FORD WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE ISSUE AND SAID THEY CANT DO ANYTHING BECAUSE THEIR RECORDS FOR RECALLS ONLY GO 10 YEARS. EVEN THOUGH THE TRUCK HAS LESS THAN 84000 MILES ON IT.

NHTSA complaint #11405365 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 145,000 miles EL Paso, TX

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THE FUEL PUMP FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 145,000. THE CONSUMER STATED THE BATTERY FAILED AND THE SEAL AROUND THE SPEEDOMETER WENT BAD.

NHTSA complaint #10525094 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 149,000 miles Harker Heights, TX Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

ON AUGUST 24, 2001, A FIRE SPONTANEOUSLY BEGAN UNDER THE HOOD OF MY 1991 FORD F150 PICKUP TRUCK WHILE IT WAS TURNED OFF AND PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY AT NIGHT. THE FIRE CAUSED EXPENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE AND WOULD HAVE PROBABLY CAUGHT MY HOUSE ON FIRE HAD THE TRUCK BEEN PARKED IN THE GARAGE. I CHECKED WITH THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP (CENTROPLEX FORD IN KILLEEN, TEXAS, WHICH IS NOW AUTOMAX FORD) ABOUT FORD'S LIABILITY AND THEY SAID REPAIRS WOULD NOT BE COVERED BECAUSE THE FACTORY WARRANTY HAD LONG EXPIRED. I THEREFORE SOUGHT COMPENSATION THROUGH MY INSURANCE COMPANY. I PAID FOR THE FORD DEALERSHIP TO PERFORM REPAIRS, WHICH WERE NOT DONE SATISFACTORILY. I AM REPORTING THIS NOW BECAUSE THE INCIDENT IS VERY SIMILAR TO RECENT OCCURRENCES THAT HAVE CAUSED DEATHS AND RESULTED IN A MAJOR RECALL. MY VEHICLE IS NOT COVERED UNDER THAT RECALL AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN. THEREFORE, I AM REQUESTING THAT THE RECALL BE EXTENDED TO 1991 FORD F150 PICKUPS AND THAT I RECEIVE SATISFACTORY COMPENSATION AND REPAIRS.

NHTSA complaint #10137896 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 78,000 miles Plantation, FL Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

ALTERNATOR WIRING HARNESS AND ALTERNATOR CAUGHT FIRE, COULD EASILY HAVE DESTROYED VEHICLE. AND NEARBY GOVERNMENT BUILDING. I NOTICED SMOKE AND SECURED A FIRE EXTINGUISHER TO REMEDY.

NHTSA complaint #10110012 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Seattle, WA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

CONSUMER STATES THAT VEHICLE'S IGNITION SWITCH HAS SHORT CIRCUITED TWO TIMES. BOTH INCIDENTS RESULTED IN THE ENTIRE IGNITION SYSTEM "BURNING OUT." PH

NHTSA complaint #10006376 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Mechanicsburg, PA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

CONSUMER STATES THAT TRUCK WOULD NOT START TOOK TO DEALER, DEALER STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS DEFECTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. MR

NHTSA complaint #8021172 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Redfield, IA Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

AFTER TAKING VEHICLE INTO DEALERSHIP FOR RECALL 96-V-076-000 RERPAIRS, BUT REMEDY DID NOT WORK, AND THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.

NHTSA complaint #8008151 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Burmingham, AL

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

VEHICLE WOULDN'T START UP AT ALL. WHEN PUTTING KEY INSIDE OF IGNITION IT WOULDN'T TURN ON. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #8000750 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Sturgis, MI Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE, PRIOR TO THIS VEHICLE BECAME HARDER TO TURN ON. THEN STARTER BECAME STUCK, AND IT WAS DIFFICULT TO SHUT VEHICLE OFF. *AKCONSUMER HAD TURNED THE IGNITION BUT DID NOT TURN THE VEHICLE ON. CONSUEMR TOOK THE KEYS AND WENT BACK INTO THE HOUSE ONLY TO COME OUT AGAIN AND FIND THE VEHICLE ON FIRE. CONSUMER HAS SO FAR REPLACED 3 STARTERS AND 5 ALTERNATORS.

NHTSA complaint #899587 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Sturgis, MI Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE, PRIOR TO THIS VEHICLE BECAME HARDER TO TURN ON. THEN STARTER BECAME STUCK, AND IT WAS DIFFICULT TO SHUT VEHICLE OFF. *AKCONSUMER HAD TURNED THE IGNITION BUT DID NOT TURN THE VEHICLE ON. CONSUEMR TOOK THE KEYS AND WENT BACK INTO THE HOUSE ONLY TO COME OUT AGAIN AND FIND THE VEHICLE ON FIRE. CONSUMER HAS SO FAR REPLACED 3 STARTERS AND 5 ALTERNATORS.

NHTSA complaint #899587 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Cayuta, NY

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #753779 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Meaperie, LA Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE, AND BURNED HOOD, WIRE HARNESS AND ALTERNATOR, ETC.

NHTSA complaint #885600 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Santee, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

THE TFI MODULE FAILED, I REPLACED IT WITH AN OEM PART, I WANT REIMBURSEMENT, KNOWN DEFECT

NHTSA complaint #733760 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Tewksbury, MA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

KEY GOT STUCK IN THE ON POSTION. BATTERY CABLE HAD TO BE DISCONNECTED IN ORDER TO TURN VEHICLE OFF. DEALER JUST STATED THERE WERE NOT RECALLS. CONSUMER WILL CONTACT MANUFACTURER TO REGISTER A COMPLAINT.

NHTSA complaint #872572 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Kalamazoo, MI Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

VEHICLE HAS CAUGHT ON FIRE FOR THE 6TH TIME. EACH TIME IT HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED TO BE THE UNDER DASH OR FRONT HOOD. DEALER HAS NEVER GIVEN A REASON FOR THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #865879 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Washington, DC

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

IN AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 1997 I RESPONDED TO NHTSA RECALL 96V071000. THE DEALER IN PUYALLUP, WA REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH. HOWEVER, EVERY SINCE THEN WHEN THE TEMPERATURE DROPS DOWN BELOW 40 DEGREES THE IGNITION SWITCH SEEMS TO FREEZE UP. THIS ONLY HAPPENS IN THE FALL OR WINTER. I AM UNABLE TO TURN THE IGNITION SWITCH TO START THE TRUCK. THE SWITCH BECOMES VERY STIFF UNLESS I FIRST WARM THE STEERING COLUMN WITH A SPACE HEATER OR BLOW DRYER. I AM AFRAID THAT ONE OF THESE DAYS I WILL BREAK THE SWITCH WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE TRUCK.

NHTSA complaint #720454 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Buhl, ID

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS

WHEN USING THE SPEED CONTROL, AND HAVING TO ACTIVATE THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL TO PASS, SPEED CONTROL CUTS OUT, CAUSING THE TRUCK TO SEVERELY DECELERATE.

NHTSA complaint #858386 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Moreno VAL, CA Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

VEHICLE FIRE DUE TO POSSIBLE RECALL COMPONENT FAILURE (IGNITION SWITCH-96V-071) RESULTING IN VEHICLE FIRE. MJS

NHTSA complaint #549432 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Moreno VAL, CA Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

VEHICLE FIRE DUE TO POSSIBLE RECALL COMPONENT FAILURE (IGNITION SWITCH-96V-071) RESULTING IN VEHICLE FIRE. MJS

NHTSA complaint #549432 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Moreno VAL, CA Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

VEHICLE FIRE DUE TO POSSIBLE RECALL COMPONENT FAILURE (IGNITION SWITCH-96V-071) RESULTING IN VEHICLE FIRE. MJS

NHTSA complaint #549432 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lancaster, NY

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY

BATTERY GAUGE READS ALL THE WAY OVER TO THE "N".

NHTSA complaint #530562 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lancaster, NY

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

REPLACED DISTRIBUTOR CAP AND ROTOR.

NHTSA complaint #530562 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lancaster, NY

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

REPLACED IGNITION WIRES.

NHTSA complaint #530562 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Branford Ontario CAN, CD Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH ALTERNATOR. WHILE THEY WERE DRIVING, THEY STARTED SMELLING SMOKE. IN ADDITION, STARTED NOTICING SMOKE COMING FROM THE HOOD. WHEN THEY PULLED OVER AND LIFTED THE HOOD THEY NOTICED THAT THE ALTERNATOR WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME AFTER THE FIRE DIED OUT ON ITS OWN. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.

NHTSA complaint #830472 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Newnan, GA Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

RECALL NOTICE SENT ON THE IGNITION SYSTEM, HOWEVER FAILURE OCCURED PRIOR TO NOTICE.

NHTSA complaint #516860 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Anchorage, AK Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

THE VEHICLE GOT ON FIRE WHILE WAS PARKED. CONSUMER SAID "THE FIRE STARTED ON THE IGNITION SWITCH, AND ALSO ACCORDING TO THE DEALER.

NHTSA complaint #818105 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Newnan, GA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

STEERING COLUMN WIRING BURNED PRIOR TO RECALL.

NHTSA complaint #516860 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Birchwood, WI Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

DRIVING IN TOWN AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH WITHOUT WARNING SMOKE JUST STARTED COMING OUT FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. TURNED OFF THE IGNITION SWITCH AND GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE. ABOUT A ONE MINUTE LATER THE VEHICLE WENT UP IN FLAMES WITHOUT WARNING. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS.

NHTSA complaint #813826 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Fargo, ND Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

AN HOUR AFTER THE ALTERNATOR HAD BEEN REPLACED THE ALTERNATER CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PULLING INTO AN DRIVEWAY AT THE SPEED OF 5MPH. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS.

NHTSA complaint #809908 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Jacksonville, FL

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

VEHICLE REPAIRED UNDER RECALL (#96V071000). IGNITION WILL NOT WORK PROPERLY UNLESS SHAKEN/JIGGLED A FEW TIMES. TOOK TO DEALE,. WAS INFORMED NOTHING WRONG W/IGNITION.

NHTSA complaint #809438 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1991 Ford F-150 problems

← Full 1991 Ford F-150 report