FaultScore

1996 Ford F-150 transmission problems

29 of the 383 complaints about the 1996 Ford F-150 are about the transmission — 8% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 109,750 miles.

D

29

Complaints

3

Crashes

0

Fires

1

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Automatic Transmission 9 31.0%
Torque Converter 3 10.3%
Axle Assembly 3 10.3%
Clutch Assembly 3 10.3%
Manual Transmission 2 6.9%
Power Train 1 3.4%
Gear Position Indication (Prndl) 1 3.4%
Park/Neutral Start Interlock Switch 1 3.4%
Pedal/Hand Lever(Motorcycle) 1 3.4%
Driveshaft 1 3.4%

Transmission & Drivetrain across every Ford F-150 year

1991 14 0.2%
1992 30 0.3%
1993 50 0.6%
1994 64 0.7%
1995 81 0.9%
1996 29 0.3%
1997 156 1.7%
1998 88 1.0%
1999 84 0.9%
2000 47 0.5%
2001 79 0.9%
2002 53 0.6%
2003 63 0.7%
2004 245 2.7%
2005 114 1.3%
2006 48 0.5%
2007 59 0.7%
2008 51 0.6%
2009 33 0.4%
2010 124 1.4%
2011 826 9.2%
2012 679 7.5%
2013 1,346 14.9%
2014 422 4.7%
2015 387 4.3%
2016 560 6.2%
2017 529 5.9%
2018 990 11.0%
2019 722 8.0%
2020 346 3.8%
2021 309 3.4%
2022 160 1.8%
2023 152 1.7%
2024 55 0.6%
2025 24 0.3%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 187,000 miles Suffolk, VA Crash

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE BEGAN ROLLING AFTER BEING PARKED FOR APPROXIMATELY FOUR MINUTES. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A DITCH, WHICH CAUSED MODERATE VEHICLE DAMAGE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT ASSUME ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE FAILURE BECAUSE THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE VEHICLE IS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED. THE CONTACT HAS A COPY OF THE POLICE REPORT. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 187,000. UPDATED 04/21/09. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE JUMPED OUT OF GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS IN IDLE AND RUNNING. UPDATED 04/21/09.

NHTSA complaint #10258212 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 140,000 miles NEW Carlisle, IN

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD F150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CLUTCH WOULD NOT RELEASE WHEN THE SLAVE CYLINDER DEVELOPED A LEAK. HE PULLED UP TO AN INTERSECTION AND DEPRESSED THE CLUTCH PEDAL, BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO MOVE. HE KEPT DEPRESSING THE PEDAL, BUT IT WOULD NOT RELEASE; THEREFORE, HE APPLIED THE BRAKES AND TURNED OFF THE ENGINE SIMULTANEOUSLY TO PREVENT A CRASH. THE SAME FAILURE RECURRED THE FOLLOWING DAY SO THE CONTACT STOPPED DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THROUGH ONLINE RESEARCH, HE NOTICED THAT MANY OTHER CONSUMERS EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUE. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 140,000. UPDATE 12/16/08 *CN UPDATED 12/18/08.

NHTSA complaint #10243861 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 99,000 miles Greenville, PA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED WITH A 15 AMP ELECTRICAL FUSE FOR THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. WHEN THE FUSE BURNS OUT, HE IS UNABLE TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE OUT OF PARK. WHEN HE PLACES THE GEAR FROM PARK TO DRIVE, THE VEHICLE FAILS TO OPERATE OR MOVE. THE FAILURE HAS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD AND ALMOST CAUSED NUMEROUS CRASHES. THE MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT STATED THAT THE CONTACT IS FULLY RESPONSIBLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 100,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,000. UPDATED 09/05/07

NHTSA complaint #10196270 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 120,500 miles Homestead, FL

POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY:PEDAL/HAND LEVER(MOTORCYCLE)

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 7 MPH, THE CLUTCH WAS DEPRESSED TO SLOW THE VEHICLE. UPON DEPRESSING THE CLUTCH, THERE WAS A POPPING NOISE, AND THE CLUTCH PEDAL FELL TO THE FLOOR. UPON INSPECTION, THE CONTACT NOTED THAT THE PLASTIC CLUTCH LINKAGE RETAINER HAD DETACHED AND FALLEN ONTO THE FLOORBOARD. THE CONTACT THEN REACHED BELOW THE FLOOR OF THE VEHICLE, AND FOUND WHAT HE ASSUMED WAS THE CLUTCH LINKAGE RETAINER BUT IT WAS NOT DURABLE ENOUGH TO SERVE AS A SAFE RETAINER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SEEN BY A DEALER. UPDATED 12/5/2006 - THE ITEM INDICATED IS THE SELF LOCKING BUSHING WHICH FORD RELEASE AS A RETAINER TO THE CONSUMER MARKET.

NHTSA complaint #10173475 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 145,695 miles Tucson, AZ Crash

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.

NHTSA complaint #10132051 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 84,300 miles Broken Arrow, OK

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH WITH CRUISE, VEHICLE SUDDENLY DROPPED INTO A LOW GEAR AND SLOWED QUICKLY. ALSO, INTERMITENTLY WILL NOT SHIFT OUT OF FIRST GEAR WHEN FIRST STARTED.

NHTSA complaint #10118366 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 50,500 miles Eaton, OH

POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY

1996 F150 WITH LESS THAN 51,000 MILES, CLUTCH SEEMS TO BE GOING OUT. CAN NOT SHIFT INTO 1ST GEAR WITHOUT GREAT FORCE, SAME WITH OTHER GEARS INCLUDING REVERSE. TRUCK HAS NEVER BEEN USED SO CLUTCH WOULD BE UNDER EXTREME CONDITION. 2ND HAS ALWAYS BEEN HARD.

NHTSA complaint #10010706 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 35,000 miles Dayton, OH

POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY

FORD F150 1996 MODEL YEAR,300 CUBIC 6 CYLINDER WITH 5 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION. VERY COLD MORNING STARTED TRUCK HAD IT IN GEAR PARKING BRAKE ON AND THE CLUTCH PEDAL ON THE FLOOR. STARTED ENGINE STILL HOLDING THE CLUTCH PEDAL TO THE FLOOR THE CLUTCH ENGAGED TRYING TO MOVE THE VEHICLE FORWARD. SINCE THE BRAKE WAS ON THIS KILLED THE ENGINE. I LET UP ON THE CLUTCH TH PEDAL STAYED ON THE FLOOR . I KICKD THE PEDAL IT CAME BACK UP. I PUMPED THE PEDAL A FEW TIMES AND RESTARTED THE ENGINE, IT WAS FINE THEN AND THE CLUTCH SEEMED FINE FROM THEN ON OUT. I DID CHECK THE CLUTCH FLUID IT WAS FINE. 2 YEARS LATER VERY COLD MORNING ABOUT 7 F THE CLUTCH DID THE SAME THING IT ENGAGED AND WOULD NOT RELEASE UNTIL IT HAD WARMED UP.

NHTSA complaint #10003107 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Salt Lake City, UT Crash 1 injured 1 killed

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

MY DAUGHTER PLACED THE TRANSMISSION IN PARK. SHE GOT OUT OF THE TRUCK WHICH WAS PARKED ON A SLIGHT INCLINE AND WALKED BEHIND THE SMALL TRAILER SHE WAS PULLING TO CLOSE A GATE. THE TRUCK TRANSMISSION FAILED OR RELEASED AND THE TRAILER AND TRUCK BOTH RAN OVER, RESULTING IN HER DEATH. DT

NHTSA complaint #769431 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Eden Prairie, MN

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:TORQUE CONVERTER

PROBLEM LIES WITH BACK FUEL TANK; WHEN IT PUMPS FUEL TO FRONT TANK THERE IS TOO MUCH PRESSURE, FUEL DRIPS TO GROUND. ALSO HAD TO REPLACE CRACKED TORQUE CONVERTER.

NHTSA complaint #882740 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Woodbury, TN

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:TORQUE CONVERTER

LOCK UP TORQUE CONVERTER SHIMMIES(WASHBOARD EFFECT)CONTACT, DEALER SAID NO RECALL.

NHTSA complaint #739656 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

NEW Ringgold, PA

POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY

WHILE DRIVING UP A HILL VEHICLE WILL LOSE POWER AND COULD SHUT OFF. CONSUMER BELIEVED THAT WAS CAUSED BY THE CLUTCH.*AK MECHANIC FOUND MICE NEST IN BELL HOUSING, NOT ALLOWING THE CLUTCH TO ENGAGE ALL THE WAY.

NHTSA complaint #865708 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

NEW Berlin, WI

POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY

REAR AXLE BROKE AND FELL OFF. *AK-

NHTSA complaint #863783 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

OLD Saybrook, CT

POWER TRAIN

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON, AND THE ABS SYSTEM LIGHT IS ON. ALSO, OVERDRIVE LIGHT BLINKS OFF AND ON. FINALLY, SPEEDOMETER/ODOMETER ISN'T WORKING, AND CONSUMER CAN'T DETERMINE HOW FAST THE VEHICLE IS GOING.

NHTSA complaint #848446 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

OLD Saybrook, CT

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON, AND THE ABS SYSTEM LIGHT IS ON. ALSO, OVERDRIVE LIGHT BLINKS OFF AND ON. FINALLY, SPEEDOMETER/ODOMETER ISN'T WORKING, AND CONSUMER CAN'T DETERMINE HOW FAST THE VEHICLE IS GOING.

NHTSA complaint #848446 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Schulykill Haven, PA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH

CONSUMER'S CHILD GOT INTO THE VEHICLE AND WITHOUT THE KEY IN IGNITION, VEHICLE WENT FORWARD, AND CONSUMER HAD TO STOP VEHICLE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.

NHTSA complaint #837813 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Linton, IN

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION AND TORQUE COVERTER LOCKED UP CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO JERK AND STALL AT AN INTERSECTION.

NHTSA complaint #544184 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Linton, IN

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:TORQUE CONVERTER

TRANSMISSION AND TORQUE COVERTER LOCKED UP CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO JERK AND STALL AT AN INTERSECTION.

NHTSA complaint #544184 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Jackson, TN

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT

DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTIONED, VEHICLE MAKES SEVERE POPPING SOUNDS.

NHTSA complaint #538246 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Beaver Falls, PA

POWER TRAIN:AXLE HUBS

LEFT FRONT MAKES ALOUD BANG AND SHAKES THE ENTIRE BODY DUE TO 4-WHEEL DRIVE LOCKING HUBS TRYING TO ENGAGE, ALTHOUGH DRIVER HAD NOT ENGAGED THEM.

NHTSA complaint #534507 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

LOS Angeles, CA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

OVERDRIVE SOLENOID FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #605364 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Austinburg, OH

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

DIFFICULT TO SHIFT INTO 2ND GEAR WHEN COLD IN THE MORNING. FORD IS AWARE OF PROBLEM AND IS DOING NOTHING TO FIX VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #809851 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Holtville, CA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION POWER POINT SEAL FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #602625 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Georgetown, MA

POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT:SEAL

UPON MAKING A LEFT OR RIGHT HAND TURN THERE IS A KNOCKING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT END, THERE IS ALSO A VIBRATION IN THE STEERING COLUMN. STEERING COLUMN PORT WAS REPLACED TWICE, STILL HAVING KNOCKING SOUND. ALSO REPLACED FRONT BRAKE CALIPERS/REAR BRAKES/REAR AXLE SEAL.

NHTSA complaint #808538 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Keyser, WV

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT

DIFFERENTIAL UNIT WITH LIMITED SLIP FOR TRACTION IMPROVEMENT; WHEN LOCKED IN THE VEHICLE PULLS TO THE LEFT OR TO THE RIGHT DEPENDING ON ROAD CONDITIONS. WHEN ROAD IS SLIPPERY THE PROBLEM IS MORE SEVERE THAN UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS.

NHTSA complaint #808382 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

BIG Stone GAP, VA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

WHILE DRIVING AT 55MPH THE VEHICLE SHIFTED INTO A LOWER GEAR AND SUDDENLY LOST POWER. PLEASE DESCRIBE.

NHTSA complaint #805081 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Ashland, NH

POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY

WHEN MAKING TURNS, VEHICLE WOULD JUMP UP AND DOWN, HAD AXLE REPLACED, STILL HAVE PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #979601 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Ashland, NH

POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY

WHEN MAKING TURNS, VEHICLE WOULD JUMP UP AND DOWN, HAD AXLE REPLACED, STILL HAVE PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #979601 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Vallejo, CA

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE

THE TRANSMISSION FELL OUT OF THE VEHICLE WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT

NHTSA complaint #979010 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1996 Ford F-150 problems

← Full 1996 Ford F-150 report