Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 1983 Ford F150
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Tires
433.3%
Electrical System
325.0%
0 crashes, 2 fires
Engine & Cooling
325.0%
0 crashes, 2 fires
Windows, Mirrors & Wipers
18.3%
Acceleration & Cruise Control
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 2Oct 2002
NHTSA investigations into the 1983 Ford F150
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.
DP89005Opened 26 Jan 1989Closed 1 Aug 1989FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
F-SERIES FUEL TANK FIRES
F-SERIES FUEL TANK FIRES
Complaints that involved harm
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
Lewistown, MTFire
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL
VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE SAFETY CHECK VALVE TO STOP THE FLOW OF FUEL OF VEHICLE WHEN ITS NOT RUNNING .THIS CAUSED A FIRE THAT DESTROYED CONSUMERS HOUSE. COULD HAVE RESULTED IN INJURIES. *AK
NHTSA complaint #830910 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Guthrie, KYFire
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE.(OHIO STATE POLICE REPORT)
NHTSA complaint #511507 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Jackson Spri, NCFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
DROVE VEHICLE TO STORE, GOT MIRROR, ARRIVED HOME & PARKED, DAUGHTER G0T PURSE, NOTICED SMOKE, PULLED UP HOOD; FLAMES SHOT UP; VEHICLE BURNED COMPLETELY.
NHTSA complaint #984547 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Graham, NCFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
VEHICLE WAS PARKED TURNED SWITCH SAW SMOKE, AND CONSOLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. TT
NHTSA complaint #978983 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
BIG Piney, WY
TIRES
THESE TIRES ARE SEPARATING AND CLOSE TO BLOWING OUT!! UNFORTUNATELY I CANT AFFORD A NEW SET. THEY ONLY HAVE 15000 MILES ON THEM. I CONTACTED UNIROYAL AND THEY WERE VERY DEFIANT AND BRASH!! SOMEONE IS GOING TO BE KILLED USING THIS TIRE, IF THEY HAVENT ALREADY!! THIS TIRE IS ROTTED AND FALLING APART. IT WAS OBVIOUSLY MADE WITH FAULTY COMPONENTS!! DO YOUR JOD AND GET THIS TIRE OFF THE ROAD!!!!!!! MR
NHTSA complaint #767934 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
BIG Piney, WY
TIRES
THESE TIRES ARE SEPARATING AND CLOSE TO BLOWING OUT!! UNFORTUNATELY I CANT AFFORD A NEW SET. THEY ONLY HAVE 15000 MILES ON THEM. I CONTACTED UNIROYAL AND THEY WERE VERY DEFIANT AND BRASH!! SOMEONE IS GOING TO BE KILLED USING THIS TIRE, IF THEY HAVENT ALREADY!! THIS TIRE IS ROTTED AND FALLING APART. IT WAS OBVIOUSLY MADE WITH FAULTY COMPONENTS!! DO YOUR JOD AND GET THIS TIRE OFF THE ROAD!!!!!!! MR
NHTSA complaint #767934 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Edgewood, WA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ENGINE STOPS WHILE DRIVING.STARTER STICKS.
NHTSA complaint #751037 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Edgewood, WA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY
ENGINE STOPS WHILE DRIVING.STARTER STICKS.
NHTSA complaint #751037 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Dunbar, VA
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
TIRE FAILURE-FIRESTONE TOWN & COUNTRY 235/75/R15-TREAD SEPARATION WHILE DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY. TIRES PURCHASED ON 1/99. INSURED SAVED TIRES. (CLAIM# 48-5136-721)
NHTSA complaint #6900163 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
NHTSA complaint #555438 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Chambersburg, PA
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE STALLS UNEXPECTEDLY WHICH ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. TOOK DEALER SEVERAL TIMES AND REPLACED CARBURETOR 3 TIMES. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #825043 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Lewistown, MTFire
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL
VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE SAFETY CHECK VALVE TO STOP THE FLOW OF FUEL OF VEHICLE WHEN ITS NOT RUNNING .THIS CAUSED A FIRE THAT DESTROYED CONSUMERS HOUSE. COULD HAVE RESULTED IN INJURIES. *AK
NHTSA complaint #830910 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Guthrie, KYFire
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE.(OHIO STATE POLICE REPORT)
NHTSA complaint #511507 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Jackson Spri, NCFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
DROVE VEHICLE TO STORE, GOT MIRROR, ARRIVED HOME & PARKED, DAUGHTER G0T PURSE, NOTICED SMOKE, PULLED UP HOOD; FLAMES SHOT UP; VEHICLE BURNED COMPLETELY.
NHTSA complaint #984547 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.