FaultScore

1988 Ford F150 electrical problems

56 of the 170 complaints about the 1988 Ford F150 are about the electrical system — 33% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 84,030 miles.

F

56

Complaints

0

Crashes

40

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Switch 25 44.6%
Ignition 9 16.1%
Wiring 7 12.5%
Interior/Under Dash 7 12.5%
Alternator/Generator/Regulator 3 5.4%
Front Underhood 2 3.6%
Module 1 1.8%
Starter Assembly 1 1.8%
Electrical System 1 1.8%

Electrical System across every Ford F150 year

1985 12 5.2%
1986 24 10.4%
1987 43 18.7%
1988 56 24.3%
1989 54 23.5%
1990 41 17.8%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 69,000 miles Telford, PA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1988 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS HESITANT TO START AND WOULD SPORADICALLY OVERHEAT. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THEIR RECORDS ONLY WENT BACK AS FAR AS TEN YEARS AND THEY COULD NOT VERIFY WHETHER THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 96V071000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION). THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO VERIFIED THE INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THE DEALER AND PROVIDED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NEITHER DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED FOR THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 69,000.

NHTSA complaint #10403857 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 45,000 miles Mondovi, WI

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

VEHICLE FAILED TO START WHEN THE KEY WAS TURNED IN THE IGNITION TO THE ON POSITION. THE DEALERSHIP WAS CONTACTED.

NHTSA complaint #10089172 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 99,061 miles Jupiter, FL Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

ALTERNATOR FIRE ON 1988 FORD F150. *NLM

NHTSA complaint #10019139 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 166,000 miles Palm Harbor, FL Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

2ND WIRE HARNESS FIRE ON THIS VEHICLE. 1ST WAS UNDER THE HOOD THE SECOND WAS UNDER THE VEHICLE WHEN IT WAS AT THE DEALER IN NEW PORT RICHEY FLORIDA.

NHTSA complaint #10018600 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Napa, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

THIS IGNITION MODULE HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS BEING A PROBLEM IN FORD VEHICLES AND SHOULD BE RECALLED AS I JUST HAD TO PAY OVER $530 TO TROUBLE SHOOT AND REPLACE THIS COMPONENT ALONG WITH OTHER IGNITION PARTS. THIS IS MY SECOND REPLACEMENT IN TWO YEARS AND I'M NOT HAPPY ABOUT MAKING THE FORD DEALER RICHER FOR THEIR KNOWN DEFECTIVE PARTS.

NHTSA complaint #748833 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Placerville, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

MODULE THAT FITS ON DISTRIBUTOR USUALLY STALLED WHEN ENGINE GOT TO NORMAL TEMPERATURE. FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING 25-30MPH, AND ENGINE WAS AT NORMAL OPERATING TEMPERATURE. TOOK VEHICLE TO A PERSONAL MECHANIC, AND PROBLEM WAS FIXED, PROBLEM HAS NOT REOCCURRED YET.

NHTSA complaint #875821 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bakersfield, CA Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

PICK-UP WAS DRIVEN LESS THAN 2 MILES THAT DAY PARKED FOR ABOUT AN HOUR, THEN DRIVEN BACK HOME, AND PARKED IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE ON THE STREET I LOCKED IT AND WENT INSIDE . ABOUT 30 TO 45 MINUTES LATER MY NEIGHBOR INFORMED ME THAT MY PICK-UP WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND PUT OUT THE FIRE WITHIN MINUTES. MY PICK-UP WAS A TOTAL LOSS I COULD NOT UNDERSTAND WHY IT CAUGHT FIRE BECAUSE IT WAS RUNNING FINE AND IT HAD BEEN RECENTLY SMOGED WITHOUT ANY LEAKS SHOWING. I WAS INSURED WITH AARP- HARTFORD (PL-PD ONLY) DID NOT COVER LOSSES. ALSO JUST WONDERING IF ANYBODY ELSE HAD THESE PROBLEMS. THANK- YOU FOR YOUR TIME --ERNIE.

NHTSA complaint #707375 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Williston, FL Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR ABOUT 30 TO 45 MINUTES WHEN IT CAUGHT ON FIRE AROUND THE STEERING COLUMN AREA, DESTROYING THE VEHICLE. ALSO RECALL REPAIRS ON IGNITION SWITCH WERE DONE PRIOR TO THE FIRE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. (96V-071).

NHTSA complaint #822927 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Unknown, UN Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

VEHICLE FIRE DUE TO IGNITION FAILURE.

NHTSA complaint #533446 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Goshen, OH Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

CAR IGNITION WAS ON AND THE CAR WAS PARKED AND SMOKE CAME FROM THE CAR AND CAUGHT FIRE.

NHTSA complaint #818843 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Langley, SC Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

RECALL 96V071000. THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE 35 DAYS AFTER BEING SERVICED FOR THE RECALL. *AK RECALL WAS FOR THE IGNITION, CONSUMER STATED FIRE WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND AROUND THE STEERING COLUMN, VEHICLE WAS TOTALLY DESTROYED. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #818143 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Langley, SC Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

RECALL 96V071000. THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE 35 DAYS AFTER BEING SERVICED FOR THE RECALL. *AK RECALL WAS FOR THE IGNITION, CONSUMER STATED FIRE WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND AROUND THE STEERING COLUMN, VEHICLE WAS TOTALLY DESTROYED. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #818143 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Cedar Creek, TX Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

RECEIVED RECALL FOR THE IGNITION SWITCH AND HAD RECALL REPAIRED IN SEPTEMBER OF 96. A YEAR LATER THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE AND WAS BURNED BEYOND RECOGNITION. CONSUMER HAD JUST LEFT THE VEHICLE PARKED FOR AN HOUR WHEN HE RETURNED AND FOUND THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE.THE ENGINEER SAID THERE WAS NO DEFECT FOUND ON THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER THINKS IT WAS A RESULT FROM THE IGNITION RECALL. *AK FORD STATED THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO VERIFY A MANUFACTURER DEFECT THAT MAY HAVE CAUSED THE FIRE, CONSUMER FEELS IT'S RELATED TO THE IGNITION SWITH, COULD ALSO HAVE BEEN ENGINE FAILURE. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #816279 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Gibsonville, NC Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

IGNITION SWITCH FIRE.

NHTSA complaint #512579 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Woodson, TX Fire 1 killed

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

IGNITION SWITCH SHORTED, CAUSING FIRE.

NHTSA complaint #507282 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Holland, PA Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT DUE TO A FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH.

NHTSA complaint #513122 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Cape Charles, VA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

DEALERSHIP DID NOT CORRECT RECALL PROBLEM, THEY ARE TRYING TO MAKE THE CONSUMER PAY FOR THE SERVICE THAT WAS PERFORMED AFTER TRYING TO CORRECT THE RECALL PROBLEM AFTER 3 TRIES.

NHTSA complaint #802932 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Garden City, KS

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

AFTER HAVING THE RECALL REPAIR WORK DONE, THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START AND IS LOCKED IN PARK POSITION. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN PUTTING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, THE KEY ALMOST TURNS ALL THE WAY AROUND, RECALL NUMBER WAS 96V071. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #802039 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Clovis, NM

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

CONSUMER HAD THE IGNITION SWITCH FIXED ON 7-29-96. TWO WEEKS LATER THE SWITH DID NOT WORK, AND FORD REFUSED TO FIX IT AT NO CHARGE.

NHTSA complaint #800782 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Franklin, PA Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

FIRE STARTED IN THE IGNITION SWITCH AREA.

NHTSA complaint #986410 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Collierville, TN Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

TRUCK WAS PARKED AND CAUGHT ON FIRE.*AK CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED FOR 20 MINUTES WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT BEGAN TO SMOKE, FIRE WAS CONCENTRATED ON DRIVER'S SIDE INTERIOR, CONSUMER WAS RECENTLY INFORMED THAT MANUFACTURER THAT TERE WAS A FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH AND THEY WOULD REPLACE IT,CONSUMER NOTIFIED MANUFACTURER AND ADVISED HAD ALREADY BEEN REPLACED AND HE IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENTCONSUMER HAS NOT HEARD FROM MANUFACTURER.

NHTSA complaint #987342 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Collierville, TN Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

TRUCK WAS PARKED AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. PLEASE DESCRIBE.

NHTSA complaint #987342 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

LAS Vegas, NV

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

THE DEALERSHIP SAYS HIS RECALL LETTER SAYS IT IS FOR THE IGNITION SWITCH BUT THE DEALER SAYS ITS FOR SOMETHING ELSE AND HAS TO PAY FOR THE IGNITION SWITCH.

NHTSA complaint #986769 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Burlingame, KS

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

AUTO STALLS OUT ALL THE TIME, AFRAID OF HAVING SOMEONE HIT HER BECAUSE OF IT. *AK CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE WILL RESTART AFTER IT SITS FOR A FEW MINUTES, CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE ACTS LIKE IT IS NOT GETTING GAS WHILE DRIVING. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #986670 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Charleston, SC Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

ALTERNATOR CAUGHT ON FIRE, POSSIBLY DUE TO DEFECT IN THE PLUG. *AK

NHTSA complaint #986572 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Ilwaco, WA Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

IGNIITION SWITCH FIRE.

NHTSA complaint #504371 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Antioch, CA Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE IGNITION SWITCH, CAUSED THE STEERING COLUMN TO CATCH ON FIRE WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. PLEASE DESCRIBE.

NHTSA complaint #984342 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Miami, FL Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE DUE TO THE IGNITION SWITCH. PLEASE DESCRIBE.

NHTSA complaint #984113 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Hermitage, TN Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE IGNITION SWITCH, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE.

NHTSA complaint #983902 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Hermitage, TN Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE IGNITION SWITCH, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE.

NHTSA complaint #983902 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1988 Ford F150 problems

← Full 1988 Ford F150 report