The 1986 Ford F-150 has 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 3,600,000 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 78 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the electrical system. Last updated July 5, 2026.
SPRING LOCK FUEL LINE COUPLING MAY NOT BE PROPERLY ENGAGED.
COUPLING COULD DISENGAGE DUE TO FUEL PRESSURE,VIBRATION, AND ENGINE MOVEMENTS; THIS WOULD CAUSE LOSS OF FUEL WHICH, INPRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, CREATES A FIRE RISK.
INSTALL RETAINER CLIPS OVER THE COUPLINGS TO PREVENT COUPLING SEPARATION AND FUEL LEAKAGE.
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.
“My 1986 ford f-150 was purchased used with 150,000 miles and was parked next to my house, not running, when a fire started under the hood and the truck burned nearly burning my house and trailer, as well as all inside it and scared my son and I terribly. *tr”
“1986 ford f150 with dual fuel tanks, fuel siphons from one tank to the other, tank overflows causing spillage on ground. Same problem with check valve on ford f150 models during 1990 to 1993 resulted in a recall. Dangerous situation could result in fire or explosion. *nlm”
“While backing into the garage consumer turned the steering wheel to the left and heard a loud noise. Consumer got out of the vehicle, and saw the steering box on the ground under the vehicle. *ak”
“After filling both tanks, front tank's fuel would pour into and out of rear tank. Took to mechanic, and problem could not be resolved. *ak consumer was advised by manufacturer to get truck fixed as soon as possible as this is a dangerous part failure. *tt”
“I have owned this vehicle for approximately ten years and have replaced the master cylinder four times, once with a rebuilt cylinder and three times with new cylinders. It is becoming a hazard that recurrs every year and a half to two years, and is also becoming expensive. The last instance cost…”
“Fuel is leaking from one tank to another tank, causing an overflow, and allowing excessive amount of fuel to leak onto ground due to crossflow condition, check valve failuire.*ak *slc”
“Fuel is leaking from one tank to another tank, causing an overflow, and allowing excessive amount of fuel to leak onto ground due to crossflow condition, check valve failuire.*ak *slc”
“Vehicle has experienced 4 modular replacements. Truck would shut off completely, which resulted in steering lock; inoperable. Repairs were from alameda ford, all star fod, winner ford; alameda ford indicated the part that wen into modulator ha to be re-invented as previous part no longer made.…”
F-SERIES FUEL TANK FIRES
ANALYSIS:A REVIEW OF FORD MOTOR COMPANY'S RESPONSES TO ODI INFORMATIONREQUESTS ISSUED UNDER PRELIMINARY EVALUATIONS PE 87-012, PE 87-017, ANDPE 87-020, INDICATED THAT THE FAILURE AND/OR MALFUNCTION OF THE SPRING-LOCKFUEL LINE COUPLINGS APPEARED TO BE THE MAJOR SOURCE OR CAUSE OF ENGINECOMPARTMENT FIRES IN THE SUBJECT…
SUMMARY OF INFORMATION FROM MANUFACTURER:INSTANCES WERE FOUND WHERESPRING LOCK COUPLINGS FAILED CAUSING GASOLINE TO BE RELEASED THROUGHOUTTHE ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUSING FIRES.LEAKS FROM FUEL LINES MAY ALSO BE ACONTRIBUTING CAUSE TO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT…
There is no summary currently available
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1986 Ford F-150 as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.