1986 Ford F150 Recalls, Complaints & Specs
1 safety recall lists the 1986 Ford F150, and owners have filed 61 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
1 safety recall for the 1986 Ford F150
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings (fuel system)
Spring lock fuel line coupling may not be properly engaged.
Remedy: Install retainer clips over the couplings to prevent coupling separation and fuel leakage.
61 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 1986 Ford F150 have filed 61 complaints with NHTSA; 1 describe a crash and 16 describe a fire. Reports cite 2 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 120,500 miles. Complaints peaked in 1996 with 23 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“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 w”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, July 18, 2008 · Vehicle speed control
“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”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, June 17, 2003 · Steering
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 1986 Ford F150 (F150 Pickup 2WD, F150 Pickup 4WD). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 11–20 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 11–18 / 12–23 |
| Fuel | Regular |
| EPA class | Standard Pickup Trucks |
| Engine | 6/8 cyl, 4.9/5/5.8 L |
| Transmission | Automatic 3-spd; Automatic 4-spd; Manual 3-spd; Manual 4-spd |
Compare Ford F150 model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Ford F150 model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1955 Ford F150 | 0 | 1 |
| 1966 Ford F150 | 0 | 1 |
| 1968 Ford F150 | 0 | 1 |
| 1973 Ford F150 | 1 | 0 |
| 1975 Ford F150 | 3 | 1 |
| 1976 Ford F150 | 1 | 0 |
| 1977 Ford F150 | 5 | 3 |
| 1978 Ford F150 | 9 | 4 |
| 1979 Ford F150 | 9 | 2 |
| 1980 Ford F150 | 4 | 3 |
| 1981 Ford F150 | 3 | 2 |
| 1982 Ford F150 | 0 | 5 |
| 1983 Ford F150 | 1 | 10 |
| 1984 Ford F150 | 1 | 13 |
| 1985 Ford F150 | 1 | 28 |
| 1986 Ford F150 | 1 | 61 |
| 1987 Ford F150 | 3 | 89 |
| 1988 Ford F150 | 2 | 139 |
| 1989 Ford F150 | 4 | 210 |
| 1990 Ford F150 | 4 | 254 |
Checking a specific 1986 Ford F150
How do I know if my 1986 Ford F150 has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 1 campaign currently lists the 1986 Ford F150; your car may already have been repaired under it.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Ford dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 87V139000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Ford models
- F-15037,961 complaints
- Explorer34,566 complaints
- Escape27,430 complaints
- Fusion22,405 complaints
- Focus22,096 complaints
- Taurus18,159 complaints
- Windstar14,158 complaints
- Edge14,065 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.