Auto Recall Watch
U.S. public vehicle records

1987 Ford E150: complaints, problems and recalls

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

17 owner complaints analyzed

0 distinct recall campaigns

70,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1987 model year. Data updated: . 1 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Electrical System:Wiring is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 17 complaints (17.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Electrical and battery issues529.4%
Engine operation211.8%
Transmission and shifting15.9%
Braking behavior15.9%
Steering behavior15.9%
Fuel system concerns15.9%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Electrical System:Wiring
3
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Auxillary Tank:Selector Devices
3
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch
2
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
2
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe
2
Electrical System
1
Electrical System:Ignition
1
Electrical System:Ignition:Module
1
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Electrical System:Wiring3
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Auxillary Tank:Selector Devices3
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch2
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline2
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe2
Electrical System1
Electrical System:Ignition1
Electrical System:Ignition:Module1

Electrical System:Wiring: 3; Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Auxillary Tank:Selector Devices: 3; Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe: 2; Electrical System: 1; Electrical System:Ignition: 1; Electrical System:Ignition:Module: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
0
25,000 to 49,999
0
50,000 to 74,999
1
75,000 to 99,999
0
100,000 to 149,999
0
150,000 and above
0
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0000
25,000 to 49,9990
50,000 to 74,9991
75,000 to 99,9990
100,000 to 149,9990
150,000 and above0

Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0

50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 16 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

1995
1
1996
7
1998
3
2000
3
2001
2
2003
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
19951
19967
19983
20003
20012
20031

1995: 1; 1996: 7; 1998: 3; 2000: 3; 2001: 2; 2003: 1

Pattern summary

Electrical System:Wiring leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 5 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 2 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Examples from the source records

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10027148 · 2003-09-12 (September 12, 2003)

THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD IS CRACKED ON THE RIGHT SIDE. THE EXHAUST FUMES LEAK. THE CONSUMER FEELS THIS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. *AK *TS

Owner-reported narrative. 70,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10027148 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 553315 · 2000-08-01 (August 1, 2000)

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED ENGINE FIRE WHILE DRIVING (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). *MJS

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 553315 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 553892 · 2000-08-21 (August 21, 2000)

CONSUMER WAS BACKING UP WHEN THE THREE BOLTS SECURING THE STEERING GEARBOX TO THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE FRACTURES AT THE FACE OF THE GEARBOX RENDERING THE VEHICLE UNSTEERABLE. NLM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 553892 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 744180 · 2001-04-17 (April 17, 2001)

TIRE TREAD SEPARATION WITH NEAR LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AT 65 MPH IN A STRAIGHT LINE. TIRE PRESSURE ABOUT 30 PSI. VEHICLE WAS EMPTY EXCEPT FOR DRIVER. AN IDENTICAL TIRE ON THIS VEHICLE ALSO HAD TREAD SEPARATION, BUT FAILURE WAS NOT DRAMATIC.*AK (DOT NUMBER: VDHH1LH416 TIRESIZE: P225/75R15)

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 744180 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 801324 · 1996-08-27 (August 27, 1996)

ELECTRICAL SHORT, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE. *AK *SLC

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 801324 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 823579 · 1998-05-22 (May 22, 1998)

THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD HAD CRACKED. STARTED TO LEAK CARBON MONOXIDE INTO PASSENGER'S COMPARMENT. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER & WAS INFORMED BY THE MECHANIC THAT THE COMPUTER IS NOT SHOWING ANYTHING WRONG WITH MANIFOLD. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 823579 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 824327 · 1998-06-16 (June 16, 1998)

EXPERIENCING AN OVERFILL IN ONE TANK, RESULTING IN AN OVERFLOW IN THE SECOND TANK, CAUSING A FUEL LEAK AT THE FILLER NECK. ALSO THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE PROBLEM 91V146000, MFR 91S39. VEHICLE NOT INCLUDED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 824327 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 832108 · 1998-12-10 (December 10, 1998)

PE88050, THE DUAL TANKS SELECTOR VALVE MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE TANKS TO GET OVERPRESSURIZED, WHICH CAUSED THE FUEL SPILL OVER. MAY CAUSE A FIRE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 832108 at NHTSA ↗

Recall history

0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.

No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.

Explore the data

Vehicle analysis explorer

Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.

Data completeness

17 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.

5.9%Usable mileage1 / 17 records
88.2%Valid incident date15 / 17 records
100.0%Valid filing date17 / 17 records
88.2%Ordered incident and filing dates15 / 17 records

Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.

Problems by model year

Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.

Component complaint heatmap
Component19992000200420062007200820092010201120122013
Tires:Tread/Belt
0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

Electrical System:Ignition:Switch
0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Auxillary Tank:Selector Devices
0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

Electrical System:Ignition
0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator
0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood
0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe
0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.

Failure mileage by component

Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.

Component failure mileage distribution
ComponentMileage range (25th–75th percentile)MedianUsable recordsExamples
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail PipeToo few reports for a range70,000 mi1 (sparse)
ODI 10027148 · 70,000 mi

THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD IS CRACKED ON THE RIGHT SIDE. THE EXHAUST FUMES LEAK. THE CONSUMER FEELS THIS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. *AK *TS

Look up ODI 10027148 at NHTSA ↗

Complaint and recall timeline

Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.

1 reports2024-112026-10

Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.

Monthly counts, recall campaigns and complaint examples
Monthly complaint and recall timeline
MonthComplaintsCampaigns announcedExamples
2024-110None

No examples available for this selection.

2024-120None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-010None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-020None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-030None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-040None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-050None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-060None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-070None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-080None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-090None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-100None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-110None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-120None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-010None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-020None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-030None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-040None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-050None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-060None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-070None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-080None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-090None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-10 (partial)0None

No examples available for this selection.

Emerging complaint spikes

Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.

This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.

No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.

Equal-age model-year comparison

Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.

Age 0Age 1Age 21 reports

2012: 0 complaints · 2013: 0 complaints

Equal observation windows
Model yearThrough age 0Through age 1Through age 2
2012000
2013000
Date coverage across each selected cohort
Date basis for all complaints in selected model years
YearIncident dates usedFiling date fallbacksExcluded dates
2012000
2013000

Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.

Components reported together

Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.

Component co-occurrence matrix
ComponentElectrical System:WiringFuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Auxillary Tank:Selector DevicesElectrical System:Ignition:SwitchEngine And Engine Cooling:Engine:GasolineEngine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail PipeElectrical SystemElectrical System:IgnitionElectrical System:Ignition:Module
Electrical System:Wiring—0000000
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Auxillary Tank:Selector Devices0—000000
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch00—00
1
ODI 801324

ELECTRICAL SHORT, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE. *AK *SLC

Look up ODI 801324 at NHTSA ↗

00
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline000—0000
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe0000—000
Electrical System00
1
ODI 801324

ELECTRICAL SHORT, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE. *AK *SLC

Look up ODI 801324 at NHTSA ↗

00—00
Electrical System:Ignition000000—0
Electrical System:Ignition:Module0000000—

Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.

Recurring narrative patterns

Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.

2 patterns with matching reports.

Stalling or loss of power

2 mentions · 11.8% of complaints

Median mileage: Unavailable (0 usable records).

ODI 874725

VEHICLE STALLS AT ANY SPEED. MECHANIC REPLACED COIL, IGNITION MODULE AND OUTPUT WIRE. *AK

Look up ODI 874725 at NHTSA ↗

ODI 899526

VEHICLE STALLS AT ANY TIME/ ANY SPEED. MECHANIC CANNOT FIND CAUSE. *AK

Look up ODI 899526 at NHTSA ↗

Matching rule\b(stall\w*|loss of power|lost power|engine shut\w* off)\b

Fuel smell or leak mentions

1 mentions · 5.9% of complaints

Median mileage: Unavailable (0 usable records).

ODI 824327

EXPERIENCING AN OVERFILL IN ONE TANK, RESULTING IN AN OVERFLOW IN THE SECOND TANK, CAUSING A FUEL LEAK AT THE FILLER NECK. ALSO THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE PROBLEM 91V146000, MFR 91S39. VEHICLE NOT INCLUDED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

Look up ODI 824327 at NHTSA ↗

Matching rule\b(fuel leak\w*|gas leak\w*|gas(?:oline)? smell|smell\w* (?:of )?(?:fuel|gas))\b