Complaints
78
Crashes
1
Fires
20
Injuries
2
Fatalities
—
Recalls
0
Worst 1986 Ford F-150 Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#18 complaints
Electrical System:Ignition
Fires:2
#26 complaints
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch
Fires:4
#35 complaints
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
Fires:2
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 1986 Ford F-150.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System:Ignition | 8 | — | 2 | — | |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 6 | — | 4 | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 5 | — | 2 | — | |
| Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly | 5 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash | 4 | — | 3 | — | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly | 4 | — | 2 | — | |
| Structure:Frame And Members | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Gasoline Fuel System | 3 | — | 2 | — | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Auxillary Tank:Selector Devices | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood | 2 | — | 1 | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Brake Master Cylinder | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Steering:Gear Box (Other Than Rack And Pinion) | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Body Structure | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery | 1 | — | 1 | — | |
| Electrical System:Starter Assembly | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Wiring | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Wiring & Fuses | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys | 1 | — | 1 | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel Pump | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Auxillary Tank | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly:Mounting | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Parking Brake:Conventional:Mechanical:Linkage And Cable | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Parking Brake:Indicator Light | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Power Train:Clutch Assembly | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Power Train:Clutch Assembly:Bell Housing | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belts:Rear/Other | 1 | 1 | — | — |
Electrical System:Ignition
8
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
2
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
4
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
2
Avg Miles
—
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
3
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
2
Avg Miles
—
Structure:Frame And Members
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Gasoline Fuel System
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
2
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Auxillary Tank:Selector Devices
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Brake Master Cylinder
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering:Gear Box (Other Than Rack And Pinion)
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Body Structure
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Starter Assembly
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Wiring
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Wiring & Fuses
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel Pump
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Auxillary Tank
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly:Mounting
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Parking Brake:Conventional:Mechanical:Linkage And Cable
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Parking Brake:Indicator Light
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Power Train:Clutch Assembly
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Power Train:Clutch Assembly:Bell Housing
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat Belts:Rear/Other
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 1986 Ford F-150. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Other Ford F-150 Years
1986 Ford F-150 — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 1986 Ford F-150 reliable?
Verdict: Below Average Complaints. The 1986 Ford F-150 has 78 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Electrical System:Ignition with 8 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 1986 Ford F-150?
Top reported problems: Electrical System:Ignition (8 complaints); Electrical System:Ignition:Switch (6 complaints); Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline (5 complaints). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
How safe is the 1986 Ford F-150?
NHTSA complaints for the 1986 Ford F-150 include 1 crash-related reports, 20 fire reports, 2 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 1986 Ford F-150 have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 1986 Ford F-150 as of the latest data sync. Verify by VIN for the most current status — new recalls can be issued years after a model year ships.
Should I buy a 1986 Ford F-150?
Fewer complaints than typical for this model. That's a good sign, but every individual car is different — the VIN still tells you what happened to this specific one.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Ford F-150 reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 1986 Ford F-150
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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