1987 Ford F-150 Problems

Below Average Complaints

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 1987 Ford F-150. Part of Generation 8 — 1987–1991.

19861988
Complaints
109
Crashes
3
Fires
49
Injuries
4
Fatalities
—
Recalls
0

Worst 1987 Ford F-150 Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#117 complaints

Electrical System:Ignition:Switch

Avg mileage:102,313 mi
Fires:16
#27 complaints

Electrical System:Ignition

Fires:2
#37 complaints

Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood

Fires:6
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 1987 Ford F-150.

Electrical System:Ignition:Switch
17
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
16
Avg Miles
102,313
Electrical System:Ignition
7
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
2
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood
7
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
6
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Auxillary Tank:Selector Devices
7
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
2
Avg Miles
185,000
Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
5
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
4
Avg Miles
—
Tires:Tread/Belt
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Structure:Frame And Members
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Unintended Acceleration
3
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical Faults
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
2
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
2
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel Pump
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
2
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Wheels:Lugs/Nuts/Bolts/Studs
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery:Cables
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Starter Assembly
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Wiring
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Catalytic Convertor
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Gasoline Fuel System
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 1987 Ford F-150. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Other Ford F-150 Years

1981198219831984198519861987198819891990199119921993199419951996199719981999200020012002200320042005200620072008200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192020202120222023202420252026

1987 Ford F-150 — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 1987 Ford F-150 reliable?
Verdict: Below Average Complaints. The 1987 Ford F-150 has 109 NHTSA complaints, 3 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Electrical System:Ignition:Switch with 17 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 1987 Ford F-150?
Top reported problems: Electrical System:Ignition:Switch (17 complaints, avg 102,313 mi); Electrical System:Ignition (7 complaints); Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood (7 complaints). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 1987 Ford F-150?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 123,884 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 1987 Ford F-150?
NHTSA complaints for the 1987 Ford F-150 include 3 crash-related reports, 49 fire reports, 4 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 1987 Ford F-150 have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 1987 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 1987 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.

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