1996 Ford F-150 Fuel System
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH A DUAL FUEL TANK AND WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE EMITTED INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE FUEL RETURN CHECK VALVE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THE FUEL FROM THE REAR FUEL TANK OVERFLOWED INTO THE SECOND FUEL TANK. IN ADDITION, FUEL HAD SEEPED OUT OF THE FUEL TANK CAP. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THERE WAS A RECALL ISSUED FOR 1990-1993 F-SERIES MODEL VEHICLES UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 01I008000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) BUT NOT FOR THE 1996 MODEL YEARS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000. UPDATED 06/30/14 MA UPDATED 07/2/2014 *JS
OPENED REAR TANK CAP AND FUEL SPURTED OUT AND WOULD NOT STOP HAD TO PUT CAP BACK ON, I NEVER USE THIS TANK ONLY REFUEL IN THE FRONT TANK. *TR
GASOLINE IS LEAKING OUT OF THE FRONT FUEL CAP OF MY 1996 FORD F-150 TRUCK. MY TRUCK HAS DUAL TANKS. I CONSIDER THIS TO BE A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM THAT COULD CAUSE A FIRE OR EXPLOSION. MY RESEARCH ONLINE FOUND NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 91V146000. THIS IS THE PROBLEM MY TRUCK IS HAVING BUT IT IS NOT CURRENTLY COVERED UNDER THIS RECALL. I AM WRITING THIS SUNDAY EVENING SO I AM WAITING TILL MORNING TO CONTACT FORD AND REPORT THIS PROBLEM TO THEM. THE RECALL THAT I FOUND CALLED FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE DUAL FUEL TANK SELECTOR VALVE ON 1989 FORD F-150'S. BUT SINCE I AM HAVING THE EXACT SAME DEFECT AND THE EFFECT OF SUCH AN EQUIPMENT FAILURE IS LIFE THREATENING I BELIEVE THE RECALL NEEDS TO BE EXPANDED TO INCLUDE ALL FORD VEHICLES THAT HAVE DUAL FUEL TANKS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH THE FUEL TANK DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. APPROXIMATELY 3 GALLONS OF FUEL SPILLED OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO ADVISED HIM THAT BOTH STRAPS WERE SEVERELY COVERED WITH RUST AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ALONG WITH THE FUEL TANK. BOTH STRAPS AND THE FUEL TANK WERE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED REGARDING THE FAILURE AND STATED HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 122,700.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD F-150. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED THE CONTACT NOTICED FUEL LEAKING FROM THE FUEL TANK. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 98V161000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY) THAT MAY BE RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE DEALER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS 1996 FORD F150. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE AND IT WOULD NOT START; HOWEVER, AFTER SWITCHING TO THE REAR FUEL TANK THE VEHICLE STARTED. THE FRONT FUEL TANK HAD APPROXIMATELY A HALF TANK OF FUEL IN IT AT THE TIME. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FUEL WAS LEAKING IN THE FRONT FUEL TANK. THE FUEL WAS OVERFLOWING FROM THE BACK TO THE FRONT FUEL TANK CAUSING A LEAK AND A FUEL ODOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR TO BE REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.
A MALFUNCTIONING CHECK VALVE WITHIN THE FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY CAUSES A PORTION OF THE UNUSED FUEL FROM ONE TANK TO BE RETURNED TO THE SECOND TANK. WHEN THIS OCCURS, THE CAPACITY OF THE SECOND TANK CAN BE EXCEEDED, CAUSING FUEL SPILLAGE. *KB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD F150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT FUEL TANK STRAP WAS CORRODED AND CAUSED A LEAK IN THE FUEL TANK. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO REPAIRED THE STRAP BUT DID NOT REMEDY THE ISSUE WITH THE FUEL LEAK. THE CONTACT THEN SWITCHED TO USING THE REAR FUEL TANK, IN WHICH HE SOON DISCOVERED THAT THE THERE WAS ALSO A LEAK COMING FROM THE REAR TANK. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACT WHO STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE CONTACT PROCEEDED TO FILE A CLAIM WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD F150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FUEL WAS FLOWING FROM THE REAR FUEL PUMP AND INTO THE FRONT FUEL PUMP, CAUSING AN OVERFLOW AND ABNORMAL LEAKAGE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT SOMEONE WOULD RETURN HIS CALL BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC THAT LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE FRONT FUEL PUMP CHECK VALVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 83,553.
PRIMARY FUEL TANK STRAPS BROKEN, TANK RESTING ON SKID PLATE. SECONDARY FUEL TANK STRAPS CORRODING. *TR
I OWN A 1996 FORD F150 WITH DUAL TANKS. I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE BACK FUEL TANK TRANSFERRING GAS TO THE FRONT TANK. IF UNNOTICED THIS WILL CAUSE GAS TO OVERFLOW ONTO THE GROUND CAUSING A REAL SAFETY AND POLLUTION HAZARD. I CALLED FORD AND THEY SAID THAT THERE WASN'T ANY RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM ON MY VIN. WELL EVEN IF THERE ISN'T A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM OR NOT IT IS STILL A PROBLEM AND THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM ON THE 1990 TP 1993 F150 SO I'M FIGURING THAT THEY STILL HAVE THE PROBLEM ON MY VEHICLE ALSO. *TR
THE REAR FUEL TANK DRAINS FUEL FROM THE FRONT FUEL TANK AND CAUSES FUEL TO OUT PAST THE FILL CAP. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD F-150. WHENEVER THE CONTACT WOULD ATTEMPT TO STOP THE VEHICLE, IT WOULD TURN OFF AND FAIL TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED THAT THE SECOND FUEL TANK WAS TRANSFERRING FUEL TO THE FIRST FUEL TANK. THERE WERE NO WARNINGS PRIOR TO THE FAILURES. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 104,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FUEL BEGAN TO LEAK FROM THE VEHICLE WHILE IT WAS PARKED. HE OPENED THE FUEL CAP AND GAS POURED OUT. THE DEALER STATED THAT A REGULATOR OR A FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE IS A RECALL, BUT THE VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 102,000.
MY 1996 MERCURY VILLAGER DEVELOPED A FAILURE IN THE AIR FLOW SENSOR (PART $330) THAT RESULTED IN VEHICLE STALLS, INCLUDING STOPS ON THE HIGHWAY, THAT NEARLY RESULTED IN CRASHES. THE REQUIRED REPAIRS EXCEEDED $500. I KNOW FORD HAS A SIMILAR RECALL OUT NOW FOR THE 1997-2003 (/) MODELS). *TR
THE VEHICLE HAS 2 FUEL TANKS. WHILE DRIVING, GASOLINE FLOWS FROM ONE TANK TO THE SECOND TANK, CAUSING THE SECOND TANK TO OVERFILL. WHEN OPENING THE LID TO THE SECOND TANK, PRESSURE CAUSED BY EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF GASOLINE CAUSES GASOLINE TO SPEW FROM THE SPOUT ONTO OPERATOR AND ONTO THE GROUND. *JB
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE CHECK VALVE IN THE FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY MALFUNCTIONED AND THE UNUSED FUEL TRANSFERRED FROM ONE TANK TO ANOTHER. NO SPILLAGE OCCURRED BECAUSE THE SECOND TANK WAS NOT OVERFILLED. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 93V125000, REGARDING THE FUEL SYSTEM ASSEMBLY. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED.
FUEL TANKS. FILLED REAR TANK AND OPENED FRONT TANK TO FILL IT. WHEN I TOOK CAP OFF GAS SPLASHED OUT. THE FRONT TANK WAS OVER FULL. I TALKED TO A FORD MECHANIC AND HE TOLD ME THAT IT WAS A VALVE IN THE RETURN LINE THAT CAUSED THE FRONT TANK TO OVER FILL FROM THE REAR TANK. HE ALSO SAID THAT FORD DID REPAIR SOME TRUCKS ,BUT WASN'T DOING IT NOW. *JB
DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD F150. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE HAS A DUEL GASOLINE TANK. WHEN THE BACK TANK IS SELECTED IT WILL PUMP GASOLINE TO THE ENGINE, BUT IT WILL ALSO PUMP GASOLINE INTO THE FRONT TANK AND PRESSURIZE THE GASOLINE, FORCING IT OUT OF THE FILLER NECK AND CAP. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PARKED GASOLINE OVERFLOWS ONTO THE GROUND, AND WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE GASOLINE SPILLS OUT ALONG THE HIGHWAY. WHEN THE CAP IS REMOVED FROM THE TANK, A LARGER AMOUNT OF GASOLINE WILL SPILL OUT, AND THE GASOLINE IS FILLED UP TO THE FILLER NECK. THE CONSUMER HAS TO WATCH THE AMOUNT OF GASOLINE THAT IS IN THE BACK TANK TO ENSURE THAT THE OVERFLOW WILL NOT OCCUR. THE SERVICE DEALER SAID THAT THE CHECK VALVE HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE CHECK VALVE PREVENTED THE GASOLINE FROM GOING FROM THE BACK TANK INTO THE FRONT TANK. THE MANUFACTURER SAID THEY WOULD NOT COVER THE COST FOR THE REPAIR.*AK UPDATED 01/04/06. *JB
THE VEHICLE HAD DUAL GAS TANKS. THE FRONT TANK WAS LEAKING FUEL OUT OF THE CAP SINCE THE FUEL FROM THE BACK TANK WAS TRAVELING TO THE FRONT. *AK THE DEALER REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP. *BF *SC
DUAL GAS TANKS. GAS IS PRESSURIZED FROM REAR TANK TO THE FRONT TANK, CAUSING A FUEL TRANSFER TO THE FRONT TANK, FRONT TANK IS OVERFILLING, GAS IS UNDER PRESSURE, SPILLING FROM THE OVERFLOW. WHEN THE CAP IS REMOVED, GAS EXPLODES FROM THE FILLER NECK. *AK
FUEL LEAKS FROM THE FRONT TANK VENT CAP DOWN THE VEHICLE SIDE TO THE GROUND. OCCURS REGULARLY WHEN BOTH TANKS ARE FILLED AND REAR TANK IS USED FIRST. HAVE TO SWITCH BETWEEN TANKS FREQUENTLY TO KEEP CONTENTS FROM OVERFLOWING. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM. NOT ENOUGH PEOPLE DEAD YET? RECALL IT. *JB
DUAL GAS TANKS. GAS IS PRESSURIZED FROM REAR TANK TO THE FRONT TANK. CAUSING A FUEL TRANSFER TO THE FRONT TANK, FRONT TANK IS OVERFILLING, GAS IS UNDER PRESSURE, SPILLING FROM THE OVERFLOW. WHEN THE CAP IS REMOVED, GAS EXPLODES FROM THE FILLER NECK. *AK
FUEL IS TRANSFERING TO FRONT TANK WHEN USING REAR TANK CAUSING FUEL OVERFLOW ONTO GROUND AND POOR IDLING WHEN FRONT TANK GETS PRESSURIZED.*AK
WHEN FILLING FRONT FUEL TANK THE TANK WON'T ACCEPT ANY FUEL.WHEN SELECTOR SWITCH IS PUT ON THE FRONT FUEL TANK,FUEL GUSHES OUT OF THE FRONT FUEL PIPE IF THE CAP IS OFF.
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Quick Summary
The 1996 Ford F-150 has 44 Fuel System complaints on file. 1 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.