1987 FORD F150 Electrical System Problems

SHUT VEHICLE OFF, THEN, ON RESTART AND IGNITION SWITCH FAILED FOLLOWED BY SMOKE UNDER HOOD. FUSIBLE LINK CAUGHT FIRE BY SOLENOID. IF I HAD NOT BEEN NEAR THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME OF THE FIRE IT COULD HAVE CAUSED DAMAGE TO PROPERTY AROUND ME. IF I HAD BEEN DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE WHEN THIS HAPPENED AND WAS NOT NOTICED IMMEDIATELY, IT COULD HAVE ENDANGERED MY LIFE OR OTHERS. MY VEHICLE WAS NOT MANUFACTURED UNTIL AUGUST OF 1987 WELL AFTER THE SWITCH REDESIGN THAT FROM WHAT I CAN COLLECT INFORMATION ON WAS REDESIGNED IN MAY OF 1987 SO THE SWITCH DESIGN ON MY VEHICLE APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN THE SAME PART BEING RECALLED. FIVE YEARS AGO I OWNED A 1990 F150 THAT HAD THE SAME EXACT IGNITION SWITCH AND THEY SENT ME A RECALL FOR THAT VEHICLE. I CHECKED FOR RECALL ON THIS ONE AND THEY DO NOT OFFER IT. I AM OUTRAGED CONSIDERING THAT THIS VEHICLE HAS THE SAME EXACT IGNITION SWITCH DESIGN AND DID FAIL AS THE RECALL MENTIONED SOME VEHICLES WOULD AND YET I AM LEFT HAVING TO PAY FOR THE DAMAGE. NOT ONLY THAT, HERE IS A PORTION OF INFORMATION TAKEN FROM "THEAUTOCHANNEL.COM" FORD MOTOR COMPANY IS DEFENDING THEIR STANCE ON THE RECALL. HERE ARE SOME FACTS COMPILED BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS IN RELATION TO THE ISSUE: * THERE HAVE BEEN MORE THAN 900 REPORTS OF FIRES FROM THE SWITCHES IN THIS COUNTRY. IN SOME CASES, FIRES OCCURRED EVEN WHEN THE VEHICLES WERE PARKED AND SHUT OFF. * FORD HAS LONG SAID THE FIRE REPORTS FORD DISCLOSED TO NHTSA INCLUDED ALL THOSE THEY KNEW OF THAT COULD HAVE STARTED NEAR THE STEERING COLUMN _ MEANING UNVERIFIED REPORTS AS WELL AS FIRES THAT COULD HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY SOMETHING OTHER THAN THE IGNITION SWITCH. * FORD DID NOT RECALL ANY VEHICLES PRIOR TO 1988 BECAUSE THE AUTOMAKERS TIED THE SWITCH FIRES TO A FAULTY DESIGN CHANGE MADE BY A MANUFACTURER IN MAY 1987. THAT CHANGE REDUCED THE SPACE BETWEEN A BATTERY AND GROUND TERMINAL, CREATING THE POTENTIAL FOR A SHORT CIRCUIT AND FIRE, FORD OFFICIALS SAID. *NM

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SUDDEN AND SPONTANEOUS FIRE COMPLETELY DESTROYED CONSUMER 1987 F 150 FORD TRUCK. *BF THIS WAS FOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED INFORMATION ABOUT OTHER SAME MAKE/MODEL VEHICLES WITH CRUISE CONTROL THAT MAY HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. *SC

WHILE BEING PARKED THE VEHICLE INADVERTENTLY CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CAUSE OF THIS WAS UNDETERMINED.*AK

I HAVE HAD MANY PROBLEMS WITH RUNNING MY TRUCK AND ONCE THE ENGINE IS HOT, WHEN YOU TRY TO START IT UP WITHOUT LETTING IT SET FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES IT RUINS THE STARTER AND BATTERY CABLES. IT HAS SMOKED 4 TIMES AND I HAD TO USE MY FIRE EXTINQUISHER ONCE. I HAVE HAD 8 STARTERS IN LESS THAN 1 YEAR, 1 NEW BATTERY, AND THREE SETS OF BATTERY CABLES. I HAVE SPENT A FORTUNE TRYING TO FIND OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS AND NOT EVEN FORD'S MASTER MECHANICS HAVE HAD AN ANSWER. *AK

I HAVE HAD MANY PROBLEMS WITH RUNNING MY TRUCK AND ONCE THE ENGINE IS HOT, WHEN YOU TRY TO START IT UP WITHOUT LETTING IT SET FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES IT RUINS THE STARTER AND BATTERY CABLES. IT HAS SMOKED 4 TIMES AND I HAD TO USE MY FIRE EXTINQUISHER ONCE. I HAVE HAD 8 STARTERS IN LESS THAN 1 YEAR, 1 NEW BATTERY, AND THREE SETS OF BATTERY CABLES. I HAVE SPENT A FORTUNE TRYING TO FIND OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS AND NOT EVEN FORD'S MASTER MECHANICS HAVE HAD AN ANSWER. *AK

I HAVE HAD MANY PROBLEMS WITH RUNNING MY TRUCK AND ONCE THE ENGINE IS HOT, WHEN YOU TRY TO START IT UP WITHOUT LETTING IT SET FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES IT RUINS THE STARTER AND BATTERY CABLES. IT HAS SMOKED 4 TIMES AND I HAD TO USE MY FIRE EXTINQUISHER ONCE. I HAVE HAD 8 STARTERS IN LESS THAN 1 YEAR, 1 NEW BATTERY, AND THREE SETS OF BATTERY CABLES. I HAVE SPENT A FORTUNE TRYING TO FIND OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS AND NOT EVEN FORD'S MASTER MECHANICS HAVE HAD AN ANSWER. *AK

DROVE VEHICLE HOME. NEXT DAY HOOD HAD BURNED FROM INSIDE DUE TO A DEFECTIVE FUEL INJECTOR WIRING WHICH MELTED AND BURNED. FORD NOT WILLING TO ASSIST CONSUMER. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. HAD NO PRIOR WARNING. MANAGD TO GET TO SIDE OF ROAD. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO REPAIR SHOP. MECHANIC INDICATED THE PROBLEM WAS THE IGNITION MODULE & IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. MODULE WAS REPLACED. PROBLEM REAPPEARED AFTER TOWING LIGHT BOAT UP HILL & VEHICLE STALLED AGAIN WHILE ON A CURB. IT WAS THE SAME SPEED. TOWED VEHICLE HOME. OWNER REPLACED IGNITION MODULE AFTER PURCHASING IT.*AK

I HAVE HAD TWO TFI MODULES FAIL ON MY TRUCK.BOTH TIMES I WAS STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF A SIX LANE ROAD.THE FIRST TIME I WAS ALMOST REARENDED AND HAD TO PUSH THE TRUCK OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD.I WAS STILL BLOCKING THE RIGHT LANE UNTIL A TOW TRUCK ARRIVED.I WAS NOT INJURED BUT I WAS PUT IN A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION.THE SECOND TIME THE MODULE FAILED I WAS STILL UNDERWAY AND WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE STREET BUT STILL BLOCKING ONE LANE.E

CONNECTOR ON ALTERNATOR OVERHEATED AND CAUGHT FIRE, CAUSING DAMAGE TO VEHICLE. *SLC

CONNECTOR ON ALTERNATOR OVERHEATED AND CAUGHT FIRE, CAUSING DAMAGE TO VEHICLE. *SLC

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

STARTED AS UNDER HOOD FIRE - TOTALLY BURNED THE TRUCK - BURNED ALL PLASTIC, MELTED ALUMINUM BRACKETS. *AK

IGNITION SWITCH FIRE. THERE IS A RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE FOR THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM.(96V-071) (MJS) (ATTORNEY FOR CONSUMER).

KEY STICKS IN THE "START" POSITION, NEEDS TO BE MANUALLY RETURNED TO THE "ON" POSITION. KEY DOES NOT SETTLE INTO "ON" POSITION, IT CAN BE SLID EASILY BETWEEN "OFF" "ON" AND "START" POSITIONS. SECOND COMPLAINT: WHILE DRIVING, THE ENGINE OCCASIONALLY LOSES SPARK AND ENGINE DIES, CAN SMELL GASOLINE, I SUSPECT THE IGNITION COIL OR RELATED WIRING MALFUNCTIONED. *AK

KEY STICKS IN THE "START" POSITION, NEEDS TO BE MANUALLY RETURNED TO THE "ON" POSITION. KEY DOES NOT SETTLE INTO "ON" POSITION, IT CAN BE SLID EASILY BETWEEN "OFF" "ON" AND "START" POSITIONS. SECOND COMPLAINT: WHILE DRIVING, THE ENGINE OCCASIONALLY LOSES SPARK AND ENGINE DIES, CAN SMELL GASOLINE, I SUSPECT THE IGNITION COIL OR RELATED WIRING MALFUNCTIONED. *AK

VEHICLE REPAIRED AT DEALER. MECHANIC LEFT VEHICLE OUTSIDE. CAUGHT FIRE SHORTLY AFTERWARDS. WORKED ON OUTSIDE, NOT INSIDE OF VEHICLE. MECHANIC PUT FLAMES OUT & INFORMED OWNER POSSIBLE LOCATION WAS IGNITION SWITCH. *AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE AT 60 MPH DOWN THE ROAD WHEN SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE CONSUMER STOPPED VEHICLE AND OPENED HOOD TO SEE IF THE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE ENGINE, BUT NO SMOKE FROM ENGINE. WHEN HE TRIED TO GET BACK INSIDE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE GOT ON FIRE AND BURNED TO THE GROUND. ACCORDING TO CONSUMER, THE FIRE MARSHALL SAID THE FIRE WAS CAUSE OF A DEFECTIVE IGNITION. *AK

DRIVING VEHICLE STARTED TO SMOKE; PULLED TO SIDE & CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD. NOTHING WAS FOUND. STARTED TO LOCK DOOR & NOTICED FLAMES SHOOTING OUT FROM DASHBOARD AREA NEAR STEERING COLUMN. FIRE DEPT. CALLED & PUT FLAMES OUT. *AK

DRIVER NOTICED FLAMES COMING OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN UNDER THE DASHBOARD. CAR WAS ENGULFED BY FLAMES BEFORE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK

VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT WORK, VEHICLE HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE OVERNIGHT; FIRE DEPT ARRIVED AND PUT OUT FLAMES. *AK

IGNITION SWITCH FIRE.

AFTER BEING PARKED 30 MINUTES, HEARD LOAD POP SOUND, THEN FOUND CAB ENGULFED IN FLAMES. *AK

WHILE DRIVING SMELLED SMOKE, SUDDENLY FIRE STARTED COMING FRON UNDER DASH, NO WARNING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHORTED OUT.*AK

PUT VEHICLE INTO REVERSE FLAMES CAME INTO THE CONSOLE CAUSED BY A DEFECTIVE IGINITION SWITCH.*AK

THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE DRIVING FROM THE AREA OF THE IGNITION SWITCH.*AK

IGNITION SWITCH FIRE. *SD

TWO SPARK PLUGS BROKE IN ENGINE, CAUSING LOSS OF COMPRESSION. *DH

VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN AND PARKED FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES, UNDER THE HOOD COMPARTMENT FIRE, ELECTRICAL SHORT. *AK

WIRING HARNESS UNDER DASH SHORTED, CAUSING FIRE. *DH

ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE IGNITION SWITCH, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE. *AK

ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE IGNITION SWITCH, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE. *AK

HAD TO REPLACE IGNITION SWITCH DUE TO FIRE. *AK

WIRING HARNESS UNDER DASH SHORTED, CAUSING FIRE. *DH

IGNITION SWITCH FIRE, ELECTRICAL WIRES CAUGHT FIRE. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND CAUGHT FIRE IN THE DASH. *AK *JB

THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE DUE TO A SHORT IN THE WIRING HARNESS. *AK

THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE DUE TO A SHORT IN THE WIRING HARNESS. *AK

WARM UP 5 MINUTES, THEN NOTICE SMOKE AROUND THE VEHICLE, THEN NOTICE FLAMES INSIDE THE VEHICLE, POSSIBLE DUE TO IGNITION SHORT. TT

ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE IGNITION SWITCH THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. TT

ELECTRICAL SHORT, CAUSING CONSOLE OFF, WINDOWS NOT WORKING PROPERLY, ELECTRICAL LOCK ON DOOR WILL NOT LOCK. TT

INSTALLATION ON SOME OF ELECTRICAL WIRING IS SHRINKING EXPOSING BARE WIRE WHICH CAUSED SHORTS; CAUSED FAILURE OF ELECTRICAL, LOSS OF LIGHTS/TURN SIGNALS. TT

ELECTRICAL SHORT IN DASH WIRING CAUSED FIRE. *SD