Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (wheels, lug nuts, original-equipment tires, TPMS).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1996 Ford F-150 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Tl contact owns a 1996 Ford f150. The vehicle was equipped with Michelin tires, and the tire size was p235/75/15(na). While the contact was driving approximately 65 MPH the rear passenger tire exploded. The vehicle was driven to the side of the road with caution. The tire was replaced with the spare tire. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where the spare was replaced with a new tire. The failure mileage was 160,000. The dot number and VIN were unavailable.
Tl contact owns a 1996 Ford f-150. The contact stated that while driving approximately 10 MPH he heard a flapping noise from an unknown location. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the contact was informed the rear passenger side wheel was cracked and corroded. A brand new wheel was installed on the vehicle. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure and current mileages were 238,357.
Bought a set of tires. At 17,160 miles had a blow. Took back to dealer had to buy a new tire. At 19,000 miles had another tire separated. Had to buy anew tire. At 20,000 miles had tire blow out. Had to buy a new tire. At 26,000 had another blow out at 65mph. Did not wreck. But went to ditch . Dealer refuses to do any thing about this. What can I do.
My wife and I went to georgia on vacation from texas. In mississippi while my wife was driving around 5-6 pm she had a tire separation in the drivers side rear. She was able to keep the truck under control and pulled over to the side of the road. The tread had separated from the tire but the tire did not lose the air. This is probably why she was able to control the truck. The tread slung around the wheel well and beat up the inside of the wheel well causing some visible damage. The truck has still not been repaired. I installed the spare tire on the vehicle and called it a night and got us a room. When I arrived in ga. I went to numerous tire dealers to try to find a matching tire to replace but was told that the tire was out of production but if I looked around I might find one. I finally did find on at a Firestone dealer in atlanta. …
We were driving a 1996 Ford f 150 4x2 in center lane of I 435 about 70 miles per hour when we had a rear driver side uniroyal laredo tire completly separate. This tire had about 33 psi pressure in it. This caused damage to the rear of truck. Cost unknown at this time. We gently pulled over to edge of interstate. When we got out of vehicle the bad tire was deflating. I changed this tire and put the spare on. I went back and picked up all of the pieces I could find. These tires are not the original tires. I had used these on another vehicle. They have been stored inside. The tread use was not extensive. I put these on the rear about this same time last year. These had a classification of m/s. This vehicle came with a Goodyear highway tread tire. I wanted something on the rear for winter that had a m/s designation in case I was standed on road that required this. …
I had purchased a new 1996 Ford f150 pick-up truck. On April 2, 1999 while driving from baton rouge to houston on highway i10 the rear passenger tire blew out (driving at 70 MPH). The outer tread had blown off but the inner tube maintained pressure. When it blew, the outer tread destoyed the tail pipe as well as the tire-well mud guard. The tail pipe was replaced. The mud guard was not (the frame hole holding one end of the guard was ripped open and is no longer useable). About a month later, the truck began experiencing severe vibration problems (local driving at speeds less than 45 MPH). The Ford dealer identified the problem as the tread coming loose from the tire on the front passenger side. On June 18 1999 I had the dealer replace the remaining tire with new ones. All together, it cost me $373.81 to replace the tires and tail pipe. …
Driving on the highway the tread separated from the tire. The tire did not deflate. The tread did extensive damage to the truck. It almost severed both gas lines,tore off wheel skirts,damaged rear 1/4 panel to the point that it needs to be replaced, damaged part of the rear bumper, and now I notice the rear gas tank is not venting properly. I took pictures of truck and tire. On the remaining rear tire you can see where the tread is going to peel off. I have e-mailed and phoned Firestone all week and get no response at all. I am a self employed carpenter and need my truck to function properly.I only want the repairs to be paid for by Firestone , no legal action should be necessary, I was not injured. (dot number: vd60 u6a tiresize: 31x10.5 15)
Contacted dealer in town closest to me tincher Ford plattsmouth ne 68048. Morrie clark at dealership said that Ford had been having a lot of failure with this 4 wheel drive hubs. I called Ford and was supposed to hear back but they never responded. Cost $300.00 to fix for something that wasn't use ten times. Other cowokers have had same problem with defective locking hubs can anything be done?? Thank you for your time. Michael chaloupka
While driving about 70 MPH started feeling vibration. Then, left rear tire had a blowout wich opened the tire rim to rim . Ford, f150, 1996, p-235/75r15, dot# anhllv1138. Tire was sent to goodrich who stated that the tire had been under flated which along with the heat caused it to rupture, consumer states he strongly objects to their findings, bf goodrich tire.
3 of 4 original tires failed due to belt separation. I had e-mailed Firestone, after the first failure, and replacement with a like Firestone tire. Subsequent failures were replaced with Michelin tires. Copies of e-mail correspondence are available upon request.( dot number: tire size: p235/75r15 )
Wheel & Tire complaints in other F-150 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are wheel & tire problems on the 1996 Ford F-150?
NHTSA has 27 complaints about the wheels & tires of the 1996 Ford F-150, 8% of the model year's 324 complaints. The component named most often is tread/belt (11 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1996 Ford F-150 wheel & tire problems?
No. NHTSA lists no wheels & tires recall for the 1996 Ford F-150, though it has 2 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 1996 Ford F-150 wheel & tire problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 238,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.