1996 Ford F-150 Consumer Reviews

Vehicle

1996 Ford F-150 Eddie Bauer 2dr Regular Cab 4WD SB

Review

It's a truck that lasts and can take you anywhere. The 4.9 with the 5 speed is hard to beat.

Vehicle

1996 Ford F-150 XLT 2dr Extended Cab 4WD Stepside SB

Review

The F-150 is a tough vehicle with so much cost cutting that it is difficult to see to those roots. The 5.8L is excellent- smooth, quiet, powerful. The 4 speed auto needs an extra gear
desperately but aside from a rough 1-2 shift is smooth and reliable. Brakes are shameful- no feel, squishy and hardly effective. Ergonomics are terrible- unless you are 7 feet tall you will need a broom handle to operate radio and HVAC controls. Good sound system. Quality is poor- panels do not line up, screws often fall out, fit and finish is poor. Drives on the road like an overweight tank should- tries to plow the pavement into submission, resulting in a harsh ride. Fuel economy is around 12 miles per gallon

Best Features

Standard sound system is good, doesn't rattle, isn't harsh and has a good range. Off-road it is almost unstoppable through snow, mud, etc.. Handsomely designed exterior is simple and understated. Cloth seats are nice but somehow missing a headrest. The 5.8L V8, also known as the 351W, has been in design since the 70's and shows improvements over that age- smooth and powerful, it has excellent pick up and good low range torque but is choked by emissions equipment. Quarter windows in the front are a nice, simple feature. Easy to service engine bay.

Worst Features

Sadly the cost cutting is more than skin deep on this truck and that truly angers and saddens me. If only they spent a few dollars to not bungee chord the seatbelts to the center seat, if only they spent the time to align panels correctly, if only they spent talent to install larger, more effective brakes and better suspension and if only they put effort into increasing fuel economy this would be a perfect truck. Sadly its old but durable bones are let down by cheap components and corner cutting engineering. For that reason I would not purchase another one unless it was in absolute showroom condition and would be skeptical of a new Ford truck.

Vehicle

1996 Ford F-150 XL 2dr Extended Cab SB

Review

Bought the truck over a year ago with 80,000 miles. Now got 96,000 miles did some work/maintenance on it. Rust is decent but its old. Told to get a manual cause "thats the only good setup with the 4.9," but i hate shifting that thing.
Its slow as hell, and the mpg is about 15 no matter what. The engine is awesome but the M5OD stinks IMO cause it won't last long. Gotta replace all the hydraulic lines, master cylinder, and slave cylinder cause theyre too old and its leaking. Thats about all i gotta do but i can't wait to get a car thats better on gas and aint a pain to shift. Its not really that bad of a truck but I like to vent out about it. ha!

Best Features

Engine Bulletproof.

Worst Features

Trans sucks and manual trucks are only good for towing.

Vehicle

1996 Ford F-150 XLT 2dr Regular Cab LB

Review

Got this truck with numerous minor problems but with an excellent engine compartment. Started first time at dealership. Fixed power windows, AC, and gave it a tune up (first one in 14 years!). The 302 V8 is bulletproof and truck sounds like a beast! A great, time tested truck!

Best Features

Cruise control, lumbar supports, power windows.

Worst Features

Strengthen welds for front and rear bumpers.

Vehicle

1996 Ford F-150 XLT 2dr Regular Cab SB

Review

I bought this truck with 106; 000 miles on it. It has 147,000 now, it's never left me stranded and has always run well. The only parts I replaced was a belt tensioner, radius arm bushings {only one was bad, but replaced both anyway} and ball joints just recently. I love the way it handles looks and drives. The fuel mpg could be better but I figure I make up for that with the reliability of the truck.

Best Features

i would have to say the 5.0 , i've had many people tell me these motors will run 200 or 300 k if not more. i love the design too. the last year they made them like that. i also like how the short bed handles with the shorter wheel base.

Worst Features

i cant think of anything other than fuel mileage but it's a full sized truck so i guess it's about right all things considered. i get about 12-14 around town and 17-18 highway. not bad considering it's 14 years old and mileage is pretty close to the year the car was made.