The contact owns a 2025 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at 15 MPH, the trailer hitch connection fault and blind spot fault messages were displayed. The contact and wife then became aware of a smoky odor, followed by smoke coming from the instrument panel. The vehicle caught on fire at the steering wheel and instrument panel. The contact and a neighbor extinguished the fire using a water hose and a fire extinguisher. A fire report was filed. The vehicle was towed by the insurance company to a storage facility, where it was inspected by the insurance company. The vehicle was not repaired, and the contact was informed that the vehicle would be declared a total loss. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure by telephone. The approximate failure mileage was 24,000.
Ford F-150 fire or smoke problems
1,686 of the 38,375 owner complaints about the Ford F-150 describe fire, smoke or burning smell, most of them for the 2000 model year.
- owner complaints
- 1,686
- worst model year
- 2000
- typical repair cost reported
- $2,000
- typical mileage
- 100,000
By model year
Often reported together
Adaptive cruise 330Overheating 25Check engine light 24ABS 21Engine failure 20Stalling 19Knocking 17Wipers 13
What owners say
The contact's husband owns a 2015 Ford F-150. While the owner was driving 45 MPH and approaching a stop sign, the brake warning light became displayed on the instrument panel, and the vehicle failed to stop while depressing the brake pedal. The driver was forced to depress the brake pedal to the floorboard to stop the vehicle. Despite the failure, the driver was able to drive the vehicle to the residence and used another vehicle to purchase brake fluid for the vehicle. After refilling brake fluid reservoir, the reservoir was empty after test driving the vehicle. The owner attempted to move the vehicle out of the driveway; however, there was heavy white smoke coming from the exhaust pipe. The contact then discovered the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 20V332000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) and associated the failure with the recall. The dealer was notified of the failure and the recall; however, the contact was informed that the part for the repair was on backorder and would not be available for almost two months. The failure mileage was approximately 155,000.
2024 Ford F150 Lariat caught fire on 9/25/2026 while driving vehicle. White smoke came out of engine compartment, then black smoke. Cab filled with white smoke, then black smoke. We exited vehicle. Flames came out of engine compartment. Within seconds flames & black smoke shot up 20' to our oak tree. Could hear "pops' going off while waiting for fire department. Firefighters stated sounds were from tires & air bags. Vehicle totally destroyed. Everything totally gone from engine compartment up to bed of truck. Left side of vehicle worse that right side. Left side mirror gone. Vehicle is available for inspection. Insurance company claim made. Adjuster hasn't contacted us yet. Police and fire department were here and reports were made. No warning lamps or messages prior to incident.
The contact owned a 2020 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked with the engine running, there was an abnormal sound coming from the vehicle. The contact's spouse, who was seated in the front passenger seat, saw smoke coming from under the dashboard. The contact's spouse exited the vehicle. The contact stated that while attempting to open the front driver's door, the front passenger's side of the dashboard and the windshield caught on fire. Additionally, the front passenger's door was on fire. The contact's two dogs were seated in the rear seat. The contact entered the vehicle through the fire and removed the dogs from the vehicle. The contact used a neighboring building's water hose and extinguished the fire. The contact stated that within two minutes, the vehicle was engulfed in fire. The fire department later arrived. The Fire Chief inspected the vehicle, and the contact was informed that the fire had started in the engine compartment. The contact was transported by ambulance and received medical treatment. The contact sustained second-degree burns on the left and right legs and left and right elbows and forearms. In addition, the contact sustained second-degree burns on the left and right hands. The vehicle was towed to a local tow yard. A Police report was filed, but the information was unavailable. The contact had received notification of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 25V442000 (Back Over Prevention). The manufacturer was contacted by phone and made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 9,000.
i was driving on XXX south to grab some Mexican food for dinner. on the way at one point i smelled something burning like an oil smell. but didnt see anything and suspected it was the old car in front of me. and my f150 was running fine. when i got out at the restaurant i did not see or smell anything around the truck. i went in to find they were closing at 9:00pm and it was 8:40ish. so i left telling them id stop back another day. was driving north on XXX heading home when around the same area of [XXX] 51 I smelled something burning again. once again i didnt see any smoke around my truck, no one was beeping at me or anything. and the truck was running/working well. i figured maybe its someone with a fire in their yard. further down [XXX] about 300 ft before [XXX], i smelled smoke stronger this time and looked up and to my right and saw smoke pouring out of a vent or something on the headliner. realizing that the truck is obviously on fire i wanted to get it off the street asap so as to be less a danger to others. so i turned up [XXX] at the intersection and pulled off the side of the road as far off as i could get the truck. grabbed my phone from the passenger seat and exited the truck in a hurry. as i looked over at the truck i saw flames coming up from underneath between the cab and the bed of the truck - looked to be centered under the truck. i ran about 150 feet from the truck and called 911. i turned around as i was talking to the operator. and the truck was completely ingulfed in flames. thankfully i made it out when i did. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The contact owns a 2011 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission unexpectedly downshifted to a lower gear. The contact stated that there was smoke coming from the exhaust pipe. The contact stated that smoke was covering the roadway. The vehicle was driven to the shoulder of the road. The contact stated that while inspecting the vehicle, there was oil leaking around the manifold. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The dealer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact stated that the failure had occurred while driving to the dealer for a scheduled recall repair. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 16V248000 (Power Train). The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 218,000.
The contact owns a 2018 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving 55 MPH, the message "Brake Fluid Level Low" was displayed. The brake pedal was depressed and went to the floorboard. The contact stated that the brakes failed to work properly. The contact drove to Walmart and purchased brake fluid to add to the vehicle, but the failure persisted. The contact added more brake fluid, but the failure recurred, and the engine made a knocking sound with smoke coming from the exhaust pipe. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact related the failure to the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 22V150000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 114,089.
Battery alarm came on twice while running errands less than a mile from home. Parked vehicle in driveway and checked battery connections - everything perfectly tight. 3 hours later had to extinguish flames at front base of engine. DL3Z-14300-D caused electrical fire and see now the part has been discontinued.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30 MPH, there was an abnormal whistling and dinging sound coming from the vehicle, and the powertrain malfunction warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle independently downshifted, and the rear driver’s side of the vehicle slid to the left, and the front passenger’s side of the vehicle crashed into another parked vehicle. The contact exited the vehicle and discovered that due to the impact, there was windshield fluid leaking out of the windshield washer fluid reservoir onto the ground, and the vehicle caught on fire. The contact entered a local AutoZone, retrieved a fire extinguisher, and extinguished the fire. The local fire department was contacted. The contact stated that no air bag was deployed. A police report was filed. A Fire Department report was not filed. The contact had a cut on the right arm, and the medical team in the ambulance patched up the arm; no further medical attention was needed. The vehicle was towed to the residence, where it was self-diagnosed that the steering and ball joint assembly needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 26V237000 (Power Train); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. A dealer was contacted and stated that the remedy was not yet available and would not be available until July 26th. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.
The contact owns a 2015 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed uphill, the accelerator pedal was depressed, but the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the transmission was operating at a high speed, but the vehicle operated at a low speed. Within seconds, the speed independently increased, and the vehicle became uncontrollable. The vehicle rolled backward into an embankment and then into a concrete-lined ditch, bouncing out the other side. In addition, the contact noticed smoke coming from the tailpipe. The vehicle was driven to a nearby friend's residence. A police report was filed. The contact was taken to a local medical center, having sustained a bruised forehead, a bruised left ankle, and a bruised left knee. The contact was receiving continued treatment for the left ankle and left knee injuries. The insurance company did not inspect the vehicle, and the contact stated that the vehicle was only covered under liability insurance. The contact received a recall notification for the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 26V237000 (Power Train); however, the parts were unavailable. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 183,115
Related recalls
Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel
- What is wrong
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025-2026 F-250 SD, F-350 SD, F-450 SD, F-550 SD, F-600, 2026 F-150, and F-750 SD vehicles. The analog cluster’s tachometer and speedometer may become stuck or move erratically, providing inaccurate readings to the driver. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) Number 101, "Controls and Displays."
- Risk
- A speedometer that fails to display accurate vehicle speed can increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the instrument cluster modules, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, are expected to be mailed in October 26, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in December 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26C46. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on on October 7, 2026.
Recall number 26V653000 · Recall details
Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel
- What is wrong
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017 F-150 vehicles previously repaired incorrectly under recall number 17V053. The instrument cluster may lose power after initial vehicle start-up in cold ambient temperatures. Several gauges, including the transmission gear position indicator, may not illuminate. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 102, "Transmission Shift Lever Sequence, Starter Interlock, and Transmission Braking Effect."
- Risk
- An instrument cluster that fails to display critical safety information, such as gear position or warning lights, increases the risk of a crash or injury.
- Remedy
- Dealers will update the Instrument Panel Cluster Assembly (IPC) software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 17, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26C26. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on on July 6, 2026.
Recall number 26V370000 · Recall details
Electrical system: integrated trailer brake control
- What is wrong
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2026 F-150, 2022-2026 F-250 SD, F-350 SD, F-450 SD, F-550 SD, Maverick, 2024-2026 Ranger, 2023-2026 F-600 SD, 2022-2027 Lincoln Navigator, Expedition, and 2026 E-Transit vehicles. When towing a trailer, the integrated trailer module (ITRM) may lose communication with the vehicle, possibly causing a loss of brake and turn signal lights, or a loss of brake function. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, " Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
- Risk
- Trailer lights or brakes that do not function can reduce the driver’s ability to control the trailer and decrease the trailers visibility to other road users, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- The integrated trailer module software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 25, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26C10. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on beginning March 17, 2026.
Recall number 26V104000 · Recall details
Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel
- What is wrong
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025-2026 F-550 SD, F-450 SD, F-350 SD, F-250 SD, and 2025 F-150 vehicles. The Instrument Panel Cluster (IPC) may fail at startup.
- Risk
- An instrument panel display that does not show critical information, such as warning lights or vehicle speed, increases the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- The instrument panel cluster software will be updated by a dealer or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 5, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S88.
Recall number 25V540000 · Recall details
Electrical system: integrated trailer brake control
- What is wrong
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2022 F-150, 2022 Maverick, Expedition, Lincoln Navigator, F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 vehicles previously repaired incorrectly under recall number 22V‑193. Due to a software error, a towed trailer equipped with an electric or electric-over hydraulic brake system may not brake.
- Risk
- Loss of trailer brake functionality can extend the distance required to stop, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will update the integrated trailer brake control module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 11, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S18.
Recall number 25V132000 · Recall details
Electrical system: body control module: software
- What is wrong
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021 F-150 vehicles equipped with the Onboard Scales feature. An over-the-air software update to the body control module (BCM) may have disabled both reverse lights.
- Risk
- Disabled reverse lights cannot alert others that the vehicle is reversing, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will update the body control module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters are were mailed June 26, 2024. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24S38.
Recall number 24V443000 · Recall details
Electrical system: integrated trailer brake control
- What is wrong
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2022 F-150, 2022 Maverick, Expedition, Lincoln Navigator, F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 vehicles. Due to a software error, a towed trailer equipped with an electric or electric-over hydraulic brake system may not brake.
- Risk
- Loss of trailer brake functionality could result in extended stopping distance, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will update the integrated trailer brake control module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 22, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S17.
Recall number 22V193000 · Recall details
Electrical system: starter assembly
- What is wrong
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 F-150 vehicles. An incorrect attachment nut may have been used to attach the battery positive (B+) power supply cable to the starter motor, possibly affecting the electrical conductivity, resulting in excess heat and electrical arcing.
- Risk
- Electrical arcing can increase the risk of a fire.
- Remedy
- Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the starter motor B+ power supply attachment nut, free of charge. The recall began August 25, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S40.
Recall number 20V467000 · Recall details
Electrical system: 12v/24v/48v battery: cables
- What is wrong
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2019-2020 F-150 vehicles. The fastener securing the Power Distribution Box (PDB) 12V cable and Battery Monitoring System (BMS) eyelets to the positive battery terminal may loosen and affect the vehicle's systems such as instrument panel displays and braking or steering assist. The engine could also stall.
- Risk
- Inoperative vehicle systems or an engine stall can increase the risk of a crash. Reduced braking and steering efforts increases the risk of a crash. This condition could also create a resistive short, increasing the risk of a fire.
- Remedy
- Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the positive battery cable/BMS/PDB joint for excess sealant adhesive and remove any excessive adhesive, reassemble the joint, and retorque the fastener, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 25, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S40.
Recall number 19V805000 · Recall details
Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel
- What is wrong
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017 F-150 trucks equipped with an eight-inch productivity screen. In these vehicles, the instrument cluster may lose power after the initial vehicle start-up in cold ambient temperatures. Several gauges, including the transmission gear position indicator, may not illuminate. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicles Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 102, "Transmission shift position sequence, starter interlock, and transmission braking effect."
- Risk
- If the transmission gear position indicator fails to illuminate, the driver may be unable to tell the transmission shift position, increasing the risk of a crash or injury from unintended vehicle movement.
- Remedy
- Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the instrument cluster, free of charge. The recall began February 20, 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 17C01.
Recall number 17V053000 · Recall details
Questions about the Ford F-150 fire or smoke
Which Ford F-150 years have fire, smoke or burning smell problems?
The model years with the most reports are 2000 (271 complaints), 2001 (216 complaints) and 1997 (210 complaints).
How much does it cost to fix fire, smoke or burning smell on the Ford F-150?
Owners who mentioned a price put the repair at about $2,000 (median of 50 complaints that include a dollar amount). Costs vary with mileage, warranty and where the work is done.
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