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1988 Ford E350

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.

About this comparison →
10Owner complaints

Model-year median: 0

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

4Investigations

View investigation details →

Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Inspection summary

1988 Ford E350

NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 10 owner complaints · 1 recall campaigns · 4 investigations.

Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.

Top reported categories (up to 5)

  • Electrical System: 2 reports
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 2 reports
  • Suspension: 2 reports
  • Vehicle Speed Control: 2 reports
  • Engine And Engine Cooling: 1 reports

Full reported-category list and vehicle report

Recall links

Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
2
198510
198614
198710
198825
198923
1990
Compare all E350 years →

Counts vary with age, sales, mileage exposure and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Electrical System
2Service Brakes, Hydraulic
2Suspension
2Vehicle Speed Control
2Engine And Engine Cooling
1
All reported categories
Fuel System, Gasoline
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 2 of 10 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Electrical System. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Suspension. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports4 fire reports1 injury reports

Suspension complaints

2 reports
Clear category filter
110,000 miles · Aug 14, 2008
Suspension

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1988 FORD E350. THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE SHIMMIED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE FAILURE USUALLY OCCURS WHEN DRIVING OVER BUMPS. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS AND VARIOUS REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE STEERING COMPONENTS. NONE OF THE REPAIRS HAVE SUCCESSFULLY REMEDIED THE …

Read full complaint

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1988 FORD E350. THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE SHIMMIED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE FAILURE USUALLY OCCURS WHEN DRIVING OVER BUMPS. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS AND VARIOUS REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE STEERING COMPONENTS. NONE OF THE REPAIRS HAVE SUCCESSFULLY REMEDIED THE FAILURE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 88V015000 (SUSPENSION). THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COSTS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 135,000.

NHTSA ODI #10238138

Mileage unknown · Dec 15, 1995
SuspensionCrashFireInjury

THE DRIVER SKID OFF THE ROAD AND BUMPED A TREE. THEN THE VAN WENT UP IN FLAMES. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT

NHTSA ODI #976672

Recall campaigns

1

89V062000 · Electrical System:wiring

Apr 17, 1989

NYLON TIES THAT SUPPORT THE MAIN WIRING HARNESS TO THE CHASSIS COULD WEAR AND BREAK DUE TO EXCESSIVE VIBRATION. THUS, WIRING HARNESS COULD FALL ON ENGINE COMPONENTS AND SHORT CIRCUIT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS COULD CAUSE LOSS OF ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WHICH COULDRESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.

Remedy: INSTALL RETROFIT RIT OF PLASTIC-COATED METAL CLAMPS, LOOM FOR POSITIVE BATTERY CABLES AND RE-ROUTE WIRING.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

Defect investigations

4

SQ99005 · Front Brake Fade

Opened Feb 10, 1999 · Closed Sep 21, 2001

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic

FRONT BRAKES CAN FADE

EA93014 · Alternator Belt Failure

Opened Jun 4, 1993 · Closed Jul 29, 1994

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System

There is no summary currently available

EA91044 · Loss Of Brake Effectivenes

Opened Oct 30, 1991 · Closed Oct 30, 1992

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic

===

PE91077 · Loss Of Brake Effectivenes

Opened May 23, 1991 · Closed Oct 31, 1991

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic

There is no summary currently available

An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.