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1988 Ford F Series

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 →
4Owner complaints

Model-year median: 2

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

3Investigations

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 F Series

NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 4 owner complaints · 1 recall campaigns · 3 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: 1 reports
  • Seat Belts: 1 reports
  • Unknown Or Other: 1 reports
  • Vehicle Speed Control: 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
0
19850
19862
19874
19882
19892
19906
1991
Compare all F Series years →

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

What owners reported most

Electrical System
1Seat Belts
1Unknown Or Other
1Vehicle Speed Control
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 4 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 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Seat Belts. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports

What owners actually said

4 reports
90,000 miles · Dec 17, 2013
Vehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1988 FORD F150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE ACCELERATOR CABLE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHI…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1988 FORD F150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE ACCELERATOR CABLE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT BEEN MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

NHTSA ODI #10556401

Mileage unknown · Mar 3, 2006
Electrical SystemInjury

THE TRUCK KEEPS TRYING TO START ON ITS OWN. IT JUMPED OUT OF GEAR AND HIT MY HUSBAND IN THE BACK. THEN HE MOVED FAST OR IT WOULD HAVE RAN OVER HIM. THE TRUCK STILL WOULDN'T QUIT TRYING TO CRANK, SO HE UNDONE THE BATTERY AND IT SHOCKED HIM. ITS A PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND IGNITION. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10151681

58,000 miles · Jan 15, 2004
Unknown Or Other

RED/MAROON PAINT PEELING LEAVING GRAY PRIMER COAT. LAST YEAR WORST AREAS OF HOOD, ROOF, TAILGATE AND SMALL AREAS REPAIRED. SOME SUCCESS. PAINT CONTINUES TO PEEL ON THE HOOD, ROOF TOP, FENDERS, SIDE PANELS AND TAIL GATE. JUST LEARNED OF THIS DEFECTIVE PAINT PROBLEM THIS WEEK WHEN I TOOK VEHICLE IN TO HAVE A RE-PAINT ESTIMATE D…

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RED/MAROON PAINT PEELING LEAVING GRAY PRIMER COAT. LAST YEAR WORST AREAS OF HOOD, ROOF, TAILGATE AND SMALL AREAS REPAIRED. SOME SUCCESS. PAINT CONTINUES TO PEEL ON THE HOOD, ROOF TOP, FENDERS, SIDE PANELS AND TAIL GATE. JUST LEARNED OF THIS DEFECTIVE PAINT PROBLEM THIS WEEK WHEN I TOOK VEHICLE IN TO HAVE A RE-PAINT ESTIMATE DONE.

NHTSA ODI #10069591

Mileage unknown · Jul 26, 1996
Seat Belts

DRIVERS SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILED TO STAY ENGAGED.

NHTSA ODI #506718

Recall campaigns

1

89V009000 · Steering:linkages

Jan 24, 1989

BOLTS THAT ATTACH THE FRONT AXLE TRACK BAR BRACKET TO THE FRONT CROSSMEMBER MAY LOOSEN, ALLOWING THE FRONT WHEELS TO OSCILLATE WITH FRONT END SHIMMY.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: SEVERE SHIMMY COULD DAMAGE STEERING LINKAGE OR STEERINGGEAR, WHICH COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT.

Remedy: INSTALL REDESIGNED FRONT AXLE TRACK BAR TO CROSSMEMBER BRACKET AND IF NECESSARY, REPLACE CERTAIN STEERING COMPONENTS.

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

3

DP94002 · Defective Wiring

Opened Mar 10, 1994 · Closed Apr 25, 1994

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Air:antilock:interconnecting Assembly(wiring)

DEFECTIVE WIRING

PE90023 · Fire In Heater/ac Plenum

Opened Dec 5, 1989 · Closed Mar 1, 1990

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Visibility:defroster/defogger/hvac System

There is no summary currently available

PE89130 · Firewall Fracture

Opened Jun 15, 1989 · Closed Nov 17, 1989

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train

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