IllustrationDRIVERS SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILED TO STAY ENGAGED.
1988 Ford F Series
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all F Series years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
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
Seat Belts complaints
1 reportsOfficial recalls
189V009000 · 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 ↗
NHTSA investigations
3DP94002 · 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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