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1988 Ford F150

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

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

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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

What owners reported most

All reported categories

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: 9 of 139 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 49 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 27 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

3 crash reports47 fire reports4 injury reports

Tires complaints

5 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Jul 15, 2002
Tires

WHILE DRIVING THE REAR TIRE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION WHICH RESULTED IN DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE, AT THE TIME OF FAILURE THE TIRE REMAINED FULLY INFLATED, THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMT FROM FIRESTONE BUT WAS DECLINED BECAUSE THEY SAID THAT THE TIRE APPEARED TO HAVE BEEN OPERATING FOR AND UNKNOWN AMOUNT OF TIME WITH INSUFFIC…

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WHILE DRIVING THE REAR TIRE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION WHICH RESULTED IN DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE, AT THE TIME OF FAILURE THE TIRE REMAINED FULLY INFLATED, THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMT FROM FIRESTONE BUT WAS DECLINED BECAUSE THEY SAID THAT THE TIRE APPEARED TO HAVE BEEN OPERATING FOR AND UNKNOWN AMOUNT OF TIME WITH INSUFFICIENT AIR PRESSURE (FIRESTONE, FR721, P235/75R15, DOT VDHLF7U434, THE TIRE WAS MOUNTED ON A 1988 FORD F150 AND HAD 41002 MILES AT TIME OF FAILURE). *AK *NLM

NHTSA ODI #8013892

Mileage unknown · Feb 11, 2002
Tires

TIRE BLEWOUT ON EXPRESSWAY. DEALER AGREE AND GAVE DISCOUNT ON NEW TIRE. NOTICED SIDE WALL WHERE TREAD AND SIDEWALL COME TOGETHER HAD FUNNY CRACK IN SIDEWALL AND LOOKS LIKE WIRE OR FIBERS COMING OUT. ALL AROUNG THE PERIMETER OF THE TIRES.

NHTSA ODI #9004944

Mileage unknown · Dec 29, 2000
Tires

GOING FROM A STOP TO ABOUT 5 MPH, FOUR THREE INCH RIPS APPEARED ON SIDEWALL AREA ON TREAD PART. TIRE WENT IMMEDIATELY FLAT. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I HAVE HAD THE SAME TYPE OF TIRE TO GO FLAT FROM THE SIDE WALL AREA.*AK (DOT NUMBER: BE668L1D4S TIRESIZE: 30X9.5R15L)

NHTSA ODI #738459

Mileage unknown · Oct 25, 2000
Tires

TREADWEAR 420. TRACTION A. TEMPERATURE B. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT HOME THE FUTURA 2000,RADIAL ATD,P215/75R15 TIRE SEPARATED. THE TIRE REMAINS INFLATED AT THE TIME THIS REPORT IS SUBMITTED. I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT THIS BRAND OF TIRE MAY BE EXPERIENCING SIMILAR PROBLEMS AS THOSE OF MAJOR BRANDS THAT ARE BEING RECALLED…

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TREADWEAR 420. TRACTION A. TEMPERATURE B. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT HOME THE FUTURA 2000,RADIAL ATD,P215/75R15 TIRE SEPARATED. THE TIRE REMAINS INFLATED AT THE TIME THIS REPORT IS SUBMITTED. I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT THIS BRAND OF TIRE MAY BE EXPERIENCING SIMILAR PROBLEMS AS THOSE OF MAJOR BRANDS THAT ARE BEING RECALLED. I FEAR FOR MY SAFETY AND WELFARE AS WELL AS MY FAMILY AND OTHERS ON THE ROADWAYS. PLEASE ADVISE AS WHAT SHOULD BE DONE NEXT. FORTUNATELY, NOBODY WAS INJURED. TIRE REPLACEMENT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED. PLEASE NOTIFY ME AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THANK YOU.*AK (DOT NUMBER: U9HFB1T405 TIRESIZE: P215/75R15)

NHTSA ODI #735142

Mileage unknown · Sep 22, 2000
StructureTires

FRAME HAS CRACKED AT POWER STEERING BOX, FRAME MAY SEPARATE AT ANY TIME IF MAKING A SHARP TURN OR IF THE VEHICLE IS STOPPED SUDDENLY. PROBLEM IS CAUSING EXCESSIVE WEAR OF FRONT TIRES. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #871268

Official recalls

2

96V071000 · Electrical System:ignition

Apr 25, 1996

THE IGNITION SWITCH COULD EXPERIENCE AN INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE OVERHEATING, SMOKE, AND POSSIBLY FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN AREA OF THE VEHICLE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH.

88V146000 · Visibility:glass, Side/rear

Sep 2, 1988

SLIDING REAR WINDOW MAY CONTAIN GLAZING PANELS WHICH DO NOT MEET REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS 205.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A FRACTURED WINDOW MAY CONTAIN FRAGMENTS THAT ARE LARGERTHAN THE 425 GRAMS ALLOWED.

Remedy: REPLACE SUSPECT WINDOW PANELS.

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

6

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

PE91017 · Ford Truck Inconsistent Vehicle Control.

Opened Nov 27, 1990 · Closed Apr 17, 1991

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

SEE CLOSE RESUME

DP89005 · F-SERIES Fuel Tank Fires

Opened Jan 26, 1989 · Closed Aug 1, 1989

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Fuel System, Gasoline

F-SERIES FUEL TANK FIRES

PE89020 · Fires

Opened Dec 7, 1988 · Closed Jun 1, 1989

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages

There is no summary currently available

PE89003 · Steering Column Drops

Opened Oct 13, 1988 · Closed Feb 8, 1989

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering

There is no summary currently available