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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.

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 →
139Owner complaints

Model-year median: 3.5

2Recall campaigns

View recall details →

6Investigations

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 F150

NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 139 owner complaints · 2 recall campaigns · 6 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: 49 reports
  • Fuel System, Gasoline: 27 reports
  • Engine And Engine Cooling: 11 reports
  • Seat Belts: 9 reports
  • Structure: 9 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
28
198561
198689
1987139
1988210
1989254
1990
Compare all F150 years →

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

What owners reported most

Electrical System
49Fuel System, Gasoline
27Engine And Engine Cooling
11Seat Belts
9Structure
9
All reported categories
Power Train
8Service Brakes, Hydraulic
8Visibility
8Tires
5Suspension
4Vehicle Speed Control
4Fuel System, Other
3Steering
3Wheels
2Equipment
1Exterior Lighting
1Seats
1Unknown Or Other
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: 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

Wheels complaints

2 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Sep 5, 2001
Wheels

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE BECAME TO WOBBLE, AS THE CONSUMER WAS PULLING OVER THE LEFT REAR WHEEL CAME OFF THE VEHICLE STRIKING A PASSING SEMI, AS A RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED DAMAGE TO THE LEFT REAR QUARTER AND AXLE, THE DRIVER INDICATED THAT 250 MILES PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT HE HAD A BRAKE JOB AND IT APPEARED T…

Read full complaint

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE BECAME TO WOBBLE, AS THE CONSUMER WAS PULLING OVER THE LEFT REAR WHEEL CAME OFF THE VEHICLE STRIKING A PASSING SEMI, AS A RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED DAMAGE TO THE LEFT REAR QUARTER AND AXLE, THE DRIVER INDICATED THAT 250 MILES PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT HE HAD A BRAKE JOB AND IT APPEARED THAT ALL FIVE LUG NUT CAME OFF CAUSING THIS ACCIDENT. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT) *YH

NHTSA ODI #562931

Mileage unknown · Nov 6, 1996
SuspensionWheels

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STARTED SHAKING, TURNED CORNER AND LEFT REAR JUST FELL OFF. ON ANOTHER INCIDENT (4) OF THE (5) LUG BOLTS SHEARED OFF THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL.*AK

NHTSA ODI #801525

Recall campaigns

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 ↗

Defect 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

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