IllustrationCONSUMER SAYS BEFORE SHE HAD THE ABS SYSTEM DISCONNECTED, THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND TO THE ABS SYSTEM. VEHICLE WOULD JUST SLIDE AND KEEP GOING. SINCE SYSTEM HAS BEEN DISCONNECTED, THE BRAKES WORK FINE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK MASTER CYLINDER FAILIED. *YH
1988 Ford F150
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 F150 years →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
What owners actually said
139 reportsDRIVING AT 60 MPH THE CONSUMER NOTICED HEAVY SMOKE COMING FROM THE CAR PART OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE,CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD . WAS ABLE TO PUT OUT THE FIRE. CONTACTED DEALER . *AK
THE YOKE THAT HOLDS THE DRIVE SHAFT RUSTED AND BROKE OFF AND DAMAGED THE SIDE OF THE FUEL TANK.
ENGINE FIRE.
INTERMITTENTLY WHEN THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE ON THEY WILL MALFUNCTION. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
CLUTCH REPLACED BY LOCAL MECHANIC LASTED 8942 MILES. CLUTCH REPLACED BY DEALER LASTED 4861 MILES.
VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR ABOUT 30 TO 45 MINUTES WHEN IT CAUGHT ON FIRE AROUND THE STEERING COLUMN AREA, DESTROYING THE VEHICLE. ALSO RECALL REPAIRS ON IGNITION SWITCH WERE DONE PRIOR TO THE FIRE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. (96V-071). *AK
VEHICLE FIRE DUE TO IGNITION FAILURE.
FUEL TANK: PUMPS FLUID FROM ONE TANK TO ANOTHER , LEAKING THROUGH SELECTOR VALVE INTO OTHER TANK. *AK CONSUMER STATES WHEN THIS FAILURE OCCURRED BOTH TANKS WERE FULL AND GAS SPRAYED OUT THE FILL SPOUT ONTO THE TRUCK, VEHICLES FROM 1989 TO 1993 ARE COVERED UNDER RECALL, HOWEVER THIS YEAR VEHICLE IS NOT COVERED. *SLC
STEERING COLUMN FIRE.
Official recalls
296V071000 · 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
6EA91044 · Loss Of Brake Effectivenes
Opened Oct 30, 1991 · Closed Oct 30, 1992
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
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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