IllustrationTREAD SEPERATED FROM THE TIRE - NO BLOW OUT.*AK (DOT NUMBER: *T*16X6K TIRESIZE: 85R16M/S)
1988 Ford F250
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 F250 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: 1 of 62 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 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
2 crash reports9 fire reports1 injury reports
What owners actually said
62 reportsBRAKE CALIPER MOUNT IS SPREADING ON BOTH SIDES OF THE VEHICLE. THERE'S IS A BANGING AND SQUEALING NOISE, AND IS VERY HARD TO STOP VEHICLE. CONSUMER WILL CALL THE MANUFACTURER TO GET ANSWERS TO WHY IT'S HAPPENING. *AK
ON THE BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURES FORD ISSUED A RECALL AND INSTALLED INSULATORS ON THE CALIPERS TO CURE THE PROBLEM AND EVER WOULD PAY FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF PARTS AND LABOR DUE TPO THE INITIAL PROBLEM . ALSO FORD RECALLED THE VEHICLE ON THE PAINT AND WHEN AFTER 2 YEARS OF TRYING TO GET FORD TO DO SOMETHING THEY SAID I HAD TO MANY M…
Read full complaint
ON THE BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURES FORD ISSUED A RECALL AND INSTALLED INSULATORS ON THE CALIPERS TO CURE THE PROBLEM AND EVER WOULD PAY FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF PARTS AND LABOR DUE TPO THE INITIAL PROBLEM . ALSO FORD RECALLED THE VEHICLE ON THE PAINT AND WHEN AFTER 2 YEARS OF TRYING TO GET FORD TO DO SOMETHING THEY SAID I HAD TO MANY MILES ON THE TRUCK . THIS IS NO WAY TO TREAT A CUSTOMER *AK
DUAL FUEL TANKS SWITCHING MODULE FAILED, CAUSING FUEL TO SPEW FROM REAR TANK---AS PER REPORT ON 1990 TO 1993 MODELS. *AK
WHEN THE DUAL FRONTAL TANK ARE FULL CONSUMER NOTICES FUEL LEAKAGE COMING FROM THE FRONT TANK, CAUSING A FIRE HAZARD. CONSUMER HAS YET TO HAVE PARTS REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
ANTI LOCK BRAKE FAILURE CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO 40' COACHMAN RV WHEN ACCIDENT OCCURRED. MJS
WHEN APPLYING THE ABS BRAKES ON DRY PAVEMENT PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, RESULTING IN A COLLISION. *AK
CONSUMER PARKED VEHICLE OUTSIDE FRONT OF HOUSE; APPROXIMATELY TWO MINUTES LATER WAS INFORMED OF VEHICLE BEING ON FIRE. DEALER/MANUFACTURER. NOTIFIED AND HAD NOTHING POSTIVE TO SAY. SEEKING HELP FROM NHTSA IN THIS MATTER. *AK
TRANSMISSION SHOULD NOT HAVE FAILED AT SUCH LOW MILEAGE. *AK
Official recalls
396V071000 · 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.
92V026000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:drum:shoes/linings
Mar 3, 1992
A REVISED BRAKE LINING NOISE INSULATOR RESULTED IN A DECREASE IN THE THERMAL INSULATION BETWEEN THE BRAKE LINING AND THE FRONT BRAKE CALIPER PISTON. THIS CAUSED GREATER HEAT TRANSFER TO THE CALIPER PISTONS WITH THE POTENTIAL TO OVERHEAT THE BRAKE FLUID AND DIMINISH BRAKE EFFECTIVENESS DURING SEVERE BRAKING CONDITIONS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCES AND INABLILITY TO HOLDVEHICLES ON A STEEP GRADE RESULTS IN INCREASED RISK OF ACCIDENT IN THE EVENT OFA SUDDEN STOP OR WHEN CONSTANT BRAKING IS NEEDED TO MANEUVER THROUGH AREAS WITHSTEEP GRADES.
Remedy: ADD SNAP-IN INSULATORS THAT ATTACH TO EACH OF THE FRONT BRAKE CALIPER PISTONS. IN ADDITION, VEHICLES WITH 7.5 L ENGINES WILL HAVE INSULATION ADDED TO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT BRAKE LINES.
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
6EA93014 · Alternator Belt Failure
Opened Jun 4, 1993 · Closed Jul 29, 1994
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System
There is no summary currently available
EA91044 · 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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PE91090 · Spare Tire Fires
Opened Jun 20, 1991 · Closed Oct 25, 1991
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Equipment
There is no summary currently available
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
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