IllustrationSEAT BELT FAILED.
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 reportsOWNER HAD RECALL WORK DONE ON IGNITION SWITCH AND BRAKES ON JUNE 22,1998 (RECALL # 92V026000, 96V071000). 6 DAYS LATER, OWNER WAS DRIVING VEHICLE AND SMELLED SMOKE, SOON AFTER BRAKE LOSS AND IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE OCCURRED; VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHUT OFF. THE PARTS THAT WERE WORKED ON FAILED, BUT FORD DENIES RESPONSIBILITY. *AK
DUE TO A DEFECTIVE FUEL CHECK VALVE THE REAR FUEL TANK PUMPS GAS IN TO THE FRONT FUEL TANK WHICH CAUSES FUEL SPILLAGE. RECALL ON 1989 FORD F250. *AK
TRANSMISSION LINE FAILED.
FIREWALL CRACKED AROUND MASTER CYLINDER/CLUTCH AREA.
REAR BRAKE DRAGGS, REPLACE REAR AXLE BEARINGS AND SEALS ON THREE OCCASIONS, PROBLE STILL EXIST.
SEAT BELT FAILED.
CLUTCH WENT THROUGH FIRE WALL, DUE TO LACK OF REINFORCEMENT IN THE FIRE WALL.
THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHILE CONSUMER WAS INSIDE THE HOUSE, WHEN HE COME OUT THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE, ACCORDING TO CNSUMER, THE FIRE STARTED IN THE ENGINE UNDER THE HOOD, THE ENGINE MELTED. *AK
BRAKES:COMING DOWN A MOUNTAIN, HIT BRAKES AND THERE WERE NO BRAKES. FRONT BRAKE LINE HAD HOLE, CAUSING FLUID TO DISAPPEAR FROM MASTER CYLINDER, LEAVING VEHICLE WITH NO BRAKES AT ALL.
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