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1988 Ford F350

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: 1 of 29 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 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports13 fire reports1 injury reports

Tires complaints

3 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Dec 1, 2000
Tires

FIRST, RIGHT REAR TIRE SHREADED WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY BREAKING OFF FRENDER, SENDING DEBRIES INTO CAR BEHIND CAUSING DAMAGE. SECOND TIRE SEPARATION ON FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE CAUSING DAMAGE TO STEERING AND BRAKES.*AK (DOT NUMBER: ADOR9J6082 TIRESIZE: LT23585R16)

NHTSA ODI #737117

Mileage unknown · Nov 8, 2000
TiresCrashInjury

THERE HAS BEEN TWO CATASTROPHIC FAILURES THAT HAVE RESULTED IN TOTAL LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE. TIRE TREADS ARE DELAMINATING AND SEPARTATING FROM DONUT. CAR CASSES HAVE BEEN RETAINED FOR YOUR INSPECTION AND RETESTING. MANUFACTURER IS DEMANDING THAT ALL TIRES AND PIECES NEED TO BE IMMEDIATELY DELIVERED TO THERE FACILITIES.*…

Read full complaint

THERE HAS BEEN TWO CATASTROPHIC FAILURES THAT HAVE RESULTED IN TOTAL LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE. TIRE TREADS ARE DELAMINATING AND SEPARTATING FROM DONUT. CAR CASSES HAVE BEEN RETAINED FOR YOUR INSPECTION AND RETESTING. MANUFACTURER IS DEMANDING THAT ALL TIRES AND PIECES NEED TO BE IMMEDIATELY DELIVERED TO THERE FACILITIES.*AK (DOT NUMBER: H20RYD3E TIRESIZE: 235/85R16)

NHTSA ODI #735964

Mileage unknown · Nov 1, 1996
TiresFire

SPARE TIRE CAUGHT FIRE DUE TO LOCATION NEAR EXHAUST SYSTEM.

NHTSA ODI #510875

Official recalls

4

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.

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.

88V015000 · Suspension

Feb 9, 1988

STEERING/SUSPENSION SYSTEMS MAY NOT ADEQUATELY CONTROL STEERING TYPE WOBBLE ALLOWING THE FRONT END TO SHIMMY.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: SEVERE SHIMMY COULD DAMAGE VEHICLE FRAME OR STEERINGGEAR CREATING POTENTIAL FOR LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL.

Remedy: MODIFY AND/OR REPLACE FRONT SUSPENSION AND STEERING COMPONENTS, TIRES, AND FRAMES.

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

8

PE94004 · Hydraulic Brake Line Cracks/leaks

Opened Jan 25, 1994 · Closed Apr 29, 1994

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

There is no summary currently available

EA93014 · 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

===

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

PE89011 · Power Loss

Opened Nov 3, 1988 · Closed Apr 19, 1989

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

There is no summary currently available