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1988 Ford F-350Problems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 29 owner complaints about the 1988 Ford F-350, most often about the electrical system. It is covered by 4 safety recalls.

69
CarFlaw IndexOne of the best years56% below the F-350 median · #20 of 27 years by complaints
Safety recalls4Free fix at dealersOwner complaints2916 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage150kElectrical system, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through January 25, 2006. Updated daily.

Complaints by system

Where the 1988 Ford F-350 has problems

29 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Electrical system97
Service brakes, hydraulic62
Engine and engine cooling33
Power train30
Tires32
Steering20
Structure20
Suspension10
Seat belts10

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

4 recalls

1988 Ford F-350 recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

–no report yet

Electrical system: ignition

Recall 96V-071 · Apr 25, 1996 · 7,900,000 vehicles

Risk. THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE OVERHEATING, SMOKE, AND POSSIBLY FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN AREA OF THE VEHICLE.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Drum: shoes/linings

Recall 92V-026 · Mar 3, 1992 · 467,000 vehicles

Risk. 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…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Visibility: glass, side/rear

Recall 88V-146 · Sep 2, 1988 · 57,400 vehicles

Risk. A FRACTURED WINDOW MAY CONTAIN FRAGMENTS THAT ARE LARGERTHAN THE 425 GRAMS ALLOWED.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Suspension

Recall 88V-015 · Feb 9, 1988 · 55,000 vehicles

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

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Ford.

Best & worst years

1988 vs. every other F-350 year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the F-350 median. How we score

'67'68'69'72'73'74'75'76'77'78'79'80'81'82'83'84'85'86'87'88'89'90'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
8 investigations

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 1988 Ford F-350, and the recalls they led to.

  1. F-SERIES FUEL TANK FIRESDP89005 · closed Aug 1, 1989
    No recall
  2. LOSS OF BRAKE EFFECTIVENESEA91044 · closed Oct 30, 1992
    Led to recall 92V-026
  3. ALTERNATOR BELT FAILUREEA93014 · closed Jul 29, 1994
    No recall
  4. POWER LOSSPE89011 · closed Apr 19, 1989
    No recall
  5. FIRESPE89020 · closed Jun 1, 1989
    No recall
  6. LOSS OF BRAKE EFFECTIVENESPE91077 · closed Oct 31, 1991
    No recall
  7. SPARE TIRE FIRESPE91090 · closed Oct 25, 1991
    No recall
  8. HYDRAULIC BRAKE LINE CRACKS/LEAKSPE94004 · closed Apr 29, 1994
    No recall
In owners' words

What F-350 owners report

Recent electrical system complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT LATCH WOULD NO LONGER LOCK OR LATCH. WHEN REPLACING THE LATCHING SIDE ASSEMBLY I FOUND THE WEB WAS COVERED WITH AN INTERIOR COLOR MATCHING TRIM PIECE. RUNNING INSIDE THE TRIM PIECE WAS AN ELECTRIC HARNESS WHICH OPERATED THE DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHT WHEN THE HARNESS EXITED THE…
Complaint 10148537 · Jan 25, 2006 · 150,000 miles
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED THERE WAS EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO INCLUDE WIRING HARNESS, BATTERY AND OTHER PLASTIC COMPONENTS. *AK
Complaint 983157 · Apr 19, 1996
VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE AND WAS ENGULFED INTO FLAMES BEFORE FIRE DEPARTMENT COULD GET TO VEHICLE. CONSUMER WAS SECOND OWNER OF VEHICLE, AND DIDN'T KNOW IF RECALL EVER APPLIED. *AK
Complaint 889233 · May 29, 2001

Own a 1988 F-350?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.