Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Our database contains 11 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1986 Ford E350, most frequently naming the electrical, engine and brakes categories. 11 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 57 NHTSA investigations name it; and 6 manufacturer communications are on file.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
When owners filed reports about this model year
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Apr 1995 | 1 | 1 |
| Apr 1996 | 2 | 3 |
| Jul 1996 | 1 | 4 |
| Sep 1996 | 1 | 5 |
| Mar 1999 | 2 | 7 |
| Apr 1999 | 1 | 8 |
| Sep 2000 | 1 | 9 |
| Sep 2010 | 1 | 10 |
| May 2020 | 1 | 11 |
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
11 campaigns cover this model year
Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.
Check a VIN on NHTSA.govVISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE
NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.
FUEL INJECTOR PUMP FAILS
There is no summary currently available
HEATER HOSE ROUTING
===
UNDERHOOD FIRES
SUMMARY:RINGDAHL HAS NOT ATTACHED HOSES OR WIRES TO THE DIPSTICKFILLER TUBE.===
UNDERHOOD FIRES
===
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
ENGINE STARTER WOULD NOT DISENGAGE EVEN WITH KEY REMOVED
1986 FORD E350, A FIRE STARTED ON THE RIGHT SIDE AND UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE VEHICLE. *BF ACCORDING TO THE POLICE REPORT, THE EXHAUST WAS BENT UPWARD TOWARD THE SIDE OF THE MOTOR HOME, WHICH MAY HAVE BEEN THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-0332-89) *JB
THIS IS THE EXACT FAILURE I HAVE SEEN ON RECALLED TIRES. TREAD HAS SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE CASING FOR APPROX 1/3 OF THE TIRE CIRCUMFRENCE AT HIGHWAY SPEED. THESE TIRES, ALTHOUGH OLD, HAVE ALWAYS BEEN PREFECTLY MAINTAINED AND GARAGE KEPT. THE Y SHOW NO SIGNS OF COLLATERAL DAMAGE SUCH AS HEAT OF SUN EFFECTS. THE TIRE FAILURE OCCURRED SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING OR EVIDENCE OF AN IMPENDING FAILURE. I FEEL THAT THE RECALL EFFORTS TOWARDS FIRESTONE SHOULD BE EXPANDED TO COVER ALL OF THEIR DEFECTIVE PRODUCT. THESE TIRES ARE ALSO "VD" PLANT CODE TIRES AND THIS FAILURE SUPPORTS THAT THIS PLANT IS THE SOURCE OF OTHER DAMGEROUS PRODUCT.*AK (DOT NUMBER: VDOP/WC TIRESIZE: 215/85R16)
ENGINE FIRE, OWNER STATED THAT EARLIER IN THE DAY ALTERNATOR WORK WAS DONE, DUE TO PROBLEMS. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). MJS
DESCRIPTION AND COMMENTS SEE E-MAIL WHICH IM SENDING AS BEST I KNOW HOW -- SORRY FOR CLUTSYNESS. RJD
ABOUT 3:15 P.M. ON MONDAY, 8 MARCH 1999 I EXITED THE OHIO TURNPIKE AT THE BLUE HERON SERVICE AREA, PARKED MY 1986 FORD E-350 VAN BEFORE THE TRAVELERS SERVICES BUILDING, PUT THE IGNITION KEY INTO MY POCKET, AND WENT INTO THE RESTROOM. WHEN I RETURNED TO M
CONSUMER STATES THAT HE HAS REPLACED THE REAR GAS SENDER IN THE REAR GAS TANK, REPLACED (4) TIMES IN A (10) YEAR PERIOD. TIME TO BE REPLACED ONCE AGAIN.*AK
IGNITION SWITCH FAILED 3 TIMES, THIRD OCCURRENCE FIRE. *SD
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT EXCESSIVE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL, IRREGULAR FRONT LINING WEAR, AND BRAKE PULL. *YC
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER
FRONT CALIPER PISTON BOOTS DAMAGED. *YC
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
A NO START OR HARD START CONDITION MAY OCCUR ON SOME VEHICLES DUE TO THE GLOW PLUG CONTROL SYSTEM. *YC
DIAGNOSTIC GUIDES FOR OUT-OF-WARRANTY VEHICLES TO BE USED AS A MASTER COPY - DIAGNOSTIC GUIDES NO LONGER AVAILABLE FROM ADISTRA. *TW
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE; POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
UNKNOWN
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
THERE MAY BE A CONCERN OF POOR PERFORMANCE, COOLANT IN THE OIL AND ENGINE KNOCKING AND/OR HYDRAULIC LOCK ON SOME VEHICLES. *TW
Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Investigations | Issue Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2026 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2025 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2024 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2023 | 2 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 2022 | 14 | 3 | 1 | 55.3 |
| 2021 | 20 | 6 | 1 | 55.5 |
| 2020 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2019 | 3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2018 | 3 | 4 | 0 | — |
| 2017 | 13 | 4 | 0 | 57.6 |
| 2016 | 5 | 3 | 0 | — |
| 2015 | 7 | 2 | 1 | — |
| 2014 | 17 | 11 | 0 | 52.9 |
| 2013 | 13 | 9 | 0 | 48.3 |
| 2012 | 16 | 12 | 0 | 47.2 |
| 2011 | 19 | 20 | 0 | 53.7 |
| 2010 | 17 | 18 | 0 | 47.2 |
| 2009 | 10 | 27 | 0 | 54.5 |
| 2008 | 39 | 32 | 2 | 59.3 |
| 2007 | 18 | 35 | 2 | 59.8 |
| 2006 | 53 | 39 | 2 | 61.5 |
| 2005 | 55 | 16 | 2 | 56.3 |
| 2004 | 46 | 11 | 3 | 58.2 |
| 2003 | 46 | 8 | 3 | 61.7 |
| 2002 | 53 | 5 | 3 | 55.4 |
| 2001 | 52 | 4 | 4 | 57.0 |
| 2000 | 59 | 8 | 4 | 61.9 |
| 1999 | 72 | 9 | 5 | 63.5 |
| 1998 | 63 | 8 | 4 | 57.4 |
| 1997 | 79 | 5 | 4 | 63.4 |
| 1996 | 50 | 3 | 1 | 50.3 |
| 1995 | 69 | 3 | 0 | 52.9 |
| 1994 | 51 | 5 | 1 | 58.7 |
| 1993 | 43 | 3 | 1 | 58.2 |
| 1992 | 41 | 3 | 3 | 59.5 |
| 1991 | 19 | 1 | 6 | 54.3 |
| 1990 | 23 | 2 | 7 | 54.9 |
| 1989 | 26 | 3 | 6 | 59.2 |
| 1988 | 11 | 1 | 4 | 61.7 |
| 1987 | 14 | 8 | 53 | 69.3 |
| 1986Viewing | 11 | 11 | 57 | 74.6 |
| 1985 | 2 | 10 | 56 | — |
| 1984 | 4 | 12 | 56 | — |
| 1983 | 5 | 8 | 54 | — |
| 1982 | 0 | 3 | 2 | — |
| 1981 | 0 | 2 | 2 | — |
| 1980 | 0 | 1 | 2 | — |
| 1979 | 0 | 3 | 2 | — |
| 1978 | 0 | 5 | 2 | — |
| 1977 | 0 | 1 | 1 | — |
| 1976 | 0 | 1 | 1 | — |
| 1975 | 0 | 4 | 1 | — |
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.