RoadVitals

1988 Ford E350

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
11
Latest Feb 21, 2015
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
1
Latest Apr 17, 1989
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
4
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
6
2 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 11 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1988 Ford E350, most frequently naming the electrical, brakes and driver assistance categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; 4 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.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Electrical325.0%
  • Brakes216.7%
  • Driver assistance216.7%
  • Fuel system216.7%
  • Suspension216.7%
  • Engine18.3%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

1 campaign 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.gov
89V062000

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

Apr 17, 1989
228 units potentially affected
The defect: NYLON TIES THAT SUPPORT THE MAIN WIRING HARNESS TO THE CHASSIS COULD WEAR AND BREAK DUE TO EXCESSIVE VIBRATION. THUS, WIRING HARNESS COULD FALL ON ENGINE COMPONENTS AND SHORT CIRCUIT.
The risk: THIS COULD CAUSE LOSS OF ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WHICH COULDRESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.
The remedy: INSTALL RETROFIT RIT OF PLASTIC-COATED METAL CLAMPS, LOOM FOR POSITIVE BATTERY CABLES AND RE-ROUTE WIRING.
SENTINEL VEHICLES LIMITEDView on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

SQ99005ClosedInvestigation

FRONT BRAKE FADE

Opened Feb 10, 1999
Closed Sep 21, 2001

FRONT BRAKES CAN FADE

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
EA93014ClosedEngineering Analysis

ALTERNATOR BELT FAILURE

Opened Jun 4, 1993
Closed Jul 29, 1994

There is no summary currently available

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
EA91044ClosedEngineering Analysis

LOSS OF BRAKE EFFECTIVENES

Opened Oct 30, 1991
Closed Oct 30, 1992

===

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULICLed to recall 92V026000
PE91077ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

LOSS OF BRAKE EFFECTIVENES

Opened May 23, 1991
Closed Oct 31, 1991

There is no summary currently available

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

View all 11
ElectricalFuel system
Filed Feb 21, 2015
Fire reported

I PURCHASED THIS 28' SHASTA CLASS C MOTORHOME FROM A PRIVATE PARTY. ALL RECEIPTS FROM WORK HISTORY WERE INCLUDED. UPON THE FIRST TIME OUT, TOWING MY 1200 LB BOAT TO LAKE MEAD ( NO SIGNIFICANT HILLS AS I LIVE IN LAS VEGAS ), THE MOTORHOME RAN BEAUTIFUL, EVEN UP TO THE POINT OF PARKING. I CAME OUT TWO DAYS LATER TO START IT WHEN I NOTICED THE BATTERY AS DRAINED. UPON LOOKING UNDER THE HOOD, I NOTICED IT HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE, BURNING 2 INJECTORS AND OTHER WIRING LOCATED IN THE SAME VICINITY. I REPLACED INJECTORS, RELAYS, FUEL PUMP, ALL HOSES, COIL, ETC... THE BEST GUESS IS THE DIVERTER FROM THERMACTOR MAY HAVE CAUSED, BUT REGARDLESS THIS WAS A FACTORY ISSUE. IT STILL DOESN'T RUN, GOING TO REPLACE ECM, INERTIA SW, ETC UNTIL IT DOES. JUST GRATEFUL IT DIDN'T BURN UP EVERYTHING. *TR

NHTSA ID
10689757
Incident
Dec 14, 2014
Mileage
72,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Aug 14, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1988 FORD E350. THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE SHIMMIED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE FAILURE USUALLY OCCURS WHEN DRIVING OVER BUMPS. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS AND VARIOUS REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE STEERING COMPONENTS. NONE OF THE REPAIRS HAVE SUCCESSFULLY REMEDIED THE FAILURE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 88V015000 (SUSPENSION). THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COSTS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 135,000.

NHTSA ID
10238138
Incident
Aug 18, 2004
Mileage
110,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jan 28, 2005
Fire reported

I HAVE JUST PURCHASED A 1988 ESCAPER 26FT C CLASS MOTORHOME ON A FORD E350 CHASSIS. THE VEHICLE HAS ONLY 30,000 MILES ON IT AND WAS PURCHASED FROM A PRIVATE PARTY IN CALIFORNIA. I WAS RETURNING WITH IT TO MY HOME IN TEXAS WHEN JUST OUTSIDE OF PHOENIX A FIRE BROKE OUT UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE WAS PUT OUT, BUT EXTENSIVE DAMAGE OCCURRED. IT APPEARS THE EXHAUST SYSTEM HAD MELTED THE INSULATION ON THE FLOORBOARD AND THE FIRE STARTED THERE. THE INSPECTOR WHO PERFORMED THE INITIAL INSPECTION AND INFORMED ME THAT THE FORD MOTORHOMES THAT YEAR AND THE NEXT WERE PROWN TO EXHAUST FIRES BECAUSE THEY HAD NO SECONDARY HEAT SHIELDS AROUND THE CONVERTER/MUFFLER, AND THAT THE LATER YEAR MODELS WERE EQUIPPED WITH THEM. CAN THIS BE TRUE? AND IS THERE ANY RECOURSE AGAINST THE MANUFACTURER? THANK YOU. *AK

NHTSA ID
10108187
Incident
Jan 23, 2005
Mileage
31,545 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Nov 16, 1999

WHILE DRIVING THROTTLE CABLE POPPED OUT OF THE PLASTIC BRACKET,(WHICH THERE WASNO PART HOLDING DOWN THE THROTTLE CABLE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO IDLE AND LOSS OF POWER. THS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A CRASH. SAME INCIDENT HAPPEN TO A FORD BRONCO. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID
852929
Incident
Mar 1, 1999
Driver assistance
Filed Sep 26, 1999

THROTTLE FAILURE RESULTING IMMEDIATE DROP TO FAST IDLE SPEED.

NHTSA ID
712124
Incident
Apr 15, 1999
Brakes
Filed Mar 24, 1997

UPON APPLYING FORCE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL THE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE AND BRAKES FADING AWAY. AFTER PUMPING THE BRAKES, THE CONSUMER NOTICED THE BRAKES WERE FUNCTIONING. *AK

NHTSA ID
809470
Incident
Oct 1, 1996
Electrical
Filed Aug 28, 1996
Fire reported

WIRING HARNESS SHORTED, CAUSING FIRE.

NHTSA ID
508008
Incident
May 17, 1996
Brakes
Filed May 29, 1996

REPLACED MASTER CYLINDER. *AK

NHTSA ID
504849
Incident
May 28, 1996

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

985A29

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS

SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT EXCESSIVE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL, IRREGULAR FRONT LINING WEAR, AND BRAKE PULL. *YC

985A38

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER

FRONT CALIPER PISTON BOOTS DAMAGED. *YC

985A12

EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:WRECKER AND WHEEL LIFT DEVICES

RECOMMENDED GUIDELINES FOR TOWING BEHIND RECREATIONAL VEHICLES. *TT

97215

DIAGNOSTIC GUIDES FOR OUT-OF-WARRANTY VEHICLES TO BE USED AS A MASTER COPY - DIAGNOSTIC GUIDES NO LONGER AVAILABLE FROM ADISTRA. *TW

BC2893950401

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE; POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

UNKNOWN

95524

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.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Ford E350 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2027010—
2026010—
2025110—
2024210—
2023220—
2022143155.3
2021206155.5
2020200—
2019300—
2018340—
2017134057.6
2016530—
2015721—
20141711052.9
2013139048.3
20121612047.2
20111920053.7
20101718047.2
20091027054.5
20083932259.3
20071835259.8
20065339261.5
20055516256.3
20044611358.2
2003468361.7
2002535355.4
2001524457.0
2000598461.9
1999729563.5
1998638457.4
1997795463.4
1996503150.3
1995693052.9
1994515158.7
1993433158.2
1992413359.5
1991191654.3
1990232754.9
1989263659.2
1988Viewing111461.7
19871485369.3
198611115774.6
198521056—
198441256—
19835854—
1982032—
1981022—
1980012—
1979032—
1978052—
1977011—
1976011—
1975041—

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.