Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Our database contains 6 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1988 Ford F Series (light), most frequently naming the electrical, engine and brakes categories. 7 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 1995 | 1 | 1 |
| Feb 1995 | 3 | 4 |
| Jul 1996 | 1 | 5 |
| Apr 2003 | 1 | 6 |
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.
No recalls in our database for this model year
That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
TRUCK BURST INTO FLAMES...BELIEVED TO BE CONVERTER FAILURE. TRUCK WAS A TOTAL LOSS, ALONG WITH SOME PERSONAL PROPERTY, AND MY CAMPING TRAILER SUSTAINED SEVERE DAMAGE. A FIREFIGHTER SUSTAINED BURNS WHILE WORKING AT THE SCENE.
VEHICLE WAS PARKED, OWNERS WOKE UP SMELLING SMOKE, FIRE DEPT. CAME OUT TO PUT OUT FLAMES, FIRE INVESTIGATOR SAID FIRE STARTED FROM IGNITION WIRE. *AK
CATALYTIC CONVERTER SYSTEM MELTED DOWN THREE TIMES, CAUSING COMPUTER TO AUTOMATICALLY SHUT OFF, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL. *SKD
FUEL PUMP FAILURE CAUSING FUEL TO BE PUSHED OUT TOP OF ONE TANK WHEN BOTH TANKS ARE FULL, ALSO TANK MAKES POPPING NOISE WHEN FULL. *SKD
BRAKE PROBLEMS. (2ND VEHICLE ON 480312) (F250) *AW
IGNITION SWITCH STUCK IN START POSITION, CAUSING FIRE UNDER DASH. *SKD
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:SUPPLY:COMPRESSOR
BRAKES - AIR COMPRESSOR/AIR PUMP SUPPORT BRACKET BROKEN - VEHICLES WITH 7.0L ENGINE - ENGINE - 7.0L - ACCESSORY DRIVE BELT ROLL - NOISE - RATTLE - AIR BRAKE COMPRESSOR/AIR PUMP SUPPORT BRACKET CRACKED- VEHICLES WITH 7.0L ENGINE. *TW
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
SERVICE PROCEDURE FOR CATALYTIC CONVERTER RESTRICTION ISSUES - PROCEDURE REQUIRES THE USE OF NEW ECM, IAC VALVE AND EXPANSION CHAMBER. *TW
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
NEW TORQUE-TO-YIELD CYLINDER HEAD BOLT KIT. *TW
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
REVISED CLUTCH AND TRANSMISSION. *TW
POWER TRAIN:AXLE HUBS
NOISE/VIBRATION WHEN DRIVING IN 4X2 MODE WITH HUBS LOCKED. *TW
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
REPLACEMENT OF BENDIX STEERING GEAR WITH NEW ROSS STEERING GEAR. *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
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.