RoadVitals

1988 Ford F Series (light) Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

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.
6
Latest Apr 30, 2003
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
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.
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What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1988 Ford F Series (light), grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Reports by component

Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category

  • Electrical233.3%
  • Engine233.3%
  • Brakes116.7%
  • Fuel system116.7%

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

Each component in detail

What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words

Electrical

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

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

NHTSA ID 986528 · filed Jul 24, 1996

IGNITION SWITCH STUCK IN START POSITION, CAUSING FIRE UNDER DASH. *SKD

NHTSA ID 478455 · filed Jan 5, 1995

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Engine

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

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.

NHTSA ID 10016775 · filed Apr 30, 2003

CATALYTIC CONVERTER SYSTEM MELTED DOWN THREE TIMES, CAUSING COMPUTER TO AUTOMATICALLY SHUT OFF, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL. *SKD

NHTSA ID 481240 · filed Feb 13, 1995

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Brakes

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

BRAKE PROBLEMS. (2ND VEHICLE ON 480312) (F250) *AW

NHTSA ID 479571 · filed Feb 1, 1995

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Fuel system

Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

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

NHTSA ID 481027 · filed Feb 4, 1995

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

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.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .