1988 FORD F350 — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
N/A
Safety Rating
34
Owner Complaints
4
Recalls
1
Service Bulletin
2
Investigations
Overview of the 1988 FORD F350
The 1988 FORD F350 has received a total of 34 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There have been 4 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM:SHOES/LININGS, VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR. 1 technical service bulletin have been issued by Ford Motor Company for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Engine And Engine Coolingenginegasoline (4 complaints), Service Brakes Hydraulicantilocktraction Controlelectronic Limited Slip (4 complaints), and Electrical Systemignition (3 complaints).
Recalls for the 1988 FORD F350
NHTSA has recorded 4 recalls for the 1988 FORD F350, potentially affecting up to 8,479,400 vehicles.
Recall 96V071000 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
| 7,900,000 vehicles affected
Defect: THE IGNITION SWITCH COULD EXPERIENCE AN INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT.
Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE OVERHEATING, SMOKE, AND POSSIBLY FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN AREA OF THE VEHICLE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH.
View full details →Recall 92V026000 — SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM:SHOES/LININGS
| 467,000 vehicles affected
Defect: A REVISED BRAKE LINING NOISE INSULATOR RESULTED IN A DECREASE IN THE THERMAL INSULATION BETWEEN THE BRAKE LINING AND THE FRONT BRAKE CALIPER PISTON. THIS CAUSED GREATER HEAT TRANSFER TO THE CALIPER PISTONS WITH THE POTENTIAL TO OVERHEAT THE BRAKE FLUID AND DIMINISH BRAKE EFFECTIVENESS DURING SEVERE BRAKING CONDITIONS.
Consequence: 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 CONSTANT BRAKING IS NEEDED TO MANEUVER THROUGH AREAS WITHSTEEP GRADES.
Remedy: ADD SNAP-IN INSULATORS THAT ATTACH TO EACH OF THE FRONT BRAKE CALIPER PISTONS. IN ADDITION, VEHICLES WITH 7.5 L ENGINES WILL HAVE INSULATION ADDED TO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT BRAKE LINES.
View full details →Recall 88V146000 — VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR
| 57,400 vehicles affected
Defect: SLIDING REAR WINDOW MAY CONTAIN GLAZING PANELS WHICH DO NOT MEET REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS 205.
Consequence: A FRACTURED WINDOW MAY CONTAIN FRAGMENTS THAT ARE LARGERTHAN THE 425 GRAMS ALLOWED.
Remedy: REPLACE SUSPECT WINDOW PANELS.
View full details →Recall 88V015000 — SUSPENSION
| 55,000 vehicles affected
Defect: STEERING/SUSPENSION SYSTEMS MAY NOT ADEQUATELY CONTROL STEERING TYPE WOBBLE ALLOWING THE FRONT END TO SHIMMY.
Consequence: SEVERE SHIMMY COULD DAMAGE VEHICLE FRAME OR STEERINGGEAR CREATING POTENTIAL FOR LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL.
Remedy: MODIFY AND/OR REPLACE FRONT SUSPENSION AND STEERING COMPONENTS, TIRES, AND FRAMES.
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 1988 FORD F350
34 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 1988 FORD F350. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Coolingenginegasoline | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Service Brakes Hydraulicantilocktraction Controlelectronic Limited Slip | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical Systemignition | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Tirestreadbelt | 3 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Electrical Systemignitionswitch | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical Systemwiring | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Service Brakes Hydraulicfoundation Components | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical Systemalternatorgeneratorregulator | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical Systemwiringinteriorunder Dash | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Power Trainaxle Assembly | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Power Trainclutch Assembly | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Power Trainmanual Transmission | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat Beltsfrontwebbing | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Service Brakes Hydraulicfoundation Componentsdrumshoeslinings | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering Steering Wheelhandle Bar | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steeringgear Box Other Than Rack And Pinion | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Structurebody | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspensionfront | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tirestemporaryemergency Spare Tire | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Or Other | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Most Recent Complaints
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 TRIM AND WAS ROUTED BACK TO THE CENTER OF THE SEAT. IT MORE OR LESS MADE A 90 DEGREE TURN . THE ELECTRICAL HARNESS SPLIT HALFWAY THROUGH THE BELTS WEBBING . TO ME THIS SEEMED TO HAVE WEAKENED THE RESTRAINT OF THE SEAT BELT BY 50% . *AK
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 TRIM AND WAS ROUTED BACK TO THE CENTER OF THE SEAT. IT MORE OR LESS MADE A 90 DEGREE TURN . THE ELECTRICAL HARNESS SPLIT HALFWAY THROUGH THE BELTS WEBBING . TO ME THIS SEEMED TO HAVE WEAKENED THE RESTRAINT OF THE SEAT BELT BY 50% . *AK
ALTERNATOR CAUGHT FIRE, THANKFULLY WAS IN MY DRIVEWAY, BECAUSE IT TOOK MORE THAN A FIRE EXTINGUISHER TO PUT IT OUT, HAD TO USE HOSE FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD. FORTUNITELY FIRE WAS CONTAINED TO THE ALT. AND PLUG. WHEN I CALLED ABOUT REPLACING THE PLUG WAS TOLD IT CAME WITH THE NEW ALT. BECAUSE OF INHERENT PROBLEMS WITH SHORTS AND FIRES. CAN YOU IMAGINE IN I WAS HOOKED TO MY FIFTH WHEEL AND OUT IN THE DESERT, WITCH I AM ALOT WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED. THIS PROBLEM COULD HAVE BEEN HUGE. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM THAT I CAN'T BELIEVE WASNT ATTENDED TO.*AK
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
WHILE DRIVING IGNITION SWITCH CAUGHT ON FIRE, RENDERING ELECTRICAL FUNCTIONS INOPERABLE. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK
View all Engine And Engine Coolingenginegasoline complaints →
Safety Rating for the 1988 FORD F350
NHTSA has not yet tested the 1988 FORD F350 in its New Car Assessment Program.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 1988 FORD F350
Ford Motor Company has issued 1 technical service bulletin (TSBs) for the 1988 FORD F350. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.
9588 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
KNOCKING NOISE ON INITIAL START-UP. *TW
NHTSA Investigations for the 1988 FORD F350
NHTSA has opened 2 investigations into potential safety defects in the 1988 FORD F350.
Other Model Years of the FORD F350
- 1983 FORD F350 — 1 complaint
- 1984 FORD F350 — 2 complaints
- 1985 FORD F350 — 4 complaints
- 1986 FORD F350 — 17 complaints
- 1987 FORD F350 — 8 complaints
- 1988 FORD F350 (current)
- 1989 FORD F350 — 53 complaints
- 1990 FORD F350 — 63 complaints
Other FORD Models
- FORD F-150 — 45,660 total complaints
- FORD EXPLORER — 42,140 total complaints
- FORD ESCAPE — 34,654 total complaints
- FORD FOCUS — 29,539 total complaints
- FORD FUSION — 28,243 total complaints
- FORD TAURUS — 23,867 total complaints
- FORD WINDSTAR — 19,456 total complaints
- FORD EDGE — 17,247 total complaints