IllustrationCOULD THIS BE THE SAME IGNITION MODULE THAT THEY ARE CONCERNED WITH IN CALIFORNIA? WHILE NO ONE WAS INJURED WHEN MY IGNITION MODULE FAILED, IT COST MY COMPANY $453.46 TO HAVE THE VAN TOWED AND REPAIRED. THIS IS IN ADDITION TO ABOUT $900.00 IN LOST REVENUES FOR THAT VAN.
1988 Ford E150
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all E150 years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 0 of 14 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Electrical System. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Tires. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
0 crash reports3 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
14 reportsWHILE DRIVING THE ENGINE CUT OFF COMPLETELY,WAS GOING 35MPH , HAD A VERY DIFFICULT TIME IN CONTROLLING STEERING AND OPERATING POWER BRAKES . VAN WOULD NOT RESTART ,HAD A PULL IN. DIAGNOSTIC TEST AT FORD DEALER INDICATED VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW IGNITION MODULE
TWO OF THE FIRESTONE FR480 TIRES EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION AND AIR LOSS. *MJS
WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE STARTED SHAKING.THEN FELT A BUMP UNDER VEHICLE, AND VEHICLE SHOOK HARDER. FOUND OUT THAT RIGHT REAR TIRE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION. TRIUMPH RADIO 2000 P235/75 R15. *AK DOT HYHLT28046, TIRE FAILURE CAUSED DAMAGE TO VEHICLE. *SLC
BOTTOM OF WHINDSHIELD WIPER ON DRIVER'S SIDE IS CORRODED AND, WATER COULD GET INSIDE OF VEHICLE THROUGH THAT CORRODED PART.*AK
GAS CAP DOES NOT VENT. ON HOT DAYS THE TANK PRESSURIZES AND GAS LEAKS FROM CAP. WHEN CAP IS THEN OPENED IT COMES OUT LIKE A HOT RADITOR. IS THERE A RECALL?
WHILE DRIVING, LIGHTS KEPT ON FLICKERING, STOPPED, NOTICED SMOKE UNDER HOOD, CHECKED UNDER HOOD AND NOTICED FLAMES, PARTS STORE EMPLOYEE INFORMED DRIVER IT WAS ALTERNATOR, DID NOT GO TO DEALER. *AK *SLC
WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE IT IDLES OKAY THEN AS PUTTING IT INTO GEAR ITS RPMS SEEM TO JUMP. AFTER ABOUT 10 SECONDS IT CALMS DOWN. *AK
STOPPED AT GAS STATION AND SAW SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER HOOD,AFTER OPENING THE HOOD, CONSUMER SAW FIRE FLAMES AND THEN THREW WATER ON IT TO PUT IT OUT. *AK
THE WIRES UNDERNEATH THE HOOD HAVE BURNED AND THE TRUCK WILL NOT TURN OFF WHEN KEY WAS REMOVED FROM THE IGNITON. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
2EA91044 · Loss Of Brake Effectivenes
Opened Oct 30, 1991 · Closed Oct 30, 1992
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
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PE91077 · Loss Of Brake Effectivenes
Opened May 23, 1991 · Closed Oct 31, 1991
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
There is no summary currently available