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1988 Ford F150

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

About this comparison →
139Owner complaints

Model-year median: 3.5

2Recall campaigns

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6Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
28
198561
198689
1987139
1988210
1989254
1990
Compare all F150 years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Electrical System
49Fuel System, Gasoline
27Engine And Engine Cooling
11Seat Belts
9Structure
9
All reported categories
Power Train
8Service Brakes, Hydraulic
8Visibility
8Tires
5Suspension
4Vehicle Speed Control
4Fuel System, Other
3Steering
3Wheels
2Equipment
1Exterior Lighting
1Seats
1Unknown Or Other
1

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: 9 of 139 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 49 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 27 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

3 crash reports47 fire reports4 injury reports

Fuel System, Other complaints

3 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Jan 14, 2002
Fuel System, GasolineFuel System, Other

CONSUMER HAS TWO TANK ATTACHMENTS TO TRUCK, WHEN REAR TANK IS FULL OF GASOLINE, FRONT TANK WILL LEAK OUT GASOLINE ONTO GROUND, DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK CONSUMER IS STATING THAT THE VEHICLE HAS DUEL FUEL TANKS, WHEN REAR TANK IS USED AND FRONT TANK IS FULL GASOLINE WILL LEAK OUT FROM FRONT FUEL TANK FILLER NECK ONTO …

Read full complaint

CONSUMER HAS TWO TANK ATTACHMENTS TO TRUCK, WHEN REAR TANK IS FULL OF GASOLINE, FRONT TANK WILL LEAK OUT GASOLINE ONTO GROUND, DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK CONSUMER IS STATING THAT THE VEHICLE HAS DUEL FUEL TANKS, WHEN REAR TANK IS USED AND FRONT TANK IS FULL GASOLINE WILL LEAK OUT FROM FRONT FUEL TANK FILLER NECK ONTO GROUND. ALSO THE FUEL GAUGE ON THE REAR TANK WILL FLUCTUATE RAPIDLY, CONSUMER THINKS THE PROBLEM IS IN THE SWITCH, WHICH CONTROLS THE RETURN LINE OF THE FUEL, INSTEAD OF ROUTING TO REAR TANK IT GOES INTO FRONT TANK. *YD

NHTSA ODI #8002173

Mileage unknown · Apr 1, 1997
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, OtherVisibility

POWER WINDOWS INOPERATIVE.

NHTSA ODI #516061

Mileage unknown · Aug 15, 1996
Fuel System, GasolineFuel System, Other

FUEL GAUGE MOVES ERRACTICALLY FROM EMPTY TO FULL DUE TO SHORT, RUINING FUEL PUMP/SWITCH.

NHTSA ODI #507562

Official recalls

2

96V071000 · Electrical System:ignition

Apr 25, 1996

THE IGNITION SWITCH COULD EXPERIENCE AN INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT.

Consequence & remedy

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.

88V146000 · Visibility:glass, Side/rear

Sep 2, 1988

SLIDING REAR WINDOW MAY CONTAIN GLAZING PANELS WHICH DO NOT MEET REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS 205.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A FRACTURED WINDOW MAY CONTAIN FRAGMENTS THAT ARE LARGERTHAN THE 425 GRAMS ALLOWED.

Remedy: REPLACE SUSPECT WINDOW PANELS.

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

6

EA91044 · Loss Of Brake Effectivenes

Opened Oct 30, 1991 · Closed Oct 30, 1992

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic

===

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

PE91017 · Ford Truck Inconsistent Vehicle Control.

Opened Nov 27, 1990 · Closed Apr 17, 1991

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic

SEE CLOSE RESUME

DP89005 · F-SERIES Fuel Tank Fires

Opened Jan 26, 1989 · Closed Aug 1, 1989

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Fuel System, Gasoline

F-SERIES FUEL TANK FIRES

PE89020 · Fires

Opened Dec 7, 1988 · Closed Jun 1, 1989

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages

There is no summary currently available

PE89003 · Steering Column Drops

Opened Oct 13, 1988 · Closed Feb 8, 1989

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering

There is no summary currently available