Home / Ford F150 / 1988 ← New search 1988 Ford F150 Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Illustration Same car. Limited comparison data There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison → Overview Common problems Recalls Investigations What to inspect Owner reports
How this year compares Owner complaints by model year
Compare all F150 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: 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.
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
Unknown Or Other complaints 1 reports Clear category filter Mileage unknown · Oct 11, 1999
Unknown Or Other
THE PAINT ON THIS VEHICLE FAILED AT 40,000 MILES.I CONTACTED DEALER WHO SAID THE WARRANTY ON THE PAINT HAD EXPIRED AND THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO FOR ME, SHORT OF REPAINTING THE TRUCK AT MY EXPENSE. NOW I HAVE A TRUCK WITH NO DENTS IN IT, BUT PEELING PAINT. I WAS TOLD THIS WAS A FAILURE OF THE OUTSIDE COAT TO BIND TO THE P…
Read full complaint THE PAINT ON THIS VEHICLE FAILED AT 40,000 MILES.I CONTACTED DEALER WHO SAID THE WARRANTY ON THE PAINT HAD EXPIRED AND THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO FOR ME, SHORT OF REPAINTING THE TRUCK AT MY EXPENSE. NOW I HAVE A TRUCK WITH NO DENTS IN IT, BUT PEELING PAINT. I WAS TOLD THIS WAS A FAILURE OF THE OUTSIDE COAT TO BIND TO THE PRIMER BECAUSE EPA WOULD NO ALLOW LEAD TO BE USED AS A BONDING AGENT IN THE PRIMER. IF IT WAS NOT FOR THIS PAINT PROBLEM, THIS TRUCK WOULD LOOK SIMILAR TO A NEW TRUCK. I TALKED WITH THE DEALER ABOUT JUNE OF 1998.
NHTSA ODI #713148
Official recalls 2 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.
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
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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
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
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