1983 Ford E350 Recalls, Complaints & Specs

8 safety recalls list the 1983 Ford E350, and owners have filed 4 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

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8 safety recalls for the 1983 Ford E350

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

1. Heater core (visibility)

   NHTSA 89V140000 Reported August 15, 1989 2,700 vehicles potentially affected WHEELED COACH INDUSTRIES

   Heater hose may be incorrectly routed.

   Remedy: Reroute and repair hose as necessary.

2. Hoses/lines/piping/fittings (engine and engine cooling)

   NHTSA 88V133000 Reported August 9, 1988 14,975 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

   Extreme operating conditions could cause premature deterioration of the engine compartment heater hoses or engine bypass hoses.

   Remedy: Replace hoses and radiator caps; install high heat resistance aluminized stainless steel mufflers.

3. Emission control (engine and engine cooling)

   NHTSA 87V144000 Reported September 9, 1987 188,000 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

   Vehicles are subject to excessive underhood temperatures and fuel system pressures in severe duty applications.

   Remedy: Install modification kits to minimize possibility of fuel expulsion and to shield underbody components from exhaust system heat.

4. Emission control (engine and engine cooling)

   NHTSA 87V113000 Reported July 21, 1987 16,000 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

   Expulsion of fuel due to overpressurization.

   Remedy: Modification of the base fuel venting and emission control system to reduce operating temperatures and fuel system pressures.

5. Fuel system, diesel

   NHTSA 85V061000 Reported May 14, 1985 8,500 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

   When frontally impacted into a fixed barrier at 30 MPH, as specified in federal motor vehicle safety standard (FMVSS) no. 301, the left frame rails of such vehicles may displace inboard, pinching the fuel/water separator canister between the frame rail and engine sufficiently to displace the fuel/water separator drain rod, allowing the…

   Remedy: Install a canister shield, a revised design drain rod shield, and modify fuel/water separator mounting bracket.

6. Mounting (fuel system)

   NHTSA 84V034000 Reported March 23, 1984 4,000 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

   Attaching bolts on fuel tank supports may not have been adequately tightened; also, the supports are too thin. High levels of stress, which could occur under normal operating conditions, could cause cracks to develop in the support straps. If the fuel tank supports fracture, the fuel tank will slip from the normal position, and fuel…

   Remedy: Fuel tank supports and fasteners will be replaced without charge.

7. Fuel pump (fuel system)

   NHTSA 82V124000 Reported December 13, 1982 650 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

   Some of the involved vehicles may have a diode in the electrical fuel pump circuit that may short during engine starting due to inadequate capacity to withstand current draw. A short circuit would result in normal engine starting, but the pump will not continue to supply the engine with fuel.

   Remedy: The dealer will replace defective element in the electrical fuel pump circuit with a new relay feed wiring assembly which contains a larger capacity diode, free of charge.

8. Axle assembly (power train)

   NHTSA 82V104000 Reported October 26, 1982 74,985 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

   On certain vehicles, the lock wedges used to secure the axle bearing nuts to the axle housing may fall out of position, allowing the nut to loosen. The nut on the left side may fall off, allowing movement of the axle shaft.

   Remedy: The dealer will replace defective lock wedges with an improved version. Wheel bearings will be inspected and adjusted or replaced, if necessary.

4 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 1983 Ford E350 have filed 4 complaints with NHTSA; 2 describe a fire. Complaints peaked in 1996 with 3 filed that year.

Most-reported components

• Electrical system: switch1
• Engine and engine cooling: gasoline1
• Power train: automatic transmission1
• Tires1

What owners are reporting

“4 of 6 tires bought in 04 thread separating. No accident. Motor just started shaking at freeway speeds. *tr”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, March 15, 2011 · Tires

“While the vehicle was on and in the park position, on its own the vehicle jumped out of gear from park into reverse. *ak consumer states this is not his vehicle or his complaint.*jb”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, November 12, 1996 · Power train

Compare Ford E350 model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Ford E350 model year in NHTSA's database.

Checking a specific 1983 Ford E350

Other Ford models

• F-15037,961 complaints
• Explorer34,566 complaints
• Escape27,430 complaints
• Fusion22,405 complaints
• Focus22,096 complaints
• Taurus18,159 complaints
• Windstar14,158 complaints
• Edge14,065 complaints

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.