1988 Ford F150 Recalls, Complaints & Specs
2 safety recalls list the 1988 Ford F150, and owners have filed 139 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
2 safety recalls for the 1988 Ford F150
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Ignition (electrical system)
The ignition switch could experience an internal short circuit.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the ignition switch.
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Glass, side/rear (visibility)
Sliding rear window may contain glazing panels which do not meet requirements of FMVSS 205.
Remedy: Replace suspect window panels.
139 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 1988 Ford F150 have filed 139 complaints with NHTSA; 3 describe a crash and 47 describe a fire. Reports cite 4 injuries and 1 death. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 100,551 miles. Complaints peaked in 1996 with 58 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“Tl* the contact owns a 1988 ford f-150. The contact stated that the vehicle was hesitant to start and would sporadically overheat. The contact called the dealer who stated that their records only went”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, May 31, 2011 · Electrical system
“Tl* the contact owns a 1988 ford f-150. The contact was stopped when she began to smell gasoline. The vehicle was pulled over and upon further examination, the contact noticed that fuel was spilling o”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, December 14, 2010 · Fuel system, gasoline
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 1988 Ford F150 (F150 Pickup 2WD, F150 Pickup 4WD). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 12–16 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 11–15 / 12–18 |
| Fuel | Regular |
| EPA class | Standard Pickup Trucks, Standard Pickup Trucks 4WD |
| Engine | 6/8 cyl, 4.9/5/5.8 L |
| Transmission | Automatic 3-spd; Automatic 4-spd; Manual 4-spd; Manual 5-spd |
Compare Ford F150 model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Ford F150 model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1955 Ford F150 | 0 | 1 |
| 1966 Ford F150 | 0 | 1 |
| 1968 Ford F150 | 0 | 1 |
| 1973 Ford F150 | 1 | 0 |
| 1975 Ford F150 | 3 | 1 |
| 1976 Ford F150 | 1 | 0 |
| 1977 Ford F150 | 5 | 3 |
| 1978 Ford F150 | 9 | 4 |
| 1979 Ford F150 | 9 | 2 |
| 1980 Ford F150 | 4 | 3 |
| 1981 Ford F150 | 3 | 2 |
| 1982 Ford F150 | 0 | 5 |
| 1983 Ford F150 | 1 | 10 |
| 1984 Ford F150 | 1 | 13 |
| 1985 Ford F150 | 1 | 28 |
| 1986 Ford F150 | 1 | 61 |
| 1987 Ford F150 | 3 | 89 |
| 1988 Ford F150 | 2 | 139 |
| 1989 Ford F150 | 4 | 210 |
| 1990 Ford F150 | 4 | 254 |
Checking a specific 1988 Ford F150
How do I know if my 1988 Ford F150 has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 2 campaigns currently list the 1988 Ford F150; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Ford dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 88V146000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
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.