RecallMyCar

1988 Ford F350 Recalls, Complaints & Specs

4 safety recalls list the 1988 Ford F350, and owners have filed 29 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

4
safety recalls
29
owner complaints to NHTSA
2 / 13
complaints citing a crash / fire

4 safety recalls for the 1988 Ford F350

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

  1. Ignition (electrical system)

    NHTSA 96V071000 Reported 7,900,000 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    The ignition switch could experience an internal short circuit.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the ignition switch.

  2. Shoes/linings (service brakes)

    NHTSA 92V026000 Reported 467,000 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    A revised brake lining noise insulator resulted in a decrease in the thermal insulation between the brake lining and the front brake caliper piston. This caused greater heat transfer to the caliper pistons with the potential to overheat the brake fluid and diminish brake effectiveness during severe braking conditions.

    Remedy: Add snap-in insulators that attach to each of the front brake caliper pistons. In addition, vehicles with 7.5 l engines will have insulation added to the engine compartment brake lines.

  3. Glass, side/rear (visibility)

    NHTSA 88V146000 Reported 57,400 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    Sliding rear window may contain glazing panels which do not meet requirements of FMVSS 205.

    Remedy: Replace suspect window panels.

  4. Suspension

    NHTSA 88V015000 Reported 55,000 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    Steering/suspension systems may not adequately control steering type wobble allowing the front end to shimmy.

    Remedy: Modify and/or replace front suspension and steering components, tires, and frames.

29 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 1988 Ford F350 have filed 29 complaints with NHTSA; 2 describe a crash and 13 describe a fire. Reports cite 3 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 150,000 miles. Complaints peaked in 1996 with 9 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“Driver's side seat belt latch would no longer lock or latch . When replacing the latching side assembly i found the web was covered with an interior color matching trim piece . Running inside the trim”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, January 25, 2006 · Seat belts

“Alternator caught fire, thankfully was in my driveway, because it took more than a fire extinguisher to put it out, had to use hose for an extended period. Fortunitely fire was contained to the alt. A”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, February 3, 2002 · Electrical system

Compare Ford F350 model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Ford F350 model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1967 Ford F35010
1968 Ford F35020
1969 Ford F35010
1972 Ford F35030
1973 Ford F35030
1974 Ford F35010
1975 Ford F35041
1976 Ford F35010
1977 Ford F35030
1978 Ford F35090
1979 Ford F35030
1980 Ford F35050
1981 Ford F35042
1982 Ford F35020
1983 Ford F35071
1984 Ford F35032
1985 Ford F35014
1986 Ford F350214
1987 Ford F35028
1988 Ford F350429
1989 Ford F350540
1990 Ford F350639
2005 Ford F35020
2006 Ford F35020
2007 Ford F35020
2008 Ford F35020

Checking a specific 1988 Ford F350

How do I know if my 1988 Ford F350 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. 4 campaigns currently list the 1988 Ford F350; 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 88V015000).

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

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.