1988 Ford F250: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
38 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
144,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1988 model year. Data snapshot: . 1 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System:Ignition is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 38 complaints (7.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 9 | 23.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 7.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 2.6% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 2.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 2.6% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 2.6% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System:Ignition | 3 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc | 3 |
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 3 |
| Electrical System | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 2 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System | 2 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly | 2 |
Electrical System:Ignition: 3; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc: 3; Tires:Tread/Belt: 3; Electrical System: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 2; Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System: 2; Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 37 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 12 |
| 1996 | 12 |
| 2000 | 8 |
| 2001 | 2 |
| 2003 | 2 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2006 | 1 |
1995: 12; 1996: 12; 2000: 8; 2001: 2; 2003: 2; 2004: 1; 2006: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System:Ignition leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 9 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 3 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10016062 · 2003-04-17 (April 17, 2003)
IT TOOK NUMEROUS TRIES TO GET THE VEHICLE TO START. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10016062 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10026627 · 2003-10-22 (October 22, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING, TIRE TREAD WORE OFF THE TIRE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK THE FIRST TIRE BUBBLED AIR UNDER THE TREAD AND WAS ADJUSTED AT 11K MILES. THE SECOND AND THIRD TIRES ALSO HAD AIR BUBBLES UNDER THE TREAD AND HAD SEPARATED FROM THE CASING AT 14K MILES. *SCC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 144,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10026627 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10096680 · 2004-10-12 (October 12, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING,THE CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR, THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER. THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE FUEL TANK EXPLODED. NO INJURIES. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO TRANSFER THE FUEL TO THE SECOND TANK AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE FUEL TANK NEEDED REPLACEMENT. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB THE VEHICLES ENGINE DIED AS A RESULT OF THE EXPLOSION. THE CONSUMER SWITCHED TANKS AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TO AN INDEPENDENT GARAGE. THE GARAGE REMOVED TH…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10096680 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10175391 · 2006-12-01 (December 1, 2006)
1988 FORD F-250'S ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUGHT ON FIRE. *TS WHILE DRIVING THE CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CONSUMER PULLED THE VEHICLE ONTO THE SHOULDER. THAT'S WHEN THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO PUT THE FIRE OUT BUT WAS NOT SUCCESSFUL. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10175391 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 482276 · 1995-03-21 (March 21, 1995)
FUEL INJECTOR PUMP FAILED TWICE, CAUSING LOSS OF POWER/FUEL LEAK.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 482276 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 484487 · 1995-07-25 (July 25, 1995)
MANIFOLD EXCESSIVELY NOISY, LEAKS FUMES INTO PASSENGER AREA.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 484487 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 484983 · 1995-08-12 (August 12, 1995)
EXHAUST MAINFOLD REPLACED DUE TO ODORS EMITTING INSIDE OF VEHICLE.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 484983 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 503751 · 1996-04-23 (April 23, 1996)
FRONT BRAKES FAILED FIVE TIMES. (FIRST VEHICLE ON 601427) *DSH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 503751 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
3 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
88V146000 · Visibility:Glass, Side/Rear
Reported: 1988-09-02 (September 2, 1988)
SLIDING REAR WINDOW MAY CONTAIN GLAZING PANELS WHICH DO NOT MEET REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS 205.
Consequence: A FRACTURED WINDOW MAY CONTAIN FRAGMENTS THAT ARE LARGERTHAN THE 425 GRAMS ALLOWED.
Remedy: REPLACE SUSPECT WINDOW PANELS.
NHTSA campaign record ↗92V026000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Drum:Shoes/Linings
Reported: 1992-03-03 (March 3, 1992)
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.
Consequence: INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCES AND INABLILITY TO HOLDVEHICLES ON A STEEP GRADE RESULTS IN INCREASED RISK OF ACCIDENT IN THE EVENT OFA SUDDEN STOP OR WHEN CONSTANT BRAKING IS NEEDED TO MANEUVER THROUGH AREAS WITHSTEEP GRADES.
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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗96V071000 · Electrical System:Ignition
Reported: 1996-04-25 (April 25, 1996)
THE IGNITION SWITCH COULD EXPERIENCE AN INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT.
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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗