Total Complaints
15 filings
FORD E150 · model year
1988 FORD E150
15 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1988FORDE150 carries 15 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 3 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1988 E150 is electrical system:alternator/generator/regulator with 2 filings, followed by tires:tread/belt (2) and electrical system:ignition (2). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 177 investigation files overlapping the 1988 E150, and 8 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
15
Complaints
0
Crashes
3
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR | 2 |
| TIRES:TREAD/BELT | 2 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION | 2 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING: REAR COMPARTMENT/TRUNK | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS | 1 |
| STEERING:LINKAGES | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD | 1 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP | 1 |
| STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20001024ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
COULD THIS BE THE SAME IGNITION MODULE THAT THEY ARE CONCERNED WITH IN CALIFORNIA? WHILE NO ONE WAS INJURED WHEN MY IGNITION MODULE FAILED, IT COST MY COMPANY $453.46 TO HAVE THE VAN TOWED AND REPAIRED. THIS IS IN ADDITION TO ABOUT $900.00 IN LOST REVENUES FOR THAT VAN.
20000926TIRES:TREAD/BELT
TWO OF THE FIRESTONE FR480 TIRES EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION AND AIR LOSS. *MJS
20000922ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
WHILE DRIVING THE ENGINE CUT OFF COMPLETELY,WAS GOING 35MPH , HAD A VERY DIFFICULT TIME IN CONTROLLING STEERING AND OPERATING POWER BRAKES . VAN WOULD NOT RESTART ,HAD A PULL IN. DIAGNOSTIC TEST AT FORD DEALER INDICATED VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW IGNITION MODULE
20000901TIRES:TREAD/BELT
WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE STARTED SHAKING.THEN FELT A BUMP UNDER VEHICLE, AND VEHICLE SHOOK HARDER. FOUND OUT THAT RIGHT REAR TIRE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION. TRIUMPH RADIO 2000 P235/75 R15. *AK DOT HYHLT28046, TIRE FAILURE CAUSED DAMAGE TO VEHICLE. *SLC
20000203STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
BOTTOM OF WHINDSHIELD WIPER ON DRIVER'S SIDE IS CORRODED AND, WATER COULD GET INSIDE OF VEHICLE THROUGH THAT CORRODED PART.*AK
19980914FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP
GAS CAP DOES NOT VENT. ON HOT DAYS THE TANK PRESSURIZES AND GAS LEAKS FROM CAP. WHEN CAP IS THEN OPENED IT COMES OUT LIKE A HOT RADITOR. IS THERE A RECALL?
19961213FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
WHILE DRIVING, LIGHTS KEPT ON FLICKERING, STOPPED, NOTICED SMOKE UNDER HOOD, CHECKED UNDER HOOD AND NOTICED FLAMES, PARTS STORE EMPLOYEE INFORMED DRIVER IT WAS ALTERNATOR, DID NOT GO TO DEALER. *AK *SLC
19961202VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE IT IDLES OKAY THEN AS PUTTING IT INTO GEAR ITS RPMS SEEM TO JUMP. AFTER ABOUT 10 SECONDS IT CALMS DOWN. *AK
19960711ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
ALTERNATOR FAILED FOUR TIMES. *DH
19960507FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
STOPPED AT GAS STATION AND SAW SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER HOOD,AFTER OPENING THE HOOD, CONSUMER SAW FIRE FLAMES AND THEN THREW WATER ON IT TO PUT IT OUT. *AK
19960506ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
THE WIRES UNDERNEATH THE HOOD HAVE BURNED AND THE TRUCK WILL NOT TURN OFF WHEN KEY WAS REMOVED FROM THE IGNITON. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
19951018SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
PURCHASE USED THE TIE ROD AND BRAKE WAS BAD . TT
19951018STEERING:LINKAGES
PURCHASE USED THE TIE ROD AND BRAKE WAS BAD . TT
19950630FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
NOTICE HOLE IN UPPER PORTION OF THE GAS TANK. *AK
19950615FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING: REAR COMPARTMENT/TRUNK
WIRING IN REAR OF VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE FROM LEFT REAR TAIL LIGHT. *SKD
Compare 1988FORDE150 to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 8 Open
EA26001Engineering AnalysisOpen
Unintended Transmission Downshift and Rear Wheel Lock-up
PE25020Preliminary EvaluationOpen
Timing Belt Failure
DP25001Defect PetitionOpen
Underbody shields detachment
PE25007Preliminary EvaluationOpen
B-Pillar Trim Detachment
PE25002Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Unintended Transmission Downshift and Rear Wheel Lock-up
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1988 FORD E150 have?▼
The 1988 FORD E150 has 15 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 3 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1988 FORD E150?▼
The most-complained component for the 1988 FORD E150 is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include TIRES:TREAD/BELT and ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION.
Is the 1988 FORD E150 safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.