Total Complaints
85 filings
FORD F250 · model year
1988 FORD F250
85 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1988FORDF250 carries 85 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 2 crashes, 16 fires, 3 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 F250 is service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip with 6 filings, followed by electrical system:ignition:switch (5) and structure:body (4). 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 F250, 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.
85
Complaints
2
Crashes
16
Fires
3
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
2 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 |
|---|---|
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 6 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH | 5 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY | 4 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC | 4 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION | 4 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY | 3 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM | 3 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 3 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH | 3 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:AUXILLARY TANK:SELECTOR DEVICES | 3 |
| TIRES:TREAD/BELT | 3 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 2 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER | 2 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS | 2 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 2 |
Recent Complaints
20061205FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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
20061205FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
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
20041012FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
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 THE GAS TANK. TANK WAS THREE TIMES THE NORMAL SIZE. WHEN TANK EXPLODED IT BENT THE VROSS MEMBER IN FRONT OF THE TANK CAUSING THE BED OF THE TRUCK TO NOW BE BOWED WHERE THE TANK WAS. *TC
20030707TIRES:TREAD/BELT
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
Mileage: 144,000
20030417ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
IT TOOK NUMEROUS TRIES TO GET THE VEHICLE TO START. *JB
20010523SEATS
BOLTS AND NUTS THAT ATTACH SEAT TO TO FRAME OF VEHICLE HAVE STARTED TO PULL THROUGH FLOORBOARD.*AK CONSUMER STATES THE RIGHT FRONT NUT WAS DETACHED FROM THE FLOOR WHICH IS A SAFETY ISSUE, ALSO THE LEFT REAR NUT WAS PARTIALLY BROKEN LOOSE.*JB
20010117TIRES:TREAD/BELT
PE 00 040/TIRE TREAD SEPARATION/TIRE FAILURE: LEFT FRONT TIRE WAS FLAT WHILE TRAVELING AT 45 MPH, ON A 1988, FORD, F250 WITH AFTER MARKET EQUIPMENT, TIRE SIZE LT235/85R16, DOT# UNVAILABLE. NOTICED MULTIPLE HAIR LINE CRACKS WHERE TREAD MET TIRE. FIRESTONE NOTIFIED. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK
20001219FireTIRES:TEMPORARY/EMERGENCY SPARE TIRE
WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER NOTICED THE SPARE TIRE ON FIRE, THE TIRE WAS MOUNTED UNDERNEATH THE BED AGAINST THE TAILPIPE. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT) *SLC
20001018ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WILL COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER CANNOT IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
20001018ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING VEHICLE CUT OFF/ ENGINE DIE OUT COMPLETELY. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER , DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
20001017STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS
FIREWALL SHEET METAL FAILURE DUE TO METAL FATIGUE, CLUTCH AND BRAKE ARE TOO MUCH FORCE FOR THE DESIGN AND GAUGE OF THE FIREWALL. *SLC
20001013TIRES:TREAD/BELT
TREAD SEPERATED FROM THE TIRE - NO BLOW OUT.*AK (DOT NUMBER: *T*16X6K TIRESIZE: 85R16M/S)
20000315SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER
BRAKE CALIPER MOUNT IS SPREADING ON BOTH SIDES OF THE VEHICLE. THERE'S IS A BANGING AND SQUEALING NOISE, AND IS VERY HARD TO STOP VEHICLE. CONSUMER WILL CALL THE MANUFACTURER TO GET ANSWERS TO WHY IT'S HAPPENING. *AK
20000311SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC
ON THE BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURES FORD ISSUED A RECALL AND INSTALLED INSULATORS ON THE CALIPERS TO CURE THE PROBLEM AND EVER WOULD PAY FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF PARTS AND LABOR DUE TPO THE INITIAL PROBLEM . ALSO FORD RECALLED THE VEHICLE ON THE PAINT AND WHEN AFTER 2 YEARS OF TRYING TO GET FORD TO DO SOMETHING THEY SAID I HAD TO MANY MILES ON THE TRUCK . THIS IS NO WAY TO TREAT A CUSTOMER *AK
20000311STRUCTURE:BODY
ON THE BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURES FORD ISSUED A RECALL AND INSTALLED INSULATORS ON THE CALIPERS TO CURE THE PROBLEM AND EVER WOULD PAY FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF PARTS AND LABOR DUE TPO THE INITIAL PROBLEM . ALSO FORD RECALLED THE VEHICLE ON THE PAINT AND WHEN AFTER 2 YEARS OF TRYING TO GET FORD TO DO SOMETHING THEY SAID I HAD TO MANY MILES ON THE TRUCK . THIS IS NO WAY TO TREAT A CUSTOMER *AK
20000105FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:AUXILLARY TANK:SELECTOR DEVICES
DUAL FUEL TANKS SWITCHING MODULE FAILED, CAUSING FUEL TO SPEW FROM REAR TANK---AS PER REPORT ON 1990 TO 1993 MODELS. *AK
19991221FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:AUXILLARY TANK
WHEN THE DUAL FRONTAL TANK ARE FULL CONSUMER NOTICES FUEL LEAKAGE COMING FROM THE FRONT TANK, CAUSING A FIRE HAZARD. CONSUMER HAS YET TO HAVE PARTS REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
19991129SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ANTI LOCK BRAKE FAILURE CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO 40' COACHMAN RV WHEN ACCIDENT OCCURRED. MJS
19991129SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ANTI LOCK BRAKE FAILURE CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO 40' COACHMAN RV WHEN ACCIDENT OCCURRED. MJS
19990902SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHEN APPLYING THE ABS BRAKES ON DRY PAVEMENT PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
Compare 1988FORDF250 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 F250 have?▼
The 1988 FORD F250 has 85 NHTSA complaints, 2 crashes, 16 fires, 3 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1988 FORD F250?▼
The most-complained component for the 1988 FORD F250 is SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP with 6 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH and STRUCTURE:BODY.
Is the 1988 FORD F250 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.