Total Complaints
17 filings
FORD F350 · model year
1986 FORD F350
17 NHTSA complaints. A VIN lookup is required to determine whether a specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1986FORDF350 carries 17 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 1 fire, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
The most frequently selected component label in reports for the 1986 F350 is tires with 3 filings, followed by visibility:windshield wiper/washer (2) and service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components (2). Complaint categories reflect owner reports and intake categorization; they do not establish a defect pattern or cause.
NHTSA currently has 179 investigation files overlapping the 1986 F350, and 6 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should read the complaint-by-year trend as report volume, not a causal diagnosis. Use the related-complaint feed and the official recall lookup when researching a specific vehicle.
17
Complaints
0
Crashes
1
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 |
|---|---|
| TIRES | 3 |
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER | 2 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS | 2 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH | 1 |
| SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER | 1 |
| STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:AXLE HUBS | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM:SHOES/LININGS | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20100726TIRES
FRONT TIRE ON LIGHT TRUCK BLEW OUT WHILE DRIVING APPR. 40MPH. *TR
Mileage: 106,000
20100726TIRES
TIRE BLOW OUT ON LIGHT TRUCK WHILE DRIVING AT APPROX 55 MPH THIS IS A SECOND OCCURRENCE WITH THESE TIRES. COOPER REFUSES TO REGISTER THE ISSUE. *TR
Mileage: 106,000
20020611FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
A VEHICLE FIRE STARTED UNDER DASH WHILE DRIVING. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION, AND FILL IN VEHICLE MILEAGE.*AK
20020104SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM:SHOES/LININGS
I/WE HAVE REPLACED THE BRAKE LININGS ON THE 1986 F-350, SAME SIZE, EVERYTHING! TRUCK WOULD HARDLY STOP, BUT BARLY. REPLACED FRONT CALIPERS & BLEAD COMPLETE SYSTEM THROUGH, (NEW CALIPERS! NOT REBUILT!) STILL HAVE STOPPING PROBLEMS? REPLACED REAR WHEEL CYLENDERS WITH NEW/ NOT REBUILT! STILL HAVE SAME PROBLEM? REPLACED MASTER CYLNDER, BLEAD COMPLETE SYSTEM AGAIN! STILL WILL BARLY STOP! HAVE TALKED TO FOUR OTHER F350 OWNERS AND THEY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM? ONE HAS BEEN TO FOUR DIFFRENT BREAK SHOPS AND STILL HAS THE SAME PROBLEM! IS THERE SOMETHING EVERYONE IS MISSING TO DO IN THE SYSTEM? NEED ANSWER PLEASE! THANKS
20001025TIRES
I WAS TOLD AT LES SCHWAB TIRE CENTERS THAT THE TIRE IS NOT CURRENTLY ON THE RECALL LIST.*AK( DOT NUMBER: )
19981113SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC
WHEN DRIVING UNDER NORMAL CONDITION AT 35MPH AND APPLYING BRAKES, THE FRONT BRAKES OVERHEAT BOILING THE BRAKE FLUID, CAUSING TOTAL LOSS OF THE FRONT BRAKES AND LITTLE OF BACK BRAKES. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
19980714POWER TRAIN:AXLE HUBS
THE DESIGN FLAW OF REAR HUB FAILED,CAUSING THE SEAL TO GO BAD,RESULTING IN GEAR OIL SPILLING ALL OVER THE REAR BRAKE SHOES. THE BRAKING SYSTEM DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY.*AK
19970325EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
HEAD LIGHT FAILURE.
19970127STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
CORROSION OF THE INNER TIE ROD, CAUSING THE TIE ROD TO BREAK WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. *AK
19970108SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
THE WELD ON THE TOP SUPPORT BROKE, CAUSING THE SEAT TO GO BACK WHEN APPLYING BRAKES, HAS NOT TAKEN IN FOR REPAIR BECAUSE DEALER INSISTS THAT IT IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. *AK
19960624ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
KEY/IGNITION SWITCH OVERHEAT.
19960506ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
HEAT GENERATES IN STEERING COLUMN AND WIRING HARNESS/FUSE BOX BURNED. OWHER HAS REPLACED WIRING W/HEAVY DUTY WIRES. *AK
19960307VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
WINDSHIELD WIPER FAIL TO CLEAN WINDSHIELD ON DRIVER'S SIDE. *SD
19960307SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
BRAKES FAILED, REPLACED ALL COMPONENTS. *SD
19960307VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
WINDSHIELD WIPER FAIL TO CLEAN WINDSHIELD ON DRIVER'S SIDE. *SD
19960307SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
BRAKES FAILED, REPLACED ALL COMPONENTS. *SD
19950303FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
DIESEL FUEL INJECTOR PUMP FAILED; PUMPED FUEL INTO ENGINE OIL PAN INTO CRANK CASE; THINS OUT CRANK CASE OIL; FILLS TOO FULL; COULD CAUSE FIRE. TT
Compare 1986FORDF350 to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 6 Open
EA26004Engineering AnalysisOpen
Timing Belt Failure
DP26004Defect PetitionOpen
Anti-lock brake system (ABS) Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) illuminated
EA26001Engineering AnalysisOpen
Unintended Transmission Downshift and Rear Wheel Lock-up
PE25020Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Timing Belt Failure
DP25001Defect PetitionClosed
Underbody shields detachment
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1986 FORD F350 have?▼
The 1986 FORD F350 has 17 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 1 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1986 FORD F350?▼
The most-complained component for the 1986 FORD F350 is TIRES with 3 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER and SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS.
Is the 1986 FORD F350 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 vintage: August 2026. 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.
Every figure on PlainCars is rendered directly from NHTSA complaint and safety data, no number is typed in by an editor. This year-specific record is rendered from NHTSA ODI, recall, and NCAP rows for the 1986 FORD F350; no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.