Total Complaints
17 filings
FORD F350 · model year
1986 FORD F350
17 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
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.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1986 F350 is tires with 3 filings, followed by visibility:windshield wiper/washer (2) and service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components (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 1986 F350, 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.
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 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 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 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.