1988 Ford E350
Only 10 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.
Only 10 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict. The data below is complete but unranked.
- Complaints
- 10
- Recalls
- 1
- Investigations
- 4
- Top problem
- —
Too few to rank
Campaigns on file for 1988
Opened by NHTSA
Not enough data
Complaints per year
1988: 10 complaints
View as data table
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 1980 | 0 |
| 1981 | 0 |
| 1982 | 0 |
| 1983 | 4 |
| 1984 | 4 |
| 1985 | 2 |
| 1986 | 10 |
| 1987 | 14 |
| 1988 | 10 |
| 1989 | 25 |
| 1990 | 23 |
| 1997 | 0 |
| 1998 | 0 |
| 1999 | 0 |
| 2000 | 0 |
| 2002 | 0 |
| 2003 | 0 |
| 2005 | 0 |
| 2006 | 0 |
| 2007 | 0 |
| 2008 | 0 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 0 |
| 2013 | 0 |
Known problem areas
Only 10 complaints on file for this model year — too few to rank by share. Raw counts only, below.
Service brakes
6 of 10 total reports mention: service brakes, most commonly citing hydraulic.
Vehicle speed control
2 of 10 total reports mention: vehicle speed control, most commonly citing cables.
Suspension
2 of 10 total reports mention: suspension, most commonly citing front.
Show complaint excerpts
The driver skid off the road and bumped a tree. Then the van went up in flames. Please describe. Tt
NHTSA ODI report, 1995-12-15
Tl*the contact owns a 1988 Ford E350. The front end of the vehicle shimmied while driving at various speeds. The failure usually occurs when driving over bumps.
NHTSA ODI report, 2008-08-14
Electrical system
2 of 10 total reports mention: electrical system, most commonly citing front underhood and ignition.
Show complaint excerpts
Wiring harness shorted, causing fire.
NHTSA ODI report, 1996-09-23
Fuel system, gasoline
1 of 10 total reports mentions: fuel system, gasoline.
Show complaint excerpts
The car was parked and a neighbor called the owner and told him his car was on fire. The fire was in front by the steering. Tt
NHTSA ODI report, 1996-02-13
Safety timeline
1 recall · 4 investigations · oldest first
To check one car, enter its VIN on the NHTSA recall page. Check a VIN →
-
R
1989-06-01Electrical system89V062000 Nylon ties that support the main wiring harness to the chassis could wear and break due to excessive vibration. Thus, wiring harness could fall on engine components and short circuit.
Remedy: Install retrofit rit of plastic-coated metal clamps, loom for positive battery cables and re-route wiring.
-
I
1991-05-23Preliminary evaluationClosed 1991-10-31 Loss of brake effectivenes
-
I
1991-10-30Engineering analysisClosed 1992-10-30 Loss of brake effectivenes
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I
1993-06-04Engineering analysisClosed 1994-07-29 Alternator belt failure
-
I
1999-02-10SQClosed 2001-09-21 Front brake fade
Buy-smart checklist
1988 Ford E350 — pre-purchase inspection
Inspect
- Service brakes: 6 reports on file for this year.
- Vehicle speed control: 2 reports on file for this year.
- Suspension: 2 reports on file for this year.
Verify these recalls were completed
- Recall 89V062000 · Electrical system
FAQ
- Is the 1988 Ford E350 reliable?
- There isn't enough NHTSA complaint data on file yet to give this model year a verdict.
- What are the most common problems with the 1988 Ford E350?
- The most-reported component is service brakes, accounting for 60% of complaints on file.
- How many recalls does the 1988 Ford E350 have?
- 1 recall on file for this model year.
Data updated 2026-11-01 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.