Complaints
85
Crashes
2
Fires
16
Injuries
3
Fatalities
—
Recalls
0
Worst 1988 Ford F-250 Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#16 complaints
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Crash-related:1
#25 complaints
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch
Fires:3
#34 complaints
Electrical System:Ignition
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 1988 Ford F-250.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 6 | 1 | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 5 | — | 3 | — | |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Body Structure | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash | 3 | — | 2 | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 3 | — | 1 | — | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System | 3 | — | 1 | — | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Auxillary Tank:Selector Devices | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical Faults | 2 | — | 1 | — | |
| Electrical System:Wiring | 2 | — | 2 | — | |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood | 2 | — | 2 | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 2 | — | 1 | — | |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages:Hood:Latch | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Automatic Transmission | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Caliper | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Brake Master Cylinder | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Steering:Gear Box (Other Than Rack And Pinion) | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Wiring & Fuses | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights:High/Low Beam Dimmer Switch | 1 | — | 1 | — | |
| Fuel Pump | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Auxillary Tank | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System, Other | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Cooling Unit And Lines | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Power Train:Axle Assembly | 1 | — | — | — |
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
6
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
3
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Ignition
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Body Structure
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
2
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Auxillary Tank:Selector Devices
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Tires:Tread/Belt
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical Faults
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Wiring
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
2
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
2
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Exterior Lighting:Headlights
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Hood:Latch
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Automatic Transmission
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Caliper
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Brake Master Cylinder
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering:Gear Box (Other Than Rack And Pinion)
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Wiring & Fuses
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Exterior Lighting:Headlights:High/Low Beam Dimmer Switch
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Fuel Pump
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Auxillary Tank
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Other
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Cooling Unit And Lines
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Power Train:Axle Assembly
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 1988 Ford F-250. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Other Ford F-250 Years
Wider context: See the full Ford F-250 reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
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