1986 Ford E-350 Problems
- Complaints
- 11filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 60,000miles, 1 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 11campaigns on record
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
Sources: NHTSA records for the 1986 Ford E-350 (complaints, recalls, investigations). Report an error
NHTSA recorded 11 consumer complaints for the 1986 Ford E-350. The part named most often is electrical system, with 6 complaints (55% of the total), followed by engine cooling (3) and brakes (1). 1 of the complaints include a mileage, and 0% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 60,000 miles. Of all complaints, 6 a fire, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 11 recall campaigns and 0 technical service bulletins for this model year. Electrical system complaints overlap with 1 recall campaign and 1 NHTSA investigation filed under the same part. Engine cooling complaints overlap with 3 recall campaigns covering the hoses/lines/piping/fittings and 3 NHTSA investigations filed under the same part.
This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.
Which parts are reported most
Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.
- Electrical system6 55%
- Engine cooling3 27%
- Brakes1 9.1%
- Fuel system1 9.1%
- Tires1 9.1%
Example complaints
Electrical system: “About 3:15 p.m. On monday, 8 march 1999 I exited the ohio turnpike at the blue heron service area, parked my 1986 Ford E-350 van before the travelers services building, put the ignition key into my pocket, and went into the restroom. When I returned to m”
NHTSA complaint #704491, filed 1999-03Engine cooling: “1986 Ford e350, a fire started on the right side and undercarriage of the vehicle. According to the police report, the exhaust was bent upward toward the side of the motor home, which may have been the cause of the fire. (ohio traffic crash report # 10-0332-89)”
NHTSA complaint #10357512, filed 2010-09Fuel system: “Consumer states that he has replaced the rear gas sender in the rear gas tank, replaced (4) times in a (10) year period. Time to be replaced once again.”
NHTSA complaint #802690, filed 1996-09Mileage when problems were reported
0% of the 1 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 60,000 and 60,000 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Fewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
Recalls and investigations
- 89V139000Aug 15, 1989Visibility › Defroster/defogger/hvac system › Heater coreCovers: Ford E-350 1985–1987
Heater hose may be incorrectly routed.
- 89V140000Aug 15, 1989Visibility › Defroster/defogger/hvac system › Heater coreCovers: Ford E-350 1983–1986
Heater hose may be incorrectly routed.
- 89V075000May 9, 1989Visibility › Defroster/defogger/hvac system › Heater coreCovers: Ford E-350 1986–1987
Heater hose may be incorrectly routed.
- 89V062000Apr 17, 1989Electrical system › WiringCovers: Ford E-350 1984–1989
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.
- 88V133000Aug 9, 1988Engine and engine cooling › Cooling system › Hoses/lines/piping/fittingsCovers: Ford E-350 1983–1987, E-250 1983–1987
Extreme operating conditions could cause premature deterioration of the engine compartment heater hoses or engine bypass hoses.
- 87V144000Sep 9, 1987Engine and engine cooling › Exhaust system › Emission controlCovers: Ford E-350 1983–1987, Econoline 1983–1987, Club Wagon 1983–1987 +1 more
Vehicles are subject to excessive underhood temperatures and fuel system pressures in severe duty applications.
See all 11 recalls for the 1986 Ford E-350 → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls
NHTSA investigations
- PE89102Heater hose routingClosed · Mar 15, 1989
- PE89044Heater hose misroutingClosed · Feb 17, 1989
- PE89045Underhood firesClosed · Feb 17, 1989
- PE89046Underhood firesClosed · Feb 17, 1989
- PE89047Underhood firesClosed · Feb 17, 1989
Technical service bulletins
No technical service bulletins are on record for the 1986 Ford E-350.
Other model years of the Ford E-350
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 14 | 11,000 | 3 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 2021 | 22 | 12,234 | 6 | — | — | — | Rising |
| 2017 | 13 | 20,556 | 4 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 2016 | 5 | 4,000 | 3 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 2015 | 7 | 20,978 | 2 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 2014 | 17 | 16,500 | 11 | — | 13 | — | Rising |
| 2013 | 13 | 6,000 | 9 | — | 13 | — | Not enough data |
| 2012 | 16 | 69,750 | 12 | — | 13 | — | Stable |
| 2011 | 19 | 76,000 | 18 | — | 13 | — | Falling |
| 2010 | 17 | 69,900 | 16 | — | — | — | Falling |
| 2009 | 10 | 20,000 | 25 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 2008 | 39 | 51,000 | 30 | — | — | Not compared (fewer than 3 comparable model years) | Rising |
| 2007 | 18 | 51,051 | 35 | — | — | — | Falling |
| 2006 | 53 | 73,000 | 38 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Rising |
| 2005 | 55 | 67,294 | 16 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2004 | 46 | 50,000 | 10 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2003 | 46 | 85,509 | 7 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Rising |
| 2002 | 53 | 80,000 | 5 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2001 | 52 | 89,000 | 4 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2000 | 59 | 99,783 | 8 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1999 | 72 | 87,000 | 9 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 1998 | 63 | 113,614 | 8 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 1997 | 79 | 70,000 | 5 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 1996 | 50 | 38,934 | 3 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1995 | 69 | 80,000 | 3 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1994 | 51 | 137,000 | 5 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1993 | 43 | 85,000 | 3 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1992 | 41 | 45,000 | 3 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1991 | 19 | — | 1 | — | — | — | Stable |
| 1990 | 23 | 89,000 | 2 | — | — | — | Stable |
| 1989 | 26 | 64,000 | 3 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1988 | 11 | 72,000 | 1 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 1987 | 14 | — | 8 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 1986 | 11 | 60,000 | 11 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 1983 | 5 | 73,000 | 8 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
All Ford E-350 model years · Best and worst years by complaints
Frequently asked questions
How many NHTSA complaints does the 1986 Ford E-350 have?
NHTSA recorded 11 consumer complaints for the 1986 Ford E-350 as of Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 1986 Ford E-350 is reported most often?
Electrical system is named most often, in 6 complaints (55% of the total), followed by engine cooling with 3.
Has the 1986 Ford E-350 been recalled?
NHTSA lists 11 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
At what mileage are problems with the 1986 Ford E-350 reported?
Among the 1 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 60,000 miles and the middle half falls between 60,000 and 60,000 miles; 0% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.