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BrakesPart report

1988 Ford F-150 Brakes Problems

Complaints
8about this part
Share
6%of 139 total for the year
Median mileage
—not reported
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

NHTSA recorded 8 complaints about the brakes of the 1988 Ford F-150, 6% of the 139 complaints for this model year.

Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“Consumer says before she had the ABS system disconnected, the vehicle did not respond to the ABS system. Vehicle would just slide and keep going. Since system has been disconnected, the brakes work fine. Dealer has been contacted. Master cylinder failied.”

NHTSA complaint #829807, filed 1998-10

“This is the second Ford pickup I have seen wher e the rear brake line rusted through. Both times the line rusted through where it is in contact with the flexible metal sheath covering it.”

NHTSA complaint #705374, filed 1999-04

“The rear brakes when applied in poor traction conditions, or when towing a trailer, lock up. Then the ABS lets the rear wheels go free without reapplying the brakes. All braking is now on the front wheels only. This is no problem when in good tractrion conditions. However, in poor traction condition as soon as one of the front wheels begins to lock all braking is with one front wheel only. The truck goes totally out of braking control as the truck is now skidding on one front wheel and no rear wheels. It took me years to figure out what was going on. …”

NHTSA complaint #709441, filed 1999-08

Brakes: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
2026433%
20252018%
2024147%
20235212%
2022417%
2021777%
2020233%
2019232%
2018924%
20171168%
201634016%
201531718%
201434622%
201336312%
20121378%
20111848%
2010587%
20093912%
20083911%
2007449%
20069416%
200512011%
20041397%
2003287%
2002425%
2001696%
2000807%
199910710%
19981148%
19972338%
19963410%
199514523%
199414822%
19939015%
19925111%
1991269%
1990187%
1989167%
198886%
198733%
198658%
198527%

Other parts of the 1988 Ford F-150

Electrical system
49 complaints
Fuel system
28 complaints
Engine cooling
11 complaints
Seat belts
9 complaints
Body and structure
9 complaints
Transmission and drivetrain
8 complaints
Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
8 complaints
Tires
5 complaints
Suspension
4 complaints
Vehicle speed control
4 complaints
Steering
3 complaints
Wheels
2 complaints

← All problems reported for the 1988 Ford F-150

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Nov 1, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology