The 1986 Ford F-350 has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 3,600,630 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 17 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the tires. Last updated July 5, 2026.
SPRING LOCK FUEL LINE COUPLING MAY NOT BE PROPERLY ENGAGED.
Consequence
COUPLING COULD DISENGAGE DUE TO FUEL PRESSURE,VIBRATION, AND ENGINE MOVEMENTS; THIS WOULD CAUSE LOSS OF FUEL WHICH, INPRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, CREATES A FIRE RISK.
Remedy
INSTALL RETAINER CLIPS OVER THE COUPLINGS TO PREVENT COUPLING SEPARATION AND FUEL LEAKAGE.
VISIBILITY86V0480001986-03-27630 affected
Defect
THE OUTSIDE REAR VIEW MIRRORS DO NOT MEET THE 50 SQUARE INCH MINIMUM REQUIREMENT OF FMVSS 111-REARVIEW MIRRORS. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: THE STANDARD REQUIRES A MINIMUM DIMENSION FOR REARVIEW MIRRORS TO…
Remedy
REPLACE OUTSIDE REAR VIEW MIRRORS WITH UNIT MAGNIFICATION MIRRORS OF 9" X 6" REFLECTIVE SURFACE DIMENSIONS.
Complaints by component
TIRES
3
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
2
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
1
1fires
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
1
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
1
POWER TRAIN:AXLE HUBS
1
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
1
Total complaints17
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“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”
“Front tire on light truck blew out while driving appr. 40mph. *tr”
“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”
“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…”
“I was told at les schwab tire centers that the tire is not currently on the recall list.*ak( dot number: )”
“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”
“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”
“Windshield wiper fail to clean windshield on driver's side. *sd”
Defect investigations
InvestigationDP89005 Opened 1989-01-26 · closed 1989-08-01
F-SERIES FUEL TANK FIRES
F-SERIES FUEL TANK FIRES
InvestigationPE87017 Opened 1987-01-28 · closed 1987-05-26
FUEL LEAKS/FIRES
SUMMARY OF INFORMATION FROM MANUFACTURER:INSTANCES WERE FOUND WHERESPRING LOCK COUPLINGS FAILED CAUSING GASOLINE TO BE RELEASED THROUGHOUTTHE ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUSING FIRES.LEAKS FROM FUEL LINES MAY ALSO BE ACONTRIBUTING CAUSE TO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT…
InvestigationPE89020 Opened 1988-12-07 · closed 1989-06-01
FIRES
There is no summary currently available
InvestigationPE89022 Opened 1988-12-13 · closed 1989-07-12
ANTIFREEZE UNDERHOOD FIRES
There is no summary currently available
InvestigationPE89128 Opened 1989-06-07 · closed 1989-10-17
GEARSHIFT LEVER BREAKS
SUMMARY: CONSUMERS ALLEGE THAT GEAR SHIFT LEVER IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLESEQUIPPED WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSION MAY FRACTURE, RESULTING IN INABILITYTO SHIFT GEARS.ADDITIONALLY, FRACTURE MAY OCCUR AT A LOCATION WHICHALLOWS TRUNNION PIN TO FALL INTO GEARSHIFT MECHANISM, POSSIBLY LOCKING UPTHE TRANSMISSION AND CAUSING A LOSS…
InvestigationPE94065 Opened 1994-08-19 · closed 1994-12-28
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1986 Ford F-350 as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.