Recalls (2)
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 1986 Ford F-350. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗FUEL:FUEL LINES:METALLIC
- Summary
- 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.
VISUAL SYSTEMS:MIRRORS:REARVIEW:EXTERIOR
- Summary
- 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 PROVIDE ADEQUATE FIELD OF VISION WHICH AIDS IN PREVENTING ACCIDENTS.
- Remedy
- REPLACE OUTSIDE REAR VIEW MIRRORS WITH UNIT MAGNIFICATION MIRRORS OF 9" X 6" REFLECTIVE SURFACE DIMENSIONS.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (14)
14 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The electrical system is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 14 |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 3 | 21.4% |
| Service brakes | 3 | 21.4% |
| Tires | 3 | 21.4% |
| Exterior lighting | 1 | 7.1% |
| Fuel system | 1 | 7.1% |
| Power train | 1 | 7.1% |
| Seats | 1 | 7.1% |
| Steering | 1 | 7.1% |
| Visibility | 1 | 7.1% |
How 1986 compares with other F-350 years
Best and worst F-350 years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 2 | 4 |
| 1983 | 1 | 7 |
| 1984 | 2 | 3 |
| 1985 | 4 | 1 |
| 1986 | 14 | 2 |
| 1987 | 8 | 2 |
| 1988 | 29 | 4 |
| 1989 | 42 | 5 |
| 1990 | 39 | 6 |
| 1991 | 31 | 5 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Looking at a 1986 F-350 for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
1986 Ford F-350 FAQ
How many recalls does the 1986 Ford F-350 have?
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns: 87V139000 (fuel system), 86V048000 (visibility). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 1986 Ford F-350 problems?
Owners filed 14 complaints with NHTSA. Electrical system (3), Service brakes (3), Tires (3) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
How does the 1986 F-350 compare with other years?
Among the 1981–1991 Ford F-350 model years at least five years old, the 1983 drew the fewest complaints (1) and the 1989 the most (42). The 1986 drew 14. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.