1988 Ford Explorer Recalls
No NHTSA recalls on record for the 1988 Ford Explorer. That means NHTSA has no open safety campaign for this vehicle — it does not guarantee the absence of problems. Owners have filed 7 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the electrical system. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Complaints by component
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.
“Power steering failed.”
“Incomplete ignition recall repair due to lack of parts.”
“Headlight switch defective.”
“Ignition replaced on recall 8/7/96. Fuel & temperature gauges frequently malfunction when the ignition switch malfunctions & overheats. The temperature gauge indicates overheating. Focusing on overheating problem overlooks the actual problem of the ignition which was replaced on recall. Also…”
“Visited dealer with complaint of noise(growl) in steering column. Was advised that this was normal. Also, front suspension has numerous squeaks as you would experience in an older vehicle that has not had proper lubrication. Dealer advised this was normal. Does not seem normal. I intend to take…”
“I wanted to know if this vehicle is safe&I am concern about the tire&the brake. *ak”
“I wanted to know if this vehicle is safe&I am concern about the tire&the brake. *ak”
Defect investigations
WHL SEPARATION/TORQUE LOSS
There is no summary currently available
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1988 Ford Explorer as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.