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#BS-1987-FORE35-4C7A

1987 Ford E-350Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Based on reports from 15 owners and 8 recalls for this exact model.

Data updated October 4, 2026 ·checked October 21, 2026 · NHTSA complaints through October 19, 2026

Complaints

Crashes

Fires

Recalls

TSBs

🟢

Preliminary Verdict

Proceed with Caution

Based on 15 complaints, 0 crashes, 4 fires, and 8 recalls.

See full verdict with buy/skip conditions

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Mechanic Inspection Checklist

!Check the StructureHIGH

4 owners reported structure issues.

!Inspect the Electrical System:ignition:switchMED

Look for symptoms of wear and premature failure

+ 6 more items in full checklistUnlock

30,000-Mile Cost Projection

Best Case

$X,XXX

Most Likely

$X,XXX

Worst Case

$X,XXX

Top cost driver: Structure (4 reports).

Includes fuel costs, common repairs, and recall riskUnlock

Also in your report

Owner Intelligence

AI-synthesized themes from real complaints

Buyer Lot Checklist

Questions, test drive checks, walk-away triggers

Negotiation Talking Points

Data-backed dollar deductions

Buy / Skip Verdict

Final recommendation with conditions

10 sections total in the full reportUnlock all

Where the complaints fall

Structure4 (27%)

Electrical System:ignition:switch2 (13%)

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components2 (13%)

Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline1 (7%)

Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System1 (7%)

Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System:emission Control1 (7%)

Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly1 (7%)

Fuel System, Other:storage:tank Assembly:pressure Relief Devices1 (7%)

1987 Ford E-350: Known Issues & Problem Areas

Structure Issues

Structure complaints account for 27% of all reports filed for the 1987 Ford E-350, with 4 owners filing complaints with NHTSA.

Electrical System:ignition:switch Issues

Electrical System:ignition:switch complaints account for 13% of all reports filed for the 1987 Ford E-350, with 2 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to electrical system:ignition:switch-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components Issues

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components complaints account for 13% of all reports filed for the 1987 Ford E-350, with 2 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline Issues

Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline complaints account for 7% of all reports filed for the 1987 Ford E-350, with 1 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Data sourced from NHTSA owner complaints and community reports. The full report analyzes severity, repair costs, and failure patterns for each category.

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Repair costs • Negotiation scripts • Mechanic checklist • Buy/skip verdict

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Recall History (8 recalls)

87V111000Jul 1987

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:MOUNTING

FUEL LEAK AT THE TOP OF THE FRONT FUEL TANK IN THE AREA OF THE VAPOR VALVE GROMMET. GROMMET MAY SPLIT DUE TO COMPRESSIVE LOAD WHEN INSTALLED IN THE FUEL TANK.

87V113000Jul 1987

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL

EXPULSION OF FUEL DUE TO OVERPRESSURIZATION.

87V144000Feb 1988

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL

VEHICLES ARE SUBJECT TO EXCESSIVE UNDERHOOD TEMPERATURES AND FUEL SYSTEM PRESSURES IN SEVERE DUTY APPLICATIONS.

88V133000Sep 1988

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:HOSES/LINES/PIPING/FITTINGS

EXTREME OPERATING CONDITIONS COULD CAUSE PREMATURE DETERIORATION OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT HEATER HOSES OR ENGINE BYPASS HOSES.

89V062000Jun 1989

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

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.

+ 3 more recalls in the full report

Recall severity analysis & seller scripts

The full report rates each recall's severity and gives you scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.

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NHTSA Defect Investigations (53)

All closed. Investigations are how NHTSA decides whether a defect needs a recall.

DP87024ClosedOpened Jul 1987 · closed Aug 1987

FORD E-350 EMS VEHICLE FIRES

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

DP87025ClosedOpened Jul 1987 · closed Aug 1987

FORD E350 EMS VEH. FIRES

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

DP88016ClosedOpened May 1988 · closed Nov 1988

FIRES-COOLANT HOSE FAILURE

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

EA93014ClosedOpened Jun 1993 · closed Jul 1994

ALTERNATOR BELT FAILURE

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

PE89040ClosedOpened Feb 1989 · closed Apr 1989

UNDERHOOD FIRES

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

+ 48 more in the full report

The worst model year for the Ford E-350 is the 2006 — worth knowing if you're cross-shopping years. The biggest problem area is engine.

About this data

NHTSA Complaints

Federal database of owner-filed safety complaints. 15 records for this vehicle.

NHTSA Recalls

Manufacturer-issued safety recalls. 8 recalls found for this vehicle.

Repair Cost Data

Real-world repair costs from owner reports and independent databases.

Last updated October 4, 2026 (checked October 21, 2026). NHTSA complaints received through October 19, 2026.

Other Ford E-350 Model Years

View all Ford E-350 years →

1987 Ford E-350: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common problem with the 1987 Ford E-350?

The most commonly reported issue with the 1987 Ford E-350 is related to the structure, with 4 complaints filed with NHTSA.

Is the 1987 Ford E-350 reliable?

The 1987 Ford E-350 has 15 complaints, 0 crash reports, and 4 fire reports filed with NHTSA. The full report analyzes whether these numbers indicate real risk or are proportional to the vehicle’s popularity.

How much does it cost to fix 1987 Ford E-350 problems?

Repair costs vary by issue. The full BumperScan report includes detailed repair cost estimates (low/median/high) for every major issue, plus a 30,000-mile total cost of ownership projection.

Does the 1987 Ford E-350 have any recalls?

Yes, the 1987 Ford E-350 has 8 recalls on record. The full report includes recall severity analysis and scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.

What mileage do Ford E-350 problems start?

Mileage data is limited for this vehicle. The full report analyzes available data to identify failure patterns by mileage range.

When was the 1987 Ford E-350 data last updated?

BumperScan last checked this vehicle against NHTSA on October 21, 2026, covering owner complaints received through October 19, 2026 plus the latest recalls, investigations and technical service bulletins. Its numbers last changed on October 4, 2026.

What’s in the full report?

10 sections of AI analysis: severity-ranked issues, component scores (0-100), 30K-mile cost projection, failure timeline by mileage, recall details with seller scripts, owner sentiment analysis, mechanic checklist, buyer lot checklist, negotiation ammo with dollar figures, and a buy/skip verdict.

How is this different from free NHTSA data?

NHTSA gives you raw complaint text. BumperScan cross-references 2.1M+ complaints with community repair cost data, EPA fuel data, and recall records — then uses AI to synthesize it into actionable advice with dollar figures.

How is this different from Carfax?

Carfax is VIN-specific history ($45/report). BumperScan is model-level reliability intelligence — what problems this car is known for, what they cost, and whether you should buy it. Complementary, not competing.

What if the report isn’t useful?

100% money-back guarantee. If the report doesn’t help you make a more informed decision, we’ll refund you — no questions asked.

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10 sections of AI analysis based on 15 owner reports. Know before you buy.

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