1987 Ford E-350: common problems

Owners of the 1987 Ford E-350 filed 14 complaints with NHTSA, most often about structure and engine and cooling. Details by component below, with sources.

Key figures

Owner complaints: 14

What fails most often

1 Structure 29% of all complaints
2 Engine and cooling 21% of all complaints
3 Service brakes 21% of all complaints
4 Electrical system 14% of all complaints
5 Fuel system 14% of all complaints
6 Tires 7% of all complaints

Circle size and colour show each component’s share of NHTSA complaints. Schematic only, not a drawing of the exact model.

Structure: 4 complaints (29% of all).
Engine and cooling: 3 complaints (21% of all).
Service brakes: 3 complaints (21% of all).
Electrical system: 2 complaints (14% of all).
Fuel system: 2 complaints (14% of all).

Symptoms owners describe

How many of the 14 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).

smoke, burning smell, fire4 · 29%
overheating, coolant loss1 · 7%
tires: bulges, blowouts1 · 7%

Components owners complain about

Component	Owner complaints	involving a crash	Technical service bulletins (TSB)
Structure	4	0	0
Engine and cooling	3	0	0
Service brakes	3	0	0
Electrical system	2	0	0
Fuel system	2	0	0
Tires	1	0	0

What owners report

Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.

Leak from on top of front fuel tank in the area of the vapor valve grommet. Sounds like the same problem as reported in nhtsa 87v111000. In relation to nhtsa #87v144000 188,000 vehicles were affected. Were all 1987 e350, club wagons, with 7.5 liter engines involved in this recall?
Engine and cooling · 2005-07-27 · NHTSA complaint #10130348
While driving, a tire (no make/model provided) experienced a blowout, causing damage to the left rear fender. (ohio traffic crash report)
Tires · 2000-12-19 · NHTSA complaint #557972
Braking system malfunctioned, causing extended stopping distance which may result in an accident. Please provide further information.
Service brakes · 1999-03-30 · NHTSA complaint #836325
The truck was parked and tried to start itself without the key and then caught on fire from the igniton switch. Please describe.
Electrical system · 1996-05-14 · NHTSA complaint #984482
Hand rail failed on bus number 124. (first vehicle on 503019)
Structure · 1996-04-25 · NHTSA complaint #503019
Hand rail failed on bus number 125. (second vehicle on 503019)
Structure · 1996-04-25 · NHTSA complaint #601357
Hand rail failed on bus number 126. (third vehicle on 503019)
Structure · 1996-04-25 · NHTSA complaint #601358
Pedal faded to the floor, resulting in long stopping distance, possible due to overheating of the brake fluid. Tt
Service brakes · 1995-11-02 · NHTSA complaint #974435

When owners complained

NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.

19954
19966
19981
19991
20001
20051

Comparison

By complaint count this model year ranks 9,551 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 26% most complained about).

On average one model year of the E-350 has 27 complaints (44 years in the data). This year has 14, below average.

What to check before buying

Structure. Rails, pillars, panel gaps, signs of pulling or welding.
Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.

Other years of this model

Questions and answers

What are the most common problems with the 1987 Ford E-350?

Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: structure, engine and cooling, service brakes. Total complaints: 14. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: smoke, burning smell, fire (29%), overheating, coolant loss (7%), tires: bulges, blowouts (7%).

How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1987 Ford E-350?

NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.

Should I buy a 1987 Ford E-350 from a US auction?

Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.

Other 1987 models

Read also

Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.