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1996 Ford E-350

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 10 of 50 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Tires. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports1 fire reports1 injury reports

What owners actually said

50 reports
Mileage unknown · Jul 2, 1999
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

CURRENTLY OWN 4 FORD SUPER CLUB WAGONS, ALL 4 VANS HAVE EXPERIENCED BROKEN ROTORS, ONE VAN MORE THAT ONCE. *ET

NHTSA ODI #782399

Mileage unknown · Apr 13, 1999
Power TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic

ONGOING PROBLEM WITH ABS SYSTEM FAILING TO OPERATE PROPERLY WHILE DRIVING. THE ABS SENSOR LIGHT WOULD COME ON. ALSO, TRANSMISSION FAILS SIMULTANEOUSLY/ONE OR MORE WHEELS WOULD LOCK UP, AND BRAKE PADS FAILED AT 8-10,000 MILES. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #833534

Mileage unknown · Apr 13, 1999
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

ABS SYSTEM PERFORMING POORLY.

NHTSA ODI #544966

Mileage unknown · Mar 23, 1999
Engine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, Hydraulic

WHILE DRIVING UP A STEEP HILL AND THEN DOWNSHIFTING BACK DOWN THE HILL, ENGINE QUIT AT THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL, AND THE BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, WHICH MAY HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE, NEEDED TO APPLY THE EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE. BEEN TO DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM. …

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WHILE DRIVING UP A STEEP HILL AND THEN DOWNSHIFTING BACK DOWN THE HILL, ENGINE QUIT AT THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL, AND THE BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, WHICH MAY HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE, NEEDED TO APPLY THE EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE. BEEN TO DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #835181

Mileage unknown · Oct 27, 1997
Structure

BOLT ON RUNNING BOARD FAILED CAUSING THEM TO PULL OUT.

NHTSA ODI #605556

Mileage unknown · Jun 23, 1997
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

OWNER HAS ABS BRAKES, ABS WARNING LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING. WHEN VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER HE WAS TOLD THAT THEIR WAS A HYDRAULIC FAILURE.OWNER IS VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #813382

Mileage unknown · Apr 25, 1997
Suspension

THE VEHICLE REAR SUSPENSION SPRINGS ARE BECOMING UNDONE BECAUSE THEY DO NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS TO HOLD THE TOTAL GROSS WEIGHT OF VEHICLE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SAG AND LOSE CONTROL. COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #811701

Mileage unknown · Dec 17, 1996
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

OWNER STATES THAT ABS BRAKES ARE NOT OPERATEING PROPERLY, HE NOTES THAT THE FRONT BRAKES HAVE MORE PRESSURE THAN REAR BRAKES, RESULTING IN COSTLY REPAIRS AND POOR BRAKE OPERATION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #805235

Mileage unknown · Sep 26, 1996
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

ANTILOCK BRAKES ARE OVER BOOSTED, ALLOWING 60 TO 70 PERCENT OF BRAKING POWER NOT TO BE EQUALLY DISTRIBUTED , CAUSING BRAKE PEDAL TO GO TO FLOOR IF BRAKES ARE APPLIED/RELEASED AND REAPPLIED.(2ND VEHICLE ON 508695)

NHTSA ODI #601629

Mileage unknown · Sep 26, 1996
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

ANTI LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM EXPERIENCED CONTINUED PROBLEMS, POSSIBLE DESIGN FLAW OF LOCATION IN MOUNTING OF THE UNIT, MOUNTING IS ON THE FRAME NEAR EXHAUST HEAT FACTOR, POSSIBLE RESTRICTION TO THE SYSTEM, NOT ALLOWING THE FLUID TO RETURN FROM THE CALIPERS TO THE MASTER CYLINDER (RESULTING IN OVERHEATING AND FAILURE OF MULTIPLE BRAKE …

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ANTI LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM EXPERIENCED CONTINUED PROBLEMS, POSSIBLE DESIGN FLAW OF LOCATION IN MOUNTING OF THE UNIT, MOUNTING IS ON THE FRAME NEAR EXHAUST HEAT FACTOR, POSSIBLE RESTRICTION TO THE SYSTEM, NOT ALLOWING THE FLUID TO RETURN FROM THE CALIPERS TO THE MASTER CYLINDER (RESULTING IN OVERHEATING AND FAILURE OF MULTIPLE BRAKE SYSTEM COMPONENT REPLACEMENTS). MJS

NHTSA ODI #527933

Official recalls

3

09V399000 · Vehicle Speed Control

Oct 13, 2009

FORD IS RECALLING MODEL YEARS 1995-2003 WINDSTAR, 2000-2003 EXCURSION DIESEL, 1993-1997 AND 1999-2003 F-250 SD THROUGH F-550 SD DIESEL, 1992-2003 E-150 THROUGH E-550, 1995-2002 EXPLORER, 1997 AND 2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER, 1995-1997 AND 2001-2003 RANGER, AND 1994 F53 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE TEXAS INSTRUMENTS SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH (SCDS). THE SCDS MAY LEAK INTERNALLY AND THEN OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A VEHICLE FIRE COULD OCCUR WITH OR WITHOUT THE ENGINE RUNNING.

Remedy: FORD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS THAT DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS IN LINE WITH THE SCDS. ON 1999-2003 WINDSTAR VEHICLES WITH A LEAKING SCDS, DEALERS WILL ALSO INSPECT THE ABS CONTROL MODULE CONNECTOR AND REPAIR AS NECESSARY. REPAIRS WILL BE COMPLETED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 27, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-888-222-2751.

08V051000 · Vehicle Speed Control:cruise Control

Feb 4, 2008

FORD IS RECALLING 225,000 MY 1992-2003 ECONOLINE, MY 1993-1995 TAURUS SHO, MY 1992-1998 CROWN VICTORIA, MY 1993 BRONCO, F-SERIES, MY 1995-1997 F-SERIES SUPER DUTY STRIPPED CHASSIS, MY 1992-1998 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS, AND MY 1992-1995 LINCOLN TOWN CAR VEHICLES. THE AFFECTED VEHICLES WERE PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED USING A WIRING HARNESS THAT IS NOT COMPATIBLE WITH THE VEHICLE CIRCUIT POLARITY.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: AS A RESULT, THE FUSE IS LOCATED IN THE OUTPUT CIRCUIT RATHER THAN IN THE INTENDED INPUT POWER FEED CIRCUIT, AND MAY NOT OFFER THE INTENDED PROTECTION IN THE EVENT OF AN ELECTRICAL SHORT TO GROUND.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW WIRING HARNESS, OR REPLACE THE MATING ELECTRICAL COMPONENT. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 18, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.

06V286000 · Vehicle Speed Control

Aug 1, 2006

ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH SPEED CONTROL, GASOLINE OR NATURAL GAS ENGINES, THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH MAY OVERHEAT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: OVERHEATING COULD RESULT IN SMOKE OR BURN AND AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS INTO THE SPEED CONTROL SYSTEM FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 7, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-866-436-7332. (NOTE: ALSO SEE RECALLS 05V017 AND 05V388)

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

1

PE02070 · Alleged Brake Hose Failures

Opened Oct 1, 2002 · Closed Jan 9, 2003

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic

FORD HAS RECEIVED NO OWNER REPORTS OF FAILURE, OTHER THAN THE FOUR ODI REPORTS THAT CAME FROM A SINGLE FLEET IN NEW YORK STATE.FORD ALSO REPORTS THAT IT HAS RECEIVED NO FIELD REPORTS AND DID NOT IDENTIFY ANY WARRANTY CLAIMS ALLEGING THE SUBJECT PROBLEM.FORD ESTIMATES THAT THE 86,910 SUBJECT VEHICLES (THAT HAVE OVER 6 YEARS EXPOSURE), HAVE ACCUMULATED OVER SIX BILLION MILES OF SERVICE AND THAT THE VIRTUAL LACK OF REPORTS INDICATES THAT THERE IS NO DEFECT TREND.BASED ON FORD'S DATA, A SAFETY RELATED DEFECT TREND DOES NOT APPEAR TO EXIST AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR FIELD REPORTS FOR THIS PROBLEM AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION IN THE FUTURE IF INDICATED.