← New search

1996 Ford Ford Truck

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

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

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
Compare all Ford Truck years →

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: 4 of 18 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.

  • Tires. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

2 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

What owners actually said

18 reports
Mileage unknown · Apr 22, 2000
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

WHEN DRIVNG THOUGH A PUDDLE @ SLOW SPEEDS, BATTERY LIGHT BLINKED AND ENGINE SHUT OFF. BROUGHT CAR INTO SHOP, WAS TOLD LOOSE BATTERY CONNECTION. I READ ON YOUR WEB SITE THAT OTHER PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #721790

Mileage unknown · Oct 2, 1999
Power Train

THIS TRUCK IS EQUIPPED WITH E4 OD AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, WHILE STILL UNDER ORIGINAL WARRENTEE I COMPLAINED OF JERKY AND ROUGH SHIFTING AND WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE DEALER, THAT THIS WAS NORMAL, TO PROTECT MYSELF AT 32,000 MILES I HAD THE TRANSISSIOM SERVICED AND CHECKED AGAIN FOR DEFECTS, AND WAS TOLD EVERYTHING W…

Read full complaint

THIS TRUCK IS EQUIPPED WITH E4 OD AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, WHILE STILL UNDER ORIGINAL WARRENTEE I COMPLAINED OF JERKY AND ROUGH SHIFTING AND WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE DEALER, THAT THIS WAS NORMAL, TO PROTECT MYSELF AT 32,000 MILES I HAD THE TRANSISSIOM SERVICED AND CHECKED AGAIN FOR DEFECTS, AND WAS TOLD EVERYTHING WAS A-OKAY. THE ROUGH AND JERKY SHIFTING STILL OCCURRED. AT 67,000 MILES THE E4 OD TRANSMISSION FAILED. A REPUTABLE TRANSMISSION AUTHORITY WAS CONTACTED, THE PROBLEM AND THIS IS KNOWN BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY, IS THE TRANSMISSION IN THE E4 OD WHICH WAS STANDARD AT THE TIME FOR THIS MODEL, WAS NOT STURDY ENOUGH TO GET THE PREPORTED 100,000 MILES THAT THE DEALERS BRAG ABOUT. THE TORQUE CONVERTER IS TOO LIGHT WEIGHT FOR THE 7.3 LTR ENGINE AND WAS COMPLETELY DIS INTERGRATED, BY THE POWER OF THE ENGINE. THIS HAD BEEN ON GOING EVEN TO THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY. FORD IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AS THIS E4 OD TRANSMISSION HAS HAD NUMEROUS RECALLS AND SEVICE BULLETINS SINCE IT'S CONCEPTION IN THE EARLY 1990'S.. FORD MOTOR COMPANY SENT ME A FREE 24 /24 EXTENDED WARRANTY DATED ACTIVE 4 DAYS AFTER I PAID $2500 FOR AN OVERHAUL OF THIS E4 OD TRANSMISSION. I HAVE 4 OTHER FORD PRODUCTS IN MY DRIVEWAY AND I'M SO UNHAPPY ABOUT THIS I FEEL LIKE MOVING OVER TO DODGE. MY FAMILY HAS ALWAYS USED FORD PRODUCTS, BUT THIS TIME WE ARE GETTING STUCK WITH A HUGE REPAIR BILL THAT THE FORD DEALER AND FORD MOTOR COMPANY SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR.

NHTSA ODI #712684

Mileage unknown · Dec 14, 1998
Structure

RIVETS AND BOLTS NEEDED REPLACEMENT IN THE CHASSIS, HOWEVER DEALERSHIP WELDED FRAME INSTEAD.

NHTSA ODI #543013

Mileage unknown · Apr 28, 1998
Seat Belts

SHOULDER BELTS MOUNTED TO WALL, CAUSING BELTS TO CROSS OVER THE AISLE OF VAN, BLOCKING AISLE.

NHTSA ODI #534836

Mileage unknown · Apr 8, 1998
Engine And Engine Cooling

OIL PAN RUSTED OUT CAUSING LEAKAGE.

NHTSA ODI #534050

Mileage unknown · Aug 5, 1997
Service Brakes, Air

WHEN PULLING TRAILERS THE ABS, ON THESE VEHICLES, IS ACTIVE AND IT TAKES APPROXIMATELY 40% MORE BRAKING ROOM TO STOP. THIS HAS BEEN OBSERVED ON THE FORD AND DODGE ONE TON PICK-UP TRUCKS.

NHTSA ODI #522530

Mileage unknown · Apr 23, 1996
Engine And Engine Cooling

HOLE IN ENGINE CYLINDER DUE TO NOT ADDING CHEMNICAL ADDITIVE TO COOLANT SYSTEM. *DH

NHTSA ODI #504088

Mileage unknown · Mar 25, 1996
Equipment

DRIVER HAS TO TAKE EYES OFF ROAD TO ADJUST RADIO DUE TO THE RADIO MISSING ITS KNOBS. *DH

NHTSA ODI #504888

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.