1998 Ford E-350 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
47 owner complaints analyzed
7 distinct recall campaigns
116,460 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1998 model year. Data snapshot: . 17 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Tires is the most frequently named component, appearing in 9 of 47 complaints (19.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 11 | 23.4% |
| Engine operation | 5 | 10.6% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 6.4% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 4.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 2.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 2.1% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Tires | 9 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 4 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 4 |
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 4 |
| Electrical System | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 2 |
| Fuel System, Diesel | 2 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 2 |
Tires: 9; Engine And Engine Cooling: 4; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 4; Tires:Tread/Belt: 4; Electrical System: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 2; Fuel System, Diesel: 2; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 2 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 5 |
| 150,000 and above | 6 |
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 5; 150,000 and above: 6
150,000 and above miles has the most reports with usable mileage (6). 30 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 8 |
| 2001 | 11 |
| 2002 | 7 |
| 2003 | 3 |
| 2005 | 3 |
| 2008 | 5 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
2000: 8; 2001: 11; 2002: 7; 2003: 3; 2005: 3; 2008: 5; 2009: 1; 2010: 1; 2011: 3; 2012: 1; 2014: 1; 2018: 1; 2020: 1; 2022: 1
Pattern summary
Tires leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 11 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 5 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 3 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10052212 · 2003-12-24 (December 24, 2003)
BRAKE FAILURE RESULTED IN VEHICLE REAR ENDING ANOTHER VEHICLE.*MR WHILE ATTEMPTING TO STOP THE VEHICLE'S BRAKES FAILED AND AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE REAR ENDED A STOPPED VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS RENTED FROM UHAUL. A UHAUL TECHNICIAN CAME AND INSPECTD THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED IN FOR REPAIRS ( OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10052212 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10219988 · 2008-03-03 (March 3, 2008)
I BELIEVE THE EVENTS LEADING TO THE FAILURE IN MY MOTOR HOME STARTED WITH THE FIRST RECALL (SEPT. 2007)THAT SAID THAT A FUSE-ABLE LINK HAD TO BE INSTALLED IN THE BRAKE SYSTEM TO PREVENT A POSSIBLE FIRE HAZARD. I COMPLIED. SHORTLY THERE AFTER MY ABS LIGHT STARTED BLINKING ON AND OFF IRREGULARLY. THEN AFTER A VERY FEW MILES IT STAYED ON ALL THE TIME THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING. I CALLED THE DEALER WHERE THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED AND THEY SAID THAT THE ABS HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE RECALL ISSUE . THAT MY BRAKES WOULD STILL WORK, THAT THE ABS JUST EF…
Owner-reported narrative. 25,760 miles reported. Look up ODI 10219988 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10251254 · 2008-12-09 (December 9, 2008)
FUEL TANK LINING DETERIORATING. I HAVE FOUND FLAKES IN MY LAST FOUR FUEL FILTERS. VEHICLE LOSS OF POWER, THEN ROUGH RUNNING. THE FLAKES ARE IN THE FILTER I HAVE ADDED BETWEEN TANK AND FUEL PUMP. THEY ARE SMALL PIECES OF GREY OR SILVER PAINT. I AM GOING TO HAVE TO REPLACE FUEL TANK IN ORDER TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM. I REPLACED THE FILTER THIS MORNING, PUT APPROX. 90 MILES ON VAN AND FOUND SEVERAL OUNCES IN THE FILTER THIS EVENING. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 276,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10251254 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10386300 · 2011-03-03 (March 3, 2011)
1998 FORD E 350 POWERSTROKE 7.3 DIESEL. THE CAMSHAFT POSITIONING SENSOR (CPS) FAILURE IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT FORD WILL HAVE TO DEAL WITH. I HAVE HAD THREE INSTANCES OF THE UNIT FAILING ON ME SINCE THIS FIRST ONE ON DEC 13TH, 2007. IN THE FIRST CASE, I WAS TAKING MY SON TO SCHOOL. THE VAN WAS SPUTTERING THE WHOLE WAY AND I EVENTUALLY HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP AFTER A COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE. FORD HAD JUST ISSUED THE RECALL ON DEC 6TH, 2007, AND THEY HONORED THE REPAIR. THE SECOND CPS INCIDENT HAPPENED ON FEB 23RD, 2010. THE VEHICL…
Owner-reported narrative. 411,637 miles reported. Look up ODI 10386300 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10022935 · 2003-07-11 (July 11, 2003)
WHEN THE CONSUMER FILLED THE GAS TANK, HE SMELLED A STRONG ODOR OF GAS, WHEN THE CONSUMER LOOKED UNDER THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED FUEL DRIPPING OFF THE BOTTOM OF THE FUEL TANK*AK . THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE TANK WAS FULL IT LEAKED VERY BAD AND ONLY WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS MOVING. AS THE FUEL IN THE TANK BECAME LOW THE LEAK SLOWED DOWN, THE CONSUMER LEARNED OF A RECALL, HOWEVER THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED NO RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED FOR THE VEHICLE. PH *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10022935 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10096736 · 2005-01-19 (January 19, 2005)
THE VEHICLE HAD A CRACKED FUEL TANK. CURRENTLY, THE MANUFACTURER IS CONDUCTING A RECALL FOR THIS DEFECT. HOWEVER, BASED ON THE INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THE CONSUMER, THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT INCLUDE THIS VEHICLE IN THE RECALL ALTHOUGH IT HAS ALL THE SYMPTOMS AS THOSE WHICH ARE INCLUDED. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB RECALL CAMPAIGN; NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 01V114000. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS REPAIRED AT HER EXPENSE. *TC
Owner-reported narrative. 78,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10096736 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 735803 · 2000-11-06 (November 6, 2000)
BOLT BROKEN THAT HOLDS THE STEERING GEAR BOX AND THE SMELL FROM THE HEATER MAKES YOU SICK.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 735803 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 765685 · 2002-08-15 (August 15, 2002)
ALWAYS PULLS TO THE LEFT WHEN BRAKING. LEFT FRONT LOCKS UP AND SKIDS WHIN BRAKING FOR A SOTP ON WET PAVEMENT OR ON UNPAVED SURFACES. SAME OCCURS WHEN LOOSE MATERIAL IS ON PAVED SURFACE. BRAKE COMPONENTS (SHOES, CALIPERS, ETC ) HAVE BEEN REPLACED BY THE DEALER AT CONSIDERABLE EXPENSE WITH NO IMPROVEMENT. THERE WAS A BLUE RING ON THE LEFT FRONT ROTOR WHEN WORK WAS DONE. WHEN THE LEFT FRONT SKIDS THERE IS NO BRAKING. FORTUNATELY IT ONLY HAPPENS UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS (AT LOW SPEEDS) RESULTING IN ONLY 20-30 OCCURRENCES IN 94,00 MILES. THE PULL …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 765685 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 766284 · 2002-08-27 (August 27, 2002)
WHILE PARKED IN DRIVEWAY AND I WAS LOADING MY KIDS IN THE VAN, MY 2 YEAR OLD CHILD JUMPED INTO FRONT SEAT, AND SHIFTED THE AUTMATIC TRANSMISSION INTO REVERSE OR NEUTRAL (NOT SURE), ALLOWING VAN TO START ROLLING FORWARD (IT WAS BACKED INTO DRIVEWAY, SO THE FRONT OF THE VAN WAS DOWNHILL) I WAS STANDING IN FRONT OF THE VAN, AND IT WAS JUST STARTING TO ROLL SO IT WAS GOING SLOWING SO I AND A COUPLE OF OTHER GUYS WHO WERE STANDING THERE WITH ME WERE ABLE TO JUMP IN FRONT OF THE FAN AND STOP IT, I THEN JUMPED IN AND APPLIED THE PARKING BRAKE AND SHIF…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 766284 at NHTSA ↗