U.S. public vehicle records

2004 Ford E-350 problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

46 owner complaints analyzed

9 distinct recall campaigns

50,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2004 model year. Data snapshot: 2026-09-12 (September 12, 2026). 33 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Fuel System, Diesel is the most frequently named component, appearing in 10 of 46 complaints (21.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Fuel system concerns	11	23.9%
Engine operation	9	19.6%
Electrical and battery issues	4	8.7%
Steering behavior	3	6.5%
Transmission and shifting	2	4.3%
Braking behavior	1	2.2%

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.

Fuel System, Diesel

Engine And Engine Cooling

Tires

Electrical System

Engine

Fuel System, Diesel:Storage:Tank Assembly

Electrical System:Wiring

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Diesel

Component breakdown data
Category	Count
Fuel System, Diesel	10
Engine And Engine Cooling	4
Tires	4
Electrical System	3
Engine	3
Fuel System, Diesel:Storage:Tank Assembly	3
Electrical System:Wiring	2
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Diesel	2

Fuel System, Diesel: 10; Engine And Engine Cooling: 4; Tires: 4; Electrical System: 3; Engine: 3; Fuel System, Diesel:Storage:Tank Assembly: 3; Electrical System:Wiring: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Diesel: 2

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

25,000 to 49,999

50,000 to 74,999

75,000 to 99,999

100,000 to 149,999

150,000 and above

Under 25,000: 9; 25,000 to 49,999: 7; 50,000 to 74,999: 6; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 5; 150,000 and above: 3

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (9). 13 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.

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2015

2017

2003: 1; 2004: 3; 2005: 7; 2006: 6; 2007: 4; 2008: 3; 2009: 7; 2010: 3; 2011: 3; 2012: 3; 2013: 2; 2015: 3; 2017: 1

Pattern summary

Fuel System, Diesel leads the component reports. Fuel system concerns appears in 11 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 9 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 4 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 10172471 · 2006-11-02 (November 2, 2006)

2004 FORD E-450 AMBULANCE 5/31/06 CREW STATED THE ENGINE WAS SURGING, EGR VALVE REPLACED BY DEALERSHIP. 5/31/06 CREW STATED A/C QUIT BLOWING AND GRINDING NOISE HEARD LARGER FUSE INSTALLED BY DEALERSHIP. DEALERSHIP STATED ALL OTHER A/C TEST CHECKED OUT OK. DEALERSHIP ADDED BOOSTER REPLACED TO DIESEL FUEL ALSO REPLACED FILTER, DRAINED WATER SEPARATOR. 9/1/06 ENGINE OIL LEAKING, CREW ALSO HAD A/C CONCERNS AGAIN DEALERSHIP REPLACED GEO ROTOR OIL PUMP COVER GASKET AND SEAL WEAR SLEEVE AND REASSEMBLE POST ROAD. DEALERSHIP FOUND COMPRESSOR SHAF…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10172471 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10233729 · 2008-07-10 (July 10, 2008)

2004 E-350 FORD DIESEL VAN ..IN 06 FUEL TANK DELAMINATION FORD REPLACED TANK..08 FUEL TANK DELAMINATION AGAIN @ 14000 MI. COST TO ME 2200.00. DEALER SAID FORD WILL NOT ADMIT TO A TANK PROBLEM AND COULD NOT ASSURE ME THE DELAMINATION PROBLEM HAS BEEN CORRECTED TO DATE..I CAN'T AFFORD 2,200.00 EVERY 14000 MI. I USE ONLY HESS DIESEL FUEL. I KNOW I AM NOT ALONE WITH THIS PROBLEM, THE DEALERSHIP SAID THEY DO AT LEAST TWO A MONTH. THIS IS A DANGEROUS CONDITION..THE TRUCK LOSES POWER AND STALLS. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 28,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10233729 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10125308 · 2005-06-14 (June 14, 2005)

FROM THE VERY FIRST DAY WE OWNED OUR BRAND NEW FORD E-350 DIESEL CUBE VAN WE HAVE HAD AN ONGOING DRIVABILTY PROBLEM. THE ENGINE CUTS OUT WHILE DRIVING ALMOST COMING TO A STALL AND SPITS BLACK OR BLUE SMOKE OUT OF THE TAIL PIPE. WE HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FIVE TIMES TO DATE TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM FIXED. THE DEALERSHIP CANNOT FIND THE PROBLEM. WE HAVE TRIED TO TAKE THE TRUCK TO A DIFFERENT DEALER, BUT THEY SAY THEY CANNOT FIX IT BECAUSE ANOTHER DEALER HAS ALREADY WORKED ON THE TRUCK AND GOT PAID, SO WE HAVE TO TAKE IT BACK TO THEM. W…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10125308 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10130401 · 2005-07-28 (July 28, 2005)

FORD E-450 6.0L ENGINE LOSES POWER, STALLS, WILL NOT RESTART. BAYSHORE FORD SERVICE (WILMINGTON DE) RESULTS IN IDENTIFIED PROBLEMS OF DEFECTIVE EXHAUST BACK PRESSURE SENSORS, THROTTLE BODIES AND UNDERHOOD WIRING HARNESS. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS VEHICLE STALLS IN TRAFFIC WITH PASSENGERS ON BOARD. THESE DEFECTS SHOULD BE ADDED TO NHTSA RECALL # ) 05V270000. *NM

Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10130401 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10175315 · 2006-12-06 (December 6, 2006)

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED AFTER 20 MINUTES, AND WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER WHERE THE PROBLEM WAS UNABLE TO BE DETERMINED. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL # 05V270000, WHICH PERTAINS TO THE WIRING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.

Owner-reported narrative. 34,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10175315 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10074727 · 2004-06-03 (June 3, 2004)

2004 FORD F350 THIS FORD TRUCK WANDERS, THERE IS PLAY IN THE STEERING WHEEL. TRUCK DOES NOT GO STRAIGHT DOWN THE ROAD. WANDERS BACK AND FORTH, HAVE TO KEEP MINDING THE WHEEL. CRUISE CONTROL DECREASES 10-12 MPH FOR NO REASON. BOTH OF THESE PROBLEMS ARE SERIOUS SAFETY DEFECTS. THERE IS A DRIVELINE VIBRATION THAT IS CONTINUING TO GET WORSE. FORD IS UNWILLING AND UNABLE TO REPAIR THESE PROBLEMS. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10074727 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10076194 · 2004-07-06 (July 6, 2004)

THE VEHICLE WAS DIFFICULT TO STEER. AT A CERTAIN SPEED THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD SHIMMY AND THERE WAS SOME PLAY IN THE STEERING WHEEL. FORD HAD THE DISTRICT MANAGER VIEW THE SITUATION. HOWEVER, IT WAS AGREED THAT PROBLEM COULD NOT BE RESOLVED. *AK *SC *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10076194 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10199086 · 2007-08-10 (August 10, 2007)

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WILL SLIP OUT OF GEAR WITHOUT WARNING DURING ON-ROAD OPERATION. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10199086 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10276486 · 2009-07-13 (July 13, 2009)

5 SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION OCCASIONALLY JUMPS OUT OF DRIVE DURING NORMAL OPERATION OF VEHICLE, ENGINE REVS FOR A SECOND OR TWO, THEN TRANSMISSION SLAMS BACK INTO DRIVE. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 2,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10276486 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10266163 · 2009-04-20 (April 20, 2009)

I HAVE A FORD E-350 SUPER DUTY VAN THAT HAS HAD DRIVABLE PROBLEMS SINCE IT WAS NEW. AFTER MANY TRIPS TO DEALERSHIPS I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NO FIX AT THIS TIME AND FORD SHOULD COME OUT WITH A FIX IN THE FUTURE. THE ENGINE DIES WHEN HOT AT TIMES CAUSING HARD BRAKING AND LOSS OF STEERING. AT 100699 MILES, JUST 699 MILES OUT OF WARRANTY THE ENGINE QUITE RUNNING WHEN HOT. IF IT SITS FOR 6 OR MORE HOURS IT WILL RESTART AND RUN FOR ONLY 20 MINUTES. FORD TOLD ME IT WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND WOULD PROVIDE NO ASSISTANCE. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 100,699 miles reported. Look up ODI 10266163 at NHTSA ↗