2008 Ford E-350 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
39 owner complaints analyzed
29 distinct recall campaigns
51,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2008 model year. Data snapshot: . 33 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Steering is the most frequently named component, appearing in 12 of 39 complaints (30.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 8 | 20.5% |
| Braking behavior | 6 | 15.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 2.6% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 2.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 2.6% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 2.6% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Steering | 12 |
| Suspension | 6 |
| Structure:Body | 5 |
| Service Brakes | 4 |
| Engine | 3 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 3 |
| Tires | 3 |
| Unknown Or Other | 3 |
Steering: 12; Suspension: 6; Structure:Body: 5; Service Brakes: 4; Engine: 3; Fuel/Propulsion System: 3; Tires: 3; Unknown Or Other: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 11 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 4 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 6 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 3 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 4 |
| 150,000 and above | 5 |
Under 25,000: 11; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 6; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 4; 150,000 and above: 5
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (11). 6 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 |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 4 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 7 |
| 2012 | 4 |
| 2013 | 4 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 3 |
| 2016 | 7 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2025 | 1 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2008: 4; 2009: 1; 2010: 2; 2011: 7; 2012: 4; 2013: 4; 2014: 1; 2015: 3; 2016: 7; 2017: 2; 2018: 2; 2025: 1; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Steering leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 8 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 6 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 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 10241678 · 2008-09-10 (September 10, 2008)
THERE HAS BEEN NO CRASH TO DATE. THE COMPLAINT IS RELATED TO THE POOR DRIVING PERFORMANCE OF 2008 FORD F350 12 PASSENGER VANS. THE STEERING CONTROL IS VERY POOR AND MAY CAUSE ACCIDENTS. THERE IS SO MUCH "SLOP" IN THE STEERING THAT YOU CAN FEEL THE VEHICLE SWAY BACK AND FORTH WHILE DRIVING. IN SOME CASES, AT HIGHER FREEWAY SPEEDS, THE VAN STARTS TO FISHTAIL (LIKE A TRAVEL TRAILER WITH TOO MUCH WEIGHT IN THE BACK). WE HAVE ASKED OUR LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP TO LOOK AT THE PROBLEM, BUT, THE STEERING IS STILL BAD. I HAVE OWNED MANY FORD VEHICLES AND H…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10241678 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10241949 · 2008-09-12 (September 12, 2008)
THIS IS NOT A FAILURE OR A MALFUNCTION BUT A COMPLAINT ABOUT THE STEERING PLAY IN THE 2008 FORD E350 VANS WHICH IS A RESULT OF THE DESIGN OF THE STEERING. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 4,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10241949 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10240526 · 2008-09-01 (September 1, 2008)
WE HAD THE CRUISE CONTROL ON DRIVING 55 MPH IN A VERY LIGHT WIND. FOR 20 MILES , HANDLING WAS ACCEPTABLE. WITHOUT WARNING THE VAN ROLLED TO THE LEFT ABOUT 15 DEGREES FOLLOWED BY A ROLL TO THE RIGHT ENTERING A SERIES OF ROLLS FIRST LEFT THEN TO THE RIGHT. EACH OSCILLATION WAS LARGER THAN THE LAST. RECOVERY WAS SUCCESSFUL BY SLOWING TO 30 MPH WITHOUT BRAKING. AIR BAGS WERE 55 PSI EACH FRONT TIRES WERE 55 PSI , REAR TIRES 80PSI. WATER TANK WAS EMPTY, GRAY AND BLACK WATER TANKS WERE EMPTY. THE VAN IS VERY DANGEROUS IF DRIVEN OVER 40MPH.…
Owner-reported narrative. 300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10240526 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10374777 · 2011-01-05 (January 5, 2011)
WAS DRIVING NORMALLY WHEN THE ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS CAME ON AND ALARM STARTED CHIMING. WHEN I PULLED OVER TO STOP THE ABS KICKED IN AND MY STOPPING DISTANCE GREATLY INCREASED. I HAD THE VAN TOWED TO A MECHANIC WHERE HE DISCOVERED CORROSION IN THREE ABS SPEED SENSORS. A TSB (TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN) CONFIRMED THIS TO BE AN ISSUE ONLY ON THIS YEAR AND MODEL VAN. MOISTURE IS GETTING INTO THESE SENSORS AND WITHOUT WARNING IT IS CAUSING NORMAL BRAKING FAILURE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 38,036 miles reported. Look up ODI 10374777 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10810678 · 2015-12-16 (December 16, 2015)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD E-350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR ROUTINE SERVICE MAINTENANCE AND AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT GEARS AND ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST WHERE THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THAT THE INCORRECT TRANSMISSION WAS INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 101,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10810678 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10780588 · 2015-10-07 (October 7, 2015)
VEHICLE BROKEDOWN WHILE TRAVELING AT ABOUT 45MPH ON SR20 IN WASHINGTON STATE WITHOUT WARNING AND BLOCKED TRAFFIC LANES, TOWED TO SHOP WHERE THEY FOUND CODE P0191, SWAPPED RELAY, UNABLE TO CRANK AND VERIFED NOT FUEL PRESSURE. FOUND BOLTS BROKEN OFF HOLDING INTERNAL FUEL PUMP, HAD TO REPLACE FUEL TANK AND PUMPS. WHEN FINSIHED VEHICLE WOULD NOT CRANK, FOUND BURN MARKES ON BACK OF INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FROM SHORT IN FUEL PUMP, REPLACED CLUSTER AND VEHICLE IS RUNNING FINE. MORE THAN A WEEK DOWN AND JUST UNDER $5,000.00 FOR REPAIRS FOR A FUEL PUMP FAIL…
Owner-reported narrative. 300,342 miles reported. Look up ODI 10780588 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10908383 · 2016-09-21 (September 21, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD E-350. WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR AN EXTENSIVE AMOUNT OF TIME, THE BATTERY FAILED AND COULD NOT BE JUMPSTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BATTERIES FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED EIGHT TIMES; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED TWO OIL LEAKS AND A DIESEL LEAK. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10908383 at NHTSA ↗