2004 Ford E-450 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
27 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
28,010 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2004 model year. Data snapshot: . 19 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 4 of 27 complaints (14.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 9 | 33.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 4 | 14.8% |
| Braking behavior | 4 | 14.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 4 | 14.8% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 11.1% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 4 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 4 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Diesel | 4 |
| Tires | 4 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 3 |
| Service Brakes | 3 |
| Fuel System, Diesel | 2 |
| Power Train | 2 |
Electrical System: 4; Engine And Engine Cooling: 4; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Diesel: 4; Tires: 4; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 3; Service Brakes: 3; Fuel System, Diesel: 2; Power Train: 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 | 8 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 5 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 8; 25,000 to 49,999: 5; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (8). 8 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 |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2006 | 4 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 4 |
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 1 |
2004: 2; 2006: 4; 2007: 2; 2008: 4; 2009: 3; 2010: 1; 2011: 1; 2012: 1; 2013: 2; 2014: 2; 2015: 1; 2018: 2; 2022: 1; 2023: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 9 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 4 complaint narratives. Braking behavior 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 10097477 · 2004-11-12 (November 12, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS OR TURNING THE ENGINE STALLED. WHEN THIS OCCURRED THE VEHICLE COASTED TO A COMPLETE STOP. DEALERSHIP REPROGRAMMED THE COMPUTER TWICE, REPLACED THE SENSOR ON CRANK SHAFT, AND CHECKED THE WIRING IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. BUT, PROBLEM RECURRED. VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALERSHIP. THE CHASSIS IS CONNECTED TO A BIG FOOT MH30BB 2004 MOTOR HOME. *AK WHEN THE ENGINE SHOT DOWN IT CHIMED AND THE LIGHTS CAME ON INDICATING THAT WATER WAS IN THE FUEL. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON THEN THE ENGINE DIED. *TC
Owner-reported narrative. 200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10097477 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10153463 · 2006-03-22 (March 22, 2006)
I BOUGHT A FORD 2004 E450 WITH A6. 0 ENGINE AND HAVE HAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS TWICE, ALSO REPLACED 2 HEATER CORES. THE VEHICLE ALSO STALLS AT HIGH SPEEDS ON THE HIGHWAY . I HAVE HAD NO LUCK WITH FORD CUSTOMER SUPPORT TO SELL BACK VIA LEMON LAW. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10153463 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10172849 · 2006-11-07 (November 7, 2006)
WE HAD A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE NOT STARTING WHEN IT WAS DISPATCHED TO A CALL. INTERNAL OIL COOLER DISENTIGRATED, AND LEAKED OIL INTO THE COOLING SYSTEM. THE CAM SENSORS, AND INJECTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES. THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPAIRED SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASE, AND HAS HAD ALL OF THE INTERNAL GEARS REPLACED SINCE. ALL OF THE WIRING HARNESSES HAVE BEEN REPLACED.THIS PARTICULAR UNIT HAS SPENT MANY MONTHS THIS YEAR IN A SHOP BEING WORKED ON. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 62,199 miles reported. Look up ODI 10172849 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10155367 · 2006-04-14 (April 14, 2006)
CRUISE CONTROL INOPERATIVE. BRAKE STOP LIGHTS INOPERATIVE. DEALER FOUND BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FAILED . PART # 1LIZ*9F924*AA KIT, BRAKE REPAIR. SWITCH WAS REPLACED AT CUSTOMER EXPENSE. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 11,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10155367 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10380259 · 2011-01-27 (January 27, 2011)
PROBLEM: HESITATION ON ACCELERATION, ROUGH IDLES, LOSS OF POWER UPON ACCELERATION. INJECTOR FOUND CLOGGED ON 12-2006. REPLACED TURBO ASSEMBLY AND COLD AIR BOOT ON 12/20/2006. FILED WRITTEN COMPLAINT TO FORD IN APRIL 2006 FOR RECURRING ENGINE ISSUES. FORD NEVER ANSWERED. ON 1/30/09 TRUCK NOT RUNNING AND FORD REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION. ASKED FORD SERVICE TO CHECK ROUGH RUNNING AND ENGINE POWER LOSS BUT COMPUTER SHOWED NO CODES. TOOK TRUCK INTO FORD ON 1/21/20011 FOR BRAKES AND VEHICLE NOT RUNNING PROPERLY EVEN AFTER WARM UP. DIAGNOSIS FROM F…
Owner-reported narrative. 28,010 miles reported. Look up ODI 10380259 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10172698 · 2006-11-06 (November 6, 2006)
PARAMEDIC PLUS DBA SUNSTAR PARAMEDIC, IN PINELLAS COUNTY, FLORIDA, PURCHASED 54 AMBULANCES, FORD E-450, 6.0 LITER, IN AUGUST OF 2004. FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS OF USING THESE AMBULANCES IN ONE OF THE COUNTRIES BUSIEST EMS AGENCIES, WE'VE INCURRED A MULTITUDE OF ISSUES, WHICH HAVE HAMPERED OUR ABILITY TO PUT AMBULANCES ON THE STREET. THESE PROBLEMS INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO: EGR VALVES, EGR COOLERS, OIL COOLERS, INJECTORS, AC COMPRESSORS, RADIATORS, WIRING HARNESSES, SEVERAL ENGINES. EVERY AMBULANCE IN OUR FLEET HAS BEEN AFFECTED BY ONE O…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10172698 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10226625 · 2008-05-05 (May 5, 2008)
VEHICLE: 2005 CHINOOK GLACIER CLASS C R/V, 2004 FORD E450 CUTAWAY CHASSIS. APPLICABILITY: ALL MODEL YEARS OF CHINOOK GLACIER R/V AND POSSIBLY OTHER MODELS. HAZARD: FIRE/EXPLOSION. COMPONENT: FLEXIBLE PROPANE HOSE CONNECTING 2 DISTRIBUTION MANIFOLDS UNDER COACH IN VICINITY RIGHT REAR WHEEL WELL. HOSE IS ROUTED OUTBOARD AND FASTENED TO THE AXLE ARCH FRAME MEMBER BETWEEN THE FRAME AND THE RIGHT REAR SPRING. MINIMAL CLEARANCE BETWEEN SPRING AND HOSE ALLOWS SPRING AXLE MOUNTING HARDWARE TO ABRADE HOSE. THE HOSE ABRADED THROUGH AND BEGAN…
Owner-reported narrative. 17,350 miles reported. Look up ODI 10226625 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10254808 · 2009-01-13 (January 13, 2009)
APRIL 2005 WAS THE FIRST TIME THE TRUCK STARTED TO STALL WHILE DRIVING. SYOSSET FORD'S DIAGNOSIS WAS R&R CAM SHAFT POSITION SENSOR. THE SECOND INCIDENT MAY 2005. TRUCK STALLING INTERMITTENTLY AGAIN. SYOSSET FORD UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. JULY 2005 A RECALL NOTICE IS SENT FROM FORD STATING THE ICP SENSORS MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL. THIRD INCIDENT TRUCK IS STILL STALLING INTERMITTENTLY ON AUGUST 15, 2005 ICP CONNECTORS ARE REPLACED. SEPTEMBER 2005 A RECALL NOTICE IS SENT FROM FORD STATING THE EP S…
Owner-reported narrative. 15,578 miles reported. Look up ODI 10254808 at NHTSA ↗