U.S. public vehicle records

Ford E-450 problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

418 owner complaints analyzed

50 distinct recall campaigns

24,536 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1992 to 2027 model years. Data snapshot: 2026-09-12 (September 12, 2026). 209 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Tires is the most frequently named component, appearing in 64 of 418 complaints (15.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Braking behavior	65	15.6%
Steering behavior	36	8.6%
Engine operation	27	6.5%
Fuel system concerns	21	5.0%
Transmission and shifting	19	4.5%
Electrical and battery issues	19	4.5%

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.

Tires

Tires:Tread/Belt

Engine

Steering

Unknown Or Other

Electrical System

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Caliper

Power Train

Tires: 64; Tires:Tread/Belt: 44; Engine: 33; Steering: 28; Unknown Or Other: 23; Electrical System: 19; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Caliper: 19; Power Train: 18

Reported problems by failure mileage

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

Under 25,000

107

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: 107; 25,000 to 49,999: 43; 50,000 to 74,999: 27; 75,000 to 99,999: 10; 100,000 to 149,999: 15; 150,000 and above: 7

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (107). 209 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.

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

2026

2000: 38; 2001: 33; 2002: 31; 2003: 17; 2004: 12; 2005: 15; 2006: 14; 2007: 12; 2008: 29; 2009: 13; 2010: 14; 2011: 7; 2012: 9; 2013: 10; 2014: 16; 2015: 12; 2016: 11; 2017: 12; 2018: 22; 2019: 12; 2020: 4; 2021: 12; 2022: 22; 2023: 15; 2024: 8; 2025: 12; 2026: 6

Pattern summary

Tires leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 65 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 36 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 27 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 610360 · 2000-04-18 (April 18, 2000)

BRAKE CALIPERS REPAIRED ON TWO OCCASIONS, CALIPER PISTONS BINDING AND CRACKED BOOTS. *MJS

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 610360 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 610361 · 2000-04-18 (April 18, 2000)

BRAKE CALIPERS REPAIRED ON TWO OCCASIONS, CALIPER BOOTS BURNT ON ONE OCCASION, REBUILT THEN LEAKED AFTER REPAIR. *MJS

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 610361 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 763339 · 2002-06-22 (June 22, 2002)

HEARD A LOUD BANG AND FELT A SHAKE IN THE STEERING WHEEL. PULLED OVER TO CHECK THE TIRES AND FOUND NOTHING. AFTER ABOUT 30 MILE THE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE. I DID NOT LOSE AIR AND WAS ABLE TO CHANGE TO THE SPARE. THE TIRE STLL HAD 11/32'S OF TREAD LEFT. THE TIRES WERE BUILT IN THE DECATUR PLANT.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 763339 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10228242 · 2008-05-19 (May 19, 2008)

ON OCCASION, WHEN USING THE RIGHT DIRECTIONAL TURN SIGNAL, THERE IS INTERMITTENT SMOKE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN ALONG WITH A STRONG "BURNING" SMELL. RETURNING THE DIRECTIONAL TO IT'S NEUTRAL POSITION STOPS THE SMOKING. A FORD DEALER HAS REPLACED THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH IN THE STEERING COLUMN BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 65,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10228242 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10293071 · 2009-11-20 (November 20, 2009)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD E-450 DIESEL BOX. WHEN DRIVING UPHILL THE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE AND THEN STALL. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FUEL FILTER, BUT THE FAILURE RESURFACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER AND THE TECHNICIAN CONCLUDED THAT THE FUEL TANK NEEDED DE-LAMINATION. THE VEHICLE WAS STILL AWAITING REPAIRS . THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNDER 43,400.

Owner-reported narrative. 43,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10293071 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10314532 · 2010-02-26 (February 26, 2010)

FOLLOW THIS LINK: HTTP://STEVEWIENCEK.SMUGMUG.COM/PHOTOGRAPHY/FORD-FUEL-TANK/10976330_WP42T#774715040_3CEQC FOR A DESCRIPTION OF WHAT I AND OTHERS HAVE EXPERIENCED WITH THIS FUEL TANK. IT IS UNSAFE, DEFECTIVE AND SHOULD BE RECALLED. 1) LOSS OF POWER 2) OCCURRED EVERY 100 MILES OR LESS 3) COST WAS OVER $5000 TO REPLACE THE FUEL TANK FUEL LINES AND FUEL INJECTORS. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 113,020 miles reported. Look up ODI 10314532 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 8005851 · 2002-03-18 (March 18, 2002)

WHILE REFUELING FUEL WAS SPILLING OUT OF FUEL TANK FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8005851 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 736880 · 2000-11-27 (November 27, 2000)

CONNECTING CLIPS FOUND UNCLIPPED ON TWO SEPARATE LINES FROM FUEL TANK OR FUEL PUMP. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 736880 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 761184 · 2002-04-25 (April 25, 2002)

UPON INSPECTION BY FORD-CERTIFIED MECHANIC IT WAS DETERMINED THAT TWO OF THE BOLTS ON THE CONNECTOR BETWEEN THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND THE DRIVE SHAFT HAD SHEARED. THE REMAINING BOLTS HAD LOOSENED AND THE SLACK WAS CREATING VIBRATION NOISES THAT WERE HEARD AT LOW SPEEDS. IF THE DRIVE SHAFT HAD SEPARATED FROM THE AT THE FAILURE COULD HAVE HAD CATASTROPHIC RESULTS AS THE LOOSE DRIVE SHAFT COULD HAVE DUG INTO THE PAVEMENT AND DEFINITELY CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE AND PERHAPS INJURY AND DEATH TO THE OCCUPANTS.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 761184 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 10064465 · 2004-04-03 (April 3, 2004)

SECOND DISINTEGRATION OF A FIRESTONE 225/75/R16E. CAUSED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE COMPARTMENT HOUSING WATER PUMP, WATER SERVICE LINE, 120V ELECTRICAL, 3/8" PROPANE COPPER TUBING TO STOVE, WATER HEATER, FURNACE, ETC. MOTORHOME IS JAYCO, CLASS C, NEW IN 1999. DAMAGE TO OUTSIDE PANELING AS WELL. *NM

Owner-reported narrative. 71,750 miles reported. Look up ODI 10064465 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10242340 · 2008-09-15 (September 15, 2008)

IN EARLY JULY MY VEHICLE SUFFERED AN ELECTRICAL FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THIS IS A VEHICLE COVERED UNDER THE EXISTING FORD RECALL FOR THE SPEED CONTROL WIRING. THE DEALER , WHO HAD REPAIRED THE VEHICLE JUST 45 DAYS EARLIER, STATED THAT THIS FIRE WAS NOT ASSOCIATED WITH THE RECALL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THIS WAS A DIFFERENT TYPE OF WIRING FIRE. I AM CONCERNED THAT THE RECALL IN PLACE MAY NOT FULLY ADDRESS THE RISK OF FIRE, AND THAT THERE MAY BE MORE OF A SAFETY ISSUE REGARDING THE WIRING HARNESS THAN HAS BEEN DISCLOSED. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 85,323 miles reported. Look up ODI 10242340 at NHTSA ↗

Compare model years

Recalls by model year

All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.

From yearThrough year

Recall campaigns

Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.