Ford E-SERIES problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
36 owner complaints analyzed
7 distinct recall campaigns
41,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1997 to 2008 model years. Data snapshot: . 22 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Tires:Tread/Belt is the most frequently named component, appearing in 12 of 36 complaints (33.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 5 | 13.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 4 | 11.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 8.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 8.3% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 5.6% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 5.6% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 12 |
| Tires | 7 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 4 |
| Fuel System, Diesel | 3 |
| Electrical System | 2 |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages | 2 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 2 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 2 |
Tires:Tread/Belt: 12; Tires: 7; Engine And Engine Cooling: 4; Fuel System, Diesel: 3; Electrical System: 2; Latches/Locks/Linkages: 2; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 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 | 6 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 6 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 6 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 6; 25,000 to 49,999: 6; 50,000 to 74,999: 6; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 1
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (6). 14 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 | 4 |
| 2001 | 2 |
| 2002 | 5 |
| 2003 | 5 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2008 | 4 |
| 2009 | 7 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2012 | 3 |
2000: 4; 2001: 2; 2002: 5; 2003: 5; 2004: 1; 2008: 4; 2009: 7; 2010: 2; 2011: 3; 2012: 3
Pattern summary
Tires:Tread/Belt leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 4 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting 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 874311 · 2000-11-03 (November 3, 2000)
THIS FIRESTONE TIRES LT225/75R16 DOT:VD1L1XD227. TIRE WAS ON A MOTORHOME WHEN TREAD BEGAN TO SEPARATE. TREAD CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE MOTORHOME ITSELF. FIRESTONE HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK 3 OTHER TIRES HAD BULGES ON THEM. WHEN BRAKE PEDAL IS PUSHED, NOTHING HAPPENS. *SLC
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 874311 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10266672 · 2009-04-24 (April 24, 2009)
I HAVE HAD THIS 2004 VAN IN THE FORD GARAGE IN FREMONT MI AT LEAST 10 TIMES. EVEN HAD TO HAVE THE SUBFRAME REPLACED AND THAT WORE OUT ALL THE TIRES ALL DOORS ,AIR CONDITIONER,BRAKES,TRANSMISSION REPLACED. LOCKS REPLACED, HEATED SEAT TWICE,SWAYBAR REPLACED. I FEEL I AM IN A TIME BOMB, WE OWE MORE ON IT THEN IT IS WORTH. LAST ONE WE BUY! WE ARE LUCKILY TO BE ALIVE IN THIS PIECE OF JUNK,TO MANY DATES OF REPAIR TO GIVE YOU. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10266672 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10243572 · 2008-09-26 (September 26, 2008)
THE VAN WOULD START LOSING POWER ON THE HIGHWAY, WHERE EVEN IF THE ACCELERATOR IS PUSHED DOWN, THE VAN CONTINUES TO LOSE SPEED. THE VAN EVENTUALLY REACHES A SPEED OF 0 MPH AND AT WHICH POINT THE ENGINE STALLS. AFTER WAITING 20 MINUTES ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY, TURNING THE ENGINE OFF FOR 20 MINUTES THEN STARTING IT SEEMS TO TEMPORARILY GET IT GOING, BUT ONLY FOR ANOTHER 30 MINUTES. SINCE THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED, IT WOULD REOCCUR ALMOST EVERY OTHER DAY. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS DURING THE MORNING RUSH HOUR WHEN DRIVING ON THE NUMBER 2 LANE BEC…
Owner-reported narrative. 38,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10243572 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10246973 · 2008-10-28 (October 28, 2008)
THE VEHICLE, A FORD E350 6.0L DIESEL WOULD LOSE POWER WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY AND COME TO A COMPLETE STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. AFTER WAITING ABOUT 20 MINUTES, SOMETIMES WOULD START UP BUT MOST OF THE TIME WOULD HAVE TO BE TOWED. THIS WOULD OCCUR WHENEVER THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN FOR MORE THAN 20-40 MILES WHEN THE ENGINE IS WARMED. THIS HAS OCCURRED A TOTAL OF OVER 15 TIMES, EACH FAILURE HAVING A SMALLER TIME IN BETWEEN THAN THE ONE PREVIOUS. VERY DANGEROUS. ALMOST HIT A CAR TRYING TO GET ON THE SHOULDER BEFORE A COMPLETE FAILURE. WHENEVER THE E…
Owner-reported narrative. 42,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10246973 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10235758 · 2008-07-25 (July 25, 2008)
WE OWN A 2004 FORD FREESTAR WITH APPROXIMATELY 80,000MILES. ON JULY 18TH WE EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER WORKING PROPERLY. ON JULY 19TH THE CAR STRUGGLED TO GO UP HILL. ON JULY 20TH WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO BOB DAVIDSON FORD DEALERSHIP 1845 JOPPA RD IN BALTIMORE, MARYLAND 21234 [phone removed] ON JULY 21ST WE WERE INFORMED THAT OUR TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF OVER $3,000 IN ADDITION TO REPAIR FOR THE AIR CONDITIONING AT A COST OVER $1,000 WITH A MORE RECENT RESPONSE FROM THE DEALERSHIP THAT THE TOTAL RE…
Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10235758 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10033530 · 2003-09-04 (September 4, 2003)
THE INSIDE PASSENGER SIDE DUEL TIRE TREAD SEPARATED WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH.*AK CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE FROM THE TIRES AND 15 MINUTES LATER THE ENTIRE TREAD BLEW OFF THE TIRE. IT DAMAGED THE WIRING, FRAME AND BODY. THIS WAS NOT A RECALLED TIRE. CONSUMER NO LONGER TRUST THE REMAINING TIRES, FORD OR FIRESTONE. *PH *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 18,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10033530 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10285480 · 2009-09-28 (September 28, 2009)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXCURSION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT INTERMITTENTLY THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL, AND THEN IMMEDIATELY RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, SINCE THE TECHNICIANS ARE UNABLE TO IDENTIFY THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE, NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 52,800.
Owner-reported narrative. 52,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10285480 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10253812 · 2009-01-05 (January 5, 2009)
WE ORDERED A NEW 2008 ECONOLINE E-350 XLT AND AFTER DRIVING WE DISCERNED THE STEERING WAS VERY LOOSE; IT HAD AN UNUSUAL AMOUNT OF "PLAY"; IT FLOATED AROUND THE ROAD. IT WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL ON THE HIGHWAYS ESPECIALLY AT HIGHER SPEEDS. WE BROUGHT IT BACK TO THE DEALER AND BOTH SERVICE MANAGER AND GENERAL MANAGER TOOK IT FOR A TEST DRIVE AND CONFIRMED THERE WAS A SERIOUS PROBLEM. VAN WAS BROUGHT IN FOR ANOTHER APPOINTMENT TO INVESTIGATE THE ISSUE. THEY "TIGHTENED" SOME PARTS (?) AND ASKED FOR ME TO DRIVE IT HOME AND REPORT BACK IF I…
Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10253812 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1997 | 1 |
| 1998 | 1 |
| 1999 | 1 |
| 2000 | 1 |
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2004 | 0 |
| 2005 | 6 |
| 2006 | 6 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 0 |
1997: 1; 1998: 1; 1999: 1; 2000: 1; 2001: 1; 2002: 1; 2003: 1; 2004: 0; 2005: 6; 2006: 6; 2007: 2; 2008: 0