Ford E150 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
76 owner complaints analyzed
18 distinct recall campaigns
82,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1976 to 2013 model years. Data snapshot: . 8 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Tires:Tread/Belt is the most frequently named component, appearing in 9 of 76 complaints (11.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 13 | 17.1% |
| Braking behavior | 7 | 9.2% |
| Fuel system concerns | 7 | 9.2% |
| Steering behavior | 5 | 6.6% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 5.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 1.3% |
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 | 9 |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 8 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 6 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Auxillary Tank:Selector Devices | 5 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 4 |
| Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator | 3 |
| Electrical System:Wiring | 3 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood | 3 |
Tires:Tread/Belt: 9; Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 8; Electrical System:Ignition: 6; Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Auxillary Tank:Selector Devices: 5; Fuel System, Gasoline: 4; Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator: 3; Electrical System:Wiring: 3; Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood: 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 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 3 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 1
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 68 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 |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 16 |
| 1996 | 24 |
| 2000 | 16 |
| 2001 | 5 |
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 7 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2015 | 1 |
1995: 16; 1996: 24; 2000: 16; 2001: 5; 2002: 1; 2003: 7; 2004: 1; 2005: 1; 2008: 2; 2009: 2; 2015: 1
Pattern summary
Tires:Tread/Belt leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 13 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 7 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 7 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 983968 · 1996-05-02 (May 2, 1996)
ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE IGNITION SWITCH, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 983968 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 508143 · 1996-08-30 (August 30, 1996)
IGNITION SWITCH SHORTED, CAUSING FIRE, BURNING WIRING HARNESS UNDER THE HOOD.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 508143 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10007321 · 2003-03-07 (March 7, 2003)
THE THROTTLE STUCK, WHICH CAUSED UNWANTED SUDDEN ACCELERATION. ON ONE OCCASION THE THROTTLE BODY WAS DIRTY AND ON ANOTHER OCCASION, WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ON, THE VACUUM LINE MALFUNCTIONED. IN EITHER CASE, PRESSING DOWN ON THE BRAKE PEDAL DID NOT STOP THE VEHICLE. THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THE VEHICLE WAS TO TURN OFF THE IGNITION. *TT *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10007321 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10009086 · 2003-02-28 (February 28, 2003)
THE CRUISE CONTROL VACUUM LINE HAD KINKED WHILE THR CRUISE WAS ON, THE THROTTLE BODY HAD STUCK, AND THE BRAKE PEDAL HAD BECOME INOPERATIVE. SCC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10009086 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 968068 · 1995-06-30 (June 30, 1995)
NOTICE HOLE IN UPPER PORTION OF THE GAS TANK. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 968068 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10232970 · 2008-07-01 (July 1, 2008)
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID# 91V146000 REFERS TO A SAFETY RECALL FOR A FAULTY DUAL FUEL TANK SELECTOR VALVE IN FORD ECONOLINE VANS EQUIPPED WITH DUAL FUEL TANKS BUILT BETWEEN 1989 AND 1991 AND OTHER SIMILAR MODELS . I HAVE CONTACTED FORD TO INVESTIGATE , BUT THERE ARE NO RECORDS THAT CONFIRM OR DISAFFIRM MY VEHICLE'S INCLUSION IN THIS RECALL. BASICALLY, I DON'T KNOW IF MY VAN WAS AFFECTED BY THIS RECALL AND IF ANY RECALL SERVICES WERE PERFORMED. I AM EXPERIENCING A FAULT IN THE DUAL FUEL TANK SYSTEM. IT SEEMS THAT THE FUEL SELECTOR VALVE WILL NOT SWITCH …
Owner-reported narrative. 94,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10232970 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 483489 · 1995-09-14 (September 14, 1995)
WORN BUSHINGS, CAUSING STEERING TO BECOME LOOSE. *DSH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 483489 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 553892 · 2000-08-21 (August 21, 2000)
CONSUMER WAS BACKING UP WHEN THE THREE BOLTS SECURING THE STEERING GEARBOX TO THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE FRACTURES AT THE FACE OF THE GEARBOX RENDERING THE VEHICLE UNSTEERABLE. NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 553892 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 874725 · 2000-11-09 (November 9, 2000)
VEHICLE STALLS AT ANY SPEED. MECHANIC REPLACED COIL, IGNITION MODULE AND OUTPUT WIRE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 874725 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 899526 · 2001-11-27 (November 27, 2001)
VEHICLE STALLS AT ANY TIME/ ANY SPEED. MECHANIC CANNOT FIND CAUSE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 899526 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 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
1997: 1; 1998: 1; 1999: 1; 2000: 1; 2004: 1; 2006: 1; 2007: 1; 2008: 1; 2009: 1; 2010: 1; 2011: 1; 2012: 1; 2013: 1
Year-by-year records
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Change in recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | 2 | 1 | Not available |
| 1978 | 0 | 4 | Not available |
| 1979 | 0 | 5 | +1 |
| 1980 | 0 | 3 | -2 |
| 1981 | 1 | 1 | -2 |
| 1982 | 2 | 2 | +1 |
| 1983 | 1 | 1 | -1 |
| 1984 | 3 | 2 | +1 |
| 1986 | 7 | 0 | Not available |
| 1987 | 14 | 0 | 0 |
| 1988 | 11 | 0 | 0 |
| 1989 | 22 | 2 | +2 |
| 1990 | 12 | 3 | +1 |
| 1997 | 0 | 1 | Not available |
| 1998 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1999 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2000 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2004 | 0 | 1 | Not available |
| 2006 | 1 | 1 | Not available |
| 2007 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2008 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2009 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2010 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2011 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2012 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2013 | 0 | 1 | 0 |