Ford E350 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
70 owner complaints analyzed
41 distinct recall campaigns
45,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1975 to 2013 model years. Data snapshot: . 9 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Structure is the most frequently named component, appearing in 12 of 70 complaints (17.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 14 | 20.0% |
| Fuel system concerns | 4 | 5.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 4.3% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 4.3% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 2.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 1.4% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Structure | 12 |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 6 |
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 5 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly | 4 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components | 4 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Caliper | 4 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Master Cylinder | 4 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 3 |
Structure: 12; Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 6; Tires:Tread/Belt: 5; Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly: 4; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components: 4; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Caliper: 4; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Master Cylinder: 4; Fuel System, Gasoline: 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 | 4 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4). 61 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 | 14 |
| 1996 | 32 |
| 2000 | 6 |
| 2001 | 3 |
| 2002 | 2 |
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 2 |
1995: 14; 1996: 32; 2000: 6; 2001: 3; 2002: 2; 2004: 2; 2005: 2; 2007: 1; 2008: 1; 2009: 1; 2010: 2; 2011: 1; 2014: 1; 2015: 2
Pattern summary
Structure leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 14 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 4 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues 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 974435 · 1995-11-02 (November 2, 1995)
PEDAL FADED TO THE FLOOR, RESULTING IN LONG STOPPING DISTANCE, POSSIBLE DUE TO OVERHEATING OF THE BRAKE FLUID. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 974435 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10079553 · 2004-06-21 (June 21, 2004)
INTERMITTENTLY VEHICLE LOSES BRAKE POWER WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED, BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR AND FAILS TO STOP THE TRUCK. THE EMERGENCY BRAKES HAD TO BE ENGAGED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER WAS REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITH IN 400 MILES. DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE MASTER CYLINDER AGAIN, AND BLEED THE BRAKES. HOWEVER, FAILURE RECURRED WITHIN 1500 MILES. THEN, DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THIS FAILURE OCCURRED BECAUSE THE BRAKE LINE WAS ROUTED BEHIND THE ENGINE , WHICH GET HOT AND BOILED THE FLUID.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 25,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10079553 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 802690 · 1996-09-19 (September 19, 1996)
CONSUMER STATES THAT HE HAS REPLACED THE REAR GAS SENDER IN THE REAR GAS TANK, REPLACED (4) TIMES IN A (10) YEAR PERIOD. TIME TO BE REPLACED ONCE AGAIN.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 802690 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10130348 · 2005-07-27 (July 27, 2005)
LEAK FROM ON TOP OF FRONT FUEL TANK IN THE AREA OF THE VAPOR VALVE GROMMET. SOUNDS LIKE THE SAME PROBLEM AS REPORTED IN NHTSA 87V111000. IN RELATION TO NHTSA #87V144000 188,000 VEHICLES WERE AFFECTED. WERE ALL 1987 E350, CLUB WAGONS, WITH 7.5 LITER ENGINES INVOLVED IN THIS RECALL? FORD DEALERSHIP STATES MY VAN HAS NOT BEEN UNDER ANY RECALLS PAST OR PRESENT.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10130348 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 983128 · 1996-04-19 (April 19, 1996)
WHILE PARKED FOR TWO DAYS, NOTICED SMOKE AND FIRE COMING FROM DASH AREA, POSSIBLE ELECTRICAL. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 983128 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 983790 · 1996-04-30 (April 30, 1996)
ELECTRICAL SHORT, SMOKE WAS COMING UNDER THE DASH AND VENT AND VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHUT OFF. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 983790 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10238138 · 2008-08-14 (August 14, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1988 FORD E350. THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE SHIMMIED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE FAILURE USUALLY OCCURS WHEN DRIVING OVER BUMPS. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS AND VARIOUS REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE STEERING COMPONENTS. NONE OF THE REPAIRS HAVE SUCCESSFULLY REMEDIED THE FAILURE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 88V015000 (SUSPENSION). THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COSTS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEA…
Owner-reported narrative. 110,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10238138 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 979136 · 1996-02-13 (February 13, 1996)
THE CAR WAS PARKED AND A NEIGHBOR CALLED THE OWNER AND TOLD HIM HIS CAR WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE WAS IN FRONT BY THE STEERING. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 979136 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 500059 · 1996-01-02 (January 2, 1996)
CATALYTIC CONVERTER PLUGGED UP,CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL. *SD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 500059 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 507505 · 1996-08-14 (August 14, 1996)
ENGINE STALLED FOUR TIMES DUE TO POOR DESIGN OF FUEL PUMP.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 507505 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 757383 · 2002-01-26 (January 26, 2002)
BRAKE CALIPER FAILED TO RELEASE, BOILING THE BRAKE FLUID (UNBEKNOWNST TO ME UNTIL IT CAME TIME TO APPLY THE BRAKES). THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. I LET IT UP COMPLETELY AND WHEN DEPRESSED, IT WENT TO THE FLOOR ONCE AGAIN. I USED THE TRANSMISSION (GEARING DOWN) AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO BRING VEHICLE TO A STOP. THE MASTER CYLINDER BRAKE INDICATOR LIGHT NEVER ILLUMINATED. WHEN REPAIRS WERE COMPLETED, THE PRIMARY FAULT WAS IDENTIFIED AS EXTREMELY RUSTY FRONT BRAKE CALIPERS. ONE DID NOT RELEASE COMPLETELY AFTER A BRAKE APP…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 757383 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 | 2 |
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
1997: 1; 1998: 1; 1999: 1; 2000: 2; 2002: 1; 2003: 1; 2005: 2; 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | 0 | 4 | Not available |
| 1976 | 0 | 1 | -3 |
| 1977 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1978 | 0 | 5 | +4 |
| 1979 | 0 | 3 | -2 |
| 1980 | 0 | 1 | -2 |
| 1981 | 0 | 2 | +1 |
| 1982 | 0 | 3 | +1 |
| 1983 | 2 | 8 | +5 |
| 1984 | 3 | 12 | +4 |
| 1985 | 2 | 10 | -2 |
| 1986 | 7 | 11 | +1 |
| 1987 | 12 | 8 | -3 |
| 1988 | 7 | 1 | -7 |
| 1989 | 19 | 3 | +2 |
| 1990 | 15 | 2 | -1 |
| 1997 | 0 | 1 | Not available |
| 1998 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1999 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2000 | 0 | 2 | +1 |
| 2002 | 0 | 1 | Not available |
| 2003 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2005 | 0 | 2 | Not available |
| 2006 | 0 | 1 | -1 |
| 2007 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2008 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2009 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 2010 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 2011 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 2012 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2013 | 0 | 1 | 0 |