1996 Ford F-250 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
125 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
125,941 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1996 model year. Data snapshot: . 48 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Tires is the most frequently named component, appearing in 16 of 125 complaints (12.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 14 | 11.2% |
| Braking behavior | 12 | 9.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 10 | 8.0% |
| Fuel system concerns | 10 | 8.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 8 | 6.4% |
| Engine operation | 7 | 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 | 16 |
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 16 |
| Vehicle Speed Control:Cruise Control | 9 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Diesel | 7 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 6 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 5 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 4 |
| Seats | 4 |
Tires: 16; Tires:Tread/Belt: 16; Vehicle Speed Control:Cruise Control: 9; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Diesel: 7; Vehicle Speed Control: 6; Fuel/Propulsion System: 5; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 4; Seats: 4
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 2 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 4 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 17 |
| 150,000 and above | 21 |
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 17; 150,000 and above: 21
150,000 and above miles has the most reports with usable mileage (21). 77 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 |
|---|---|
| 1996 | 4 |
| 2000 | 31 |
| 2001 | 21 |
| 2002 | 15 |
| 2003 | 3 |
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2005 | 7 |
| 2006 | 10 |
| 2007 | 3 |
| 2008 | 6 |
| 2009 | 4 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 4 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 1 |
1996: 4; 2000: 31; 2001: 21; 2002: 15; 2003: 3; 2004: 2; 2005: 7; 2006: 10; 2007: 3; 2008: 6; 2009: 4; 2010: 2; 2011: 3; 2012: 1; 2013: 2; 2014: 4; 2015: 2; 2016: 1; 2017: 1; 2019: 1; 2022: 1; 2023: 1
Pattern summary
Tires leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 14 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 12 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 10 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 10042400 · 2003-10-06 (October 6, 2003)
VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE TECHNICIAN BECAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL WAS VERY LOOSE. TECHNICIAN REPLACED SEVERAL PARTS WITHIN THE STEERING COLUMN. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10042400 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10152251 · 2006-03-08 (March 8, 2006)
THE CPS ON MY 1996 FORD F-250 WITH 7.3 LITER DIESEL FAILED WHILE TRAVELING ON INTERSTATE 77, WITH FAMILY ABOARD. COASTED TO STOP WITH DIFFICULTY STEERING. SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED ON NC HWY 115, AND WOULD NOT RESTART. COASTED TO STOP ON SIDE OF ROADWAY, TO BE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 125,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10152251 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10219703 · 2008-02-29 (February 29, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD F-250. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH DOWN A HILL, THE VACUUM PUMP FAILED WHEN THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE DROVE THROUGH A RED LIGHT AND COULD NOT STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE FINALLY COASTED TO A HALT. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE DID NOT WORK EITHER DUE TO THE WEIGHT OF THE BOAT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PULLING. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE VACUUM PUMP. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 115,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 71,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10219703 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10285108 · 2009-09-24 (September 24, 2009)
FORD F250 1996 BRAKE CYLINDER LEAK FIRE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 141,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10285108 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10068467 · 2004-05-07 (May 7, 2004)
WHILE PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY MY FORD F-250 WITH TWO GAS TANKS BURST INTO FLAMES AND TOTALED THE PICKUP. FORTUNATELY, THE TRUCK WAS BACKED INTO THE DRIVE WAY BECAUSE OTHERWISE THE HOUSE WOULD HAVE BURNED DOWN AND THE HOTWATER HEATER WOULD HAVE BEEN IGNITED. AS IT WAS, WE WERE LUCKY THAT THE FIRE AND POLICE DEPARTMENTS RESPONDED SO QUICKLY AND PREVENTED THE GAS TANKS FROM EXPLODING. BOTH LANES ON HWY 412 WERE SHUT DOWN, MANY PEOPLE GATHERED , ETC. THE MEDIA WAS THERE TAKING PICTURES. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS MAYBE A WIRING DEFECT THAT COULD B…
Owner-reported narrative. 150,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10068467 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10118987 · 2005-04-20 (April 20, 2005)
AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE CONSUMER WENT HOME, PARKED THE VEHICLE FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS. AFTER RETURNING TO THE VEHICLE,HE SMELLED SMOKE, LIFTED THE HOOD, AND DISCOVERED THAT CRUISE CONTROL WAS SMOKING. HE DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY, AND THE SMOKING CEASED. THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS LATER REPLACED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 110,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10118987 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10137133 · 2005-09-20 (September 20, 2005)
1996 FORD F250 PICKUP WITH DUAL GAS TANKS HAD MALFUNCTIONING CHECK VALVE IN FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY IN ONE TANK WHICH CAUSED UNUSED FUEL TO BE RETURNED TO SECOND TANK WHICH CAUSED CONSTANT OVERFLOW AND FUEL SPILLAGE. FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED WHICH CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. THIS SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED IN 1989 TO 1993 FORD F250 PICKUPS AND RESULTED IN A RECALL TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 78,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10137133 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10289346 · 2009-10-22 (October 22, 2009)
A MALFUNCTIONING CHECK VALVE WITHIN THE FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY CAUSES A PORTION OF THE UNUSED FUEL FROM ONE TANK TO BE RETURNED TO THE SECOND TANK. WHEN THIS OCCURS, THE CAPACITY OF THE SECOND TANK CAN BE EXCEEDED, CAUSING FUEL SPILLAGE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 176,489 miles reported. Look up ODI 10289346 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10283633 · 2009-09-11 (September 11, 2009)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD F250. THE CONTACT STATED THAT DURING DECELERATION, SHIFTING INTO REVERSE, OR WHILE IN IDLE THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY STALLED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED IN REFERENCE TO RECALL# 07V553000, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ENGINE, DIESEL WHO CONFIRMED THAT HIS VIN WAS EXCLUDED. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 360,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 10/06/09 *BF UPDATED 10/08/09
Owner-reported narrative. 360,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10283633 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 716917 · 2000-01-05 (January 5, 2000)
THE TRANSMISSION GEAR INDICATOR INDICATES THAT THE VEHICLE IS IN PARK WHEN IT IS ACTUALLY IN REVERSE OR NEUTRAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND IN PARK, AND IT ROLLED DOWN AN INCLINE AND STRUCK A POST. THIS IS THE THIRD 1996 FORD F250 IN OUR COMPANY THAT THE SHIFT INDICATOR LINKAGE HAD THE SCREWS BACK OUT, CAUSING THIS SAME THING TO HAPPEN.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 716917 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10218245 · 2008-02-17 (February 17, 2008)
MY 1996 F250 WITH A 7.3 LITER POWERSTROKE . WAS HUNTING FOR MONTHS , I ATTRIBUTED THIS TO FUEL , BUT THEN IT STALLED ON MY WIFE . FOLLOWED BY STALLING ON ME THEN HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED HOME . THE PROBLEM , CPS CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR. I HAD HEARD ABOUT THIS BEFORE WITH OTHER TRUCKS MOST TIMES LEADING TO AN ACCIDENT. I WAS LUCKY BUT NOT HAPPY YOU SHOULD RECALL THESE VEHICLES AT FORDS EXPENSE FIX THE PROBLEM FOREVER AND REIMBURSE ANY OUT OF POCKET EXPENSES. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 242,167 miles reported. Look up ODI 10218245 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10234866 · 2008-07-18 (July 18, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD F250. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CAM POSITION SENSOR FAILED WITHOUT WARNING AND THE MOTOR FAILED AS WELL. THE SENSOR IS LOCATED ON THE LOWER FRONT END OF THE MOTOR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS. HE CALLED THE FORD MANUFACTURER AND THEY STATED THAT THEY HAVE BEEN AWARE OF THE ISSUE SINCE 1996, BUT HAS DONE NOTHING TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,000. UPDATE 09/10/08 *CW THE CAM SHAFT POSITION SENSOR WAS THE…
Owner-reported narrative. 102,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10234866 at NHTSA ↗