1996 Ford F-350 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
85 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
103,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1996 model year. Data snapshot: . 24 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Tires:Tread/Belt is the most frequently named component, appearing in 12 of 85 complaints (14.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 17 | 20.0% |
| Engine operation | 6 | 7.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 6 | 7.1% |
| Steering behavior | 5 | 5.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 4 | 4.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 3.5% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 12 |
| Tires | 11 |
| Vehicle Speed Control:Cruise Control | 7 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 5 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 4 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 4 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 4 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Drum:Shoes/Linings | 3 |
Tires:Tread/Belt: 12; Tires: 11; Vehicle Speed Control:Cruise Control: 7; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 5; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 4; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 4; Vehicle Speed Control: 4; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Drum:Shoes/Linings: 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 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 3 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 5 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 6 |
| 150,000 and above | 7 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 5; 100,000 to 149,999: 6; 150,000 and above: 7
150,000 and above miles has the most reports with usable mileage (7). 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 |
|---|---|
| 1996 | 7 |
| 2000 | 28 |
| 2001 | 12 |
| 2002 | 4 |
| 2003 | 8 |
| 2004 | 3 |
| 2005 | 9 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 4 |
| 2008 | 4 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
1996: 7; 2000: 28; 2001: 12; 2002: 4; 2003: 8; 2004: 3; 2005: 9; 2006: 1; 2007: 4; 2008: 4; 2009: 1; 2010: 1; 2011: 1; 2012: 1; 2014: 1
Pattern summary
Tires:Tread/Belt leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 17 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 6 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 6 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 10004282 · 2003-01-21 (January 21, 2003)
CONSUMER IS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE SERPENTINE BELT. IT KEEPS OF COMING OFF AND AS A RESULT, THERE IS A LOST OF THE BRAKES AND STEERING. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. DEALER WAS CONTACTED. PH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10004282 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10023563 · 2003-06-22 (June 22, 2003)
STEPPED ON BRAKE TO RELEASE THE PARKING BRAKE AND THE BRAKE PEDDLE WENT TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING ME TO HIT A POST. ON INVESTIGATION I FOUND THE BRAKE LINE TO THE REAR WHEELS ROTTED IN THE MIDDLE. ALL OTHER LINES IN THE AREA ARE LIKE NEW. I HAVE OWNED MUCH OLDER VEHICLES WITHOUT HAVING BRAKE LINE PROBLEMS. I BELIEVE THE MATERIAL IN THESE LINES ARE QUITE INFERIOR AND DANGEROUS FOR A VEHICLE. I HAD JUST BEEN TOWING MY FIFTH-WHEEL TRAILER THE DAY BEFORE. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 76,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10023563 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10216739 · 2008-02-01 (February 1, 2008)
I HAVE A '96 FORD F350 WITH A 7.3L POWERSTROKE. MY TRUCK HAS BEEN STALLING INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. AND ON OCCASION, HAD CUT OUT COMPLETELY AND NOT COME RIGHT BACK WHICH LEAVES ME WITH NO POWER BRAKES, OR STEERING TO STOP THE VEHICLE, OR GET IT OFF THE ROAD. I STOPPED AT BANKSTON FORD IN FRISCO, TX TODAY TO ASK IF MY TRUCK WAS ON THE RECALL LIST, AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS NOT. THEY WOULD NOT FIX THE KNOWN PROBLEM, UNLESS I WAS WILLING TO PAY $380 FOR THE PART, AND ANOTHER 4HOURS OF LABOR. AS I UNDERSTAND IT, AND EVEN VERIF…
Owner-reported narrative. 168,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10216739 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10220361 · 2008-03-07 (March 7, 2008)
THE EXISTING RECALL 07V-553 (CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR ON FORD 1997-2003 F-SUPER DUTY, E-SERIES, AND EXCURSION VEHICLES WITH 7.3L DIESEL ENGINES) SEEMS TO BE INCORRECTLY NARROW IN SCOPE. I HAVE A 1996 F-350 WITH THE SAME 7.3L DIESEL ENGINE NOTED IN THE RECALL, AND HAD THE EXACT FAILURE DESCRIBED IN THIS RECALL. I HAD IT REPAIRED AT A FORD DEALERSHIP ON SEPT 21, 2007, AND CAN PROVIDE COMPLETE DOCUMENTED INFORMATION FROM THAT REPAIR. WHY DID FORD NOT INCLUDE F-SERIES TRUCKS THAT USE THE 7.3L ENGINE (SUCH AS THE F-350) IN THIS RECALL? WHY IS IT LIM…
Owner-reported narrative. 123,447 miles reported. Look up ODI 10220361 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10067793 · 2004-04-25 (April 25, 2004)
I OWN A 1996 FORD F-350 CREW CAB WITH A 7.3 LITER POWERSTROKE DIESEL. THE WIRING HARNESSON THE INTAKE MANAFOLD TO CONTROLE THE GLOWPLUGS MELTS AND SO DOES THE VALVE COVER GASKET OF WITCH THE WIREING HARNESS PASSES THROUGH IT WITH A PLUG X'S 2 AND THAN THE INTERNAL WIRING HARNESSES BURN UP UNDER THE VALVE COVER REQUIRING THE ENGINE TO BE DISSASEMBLED TO THE POINT OF THE HEAD TO REPLACE THE COMPONENTS. FURTHER MORE ON THE CLUTCH LINKAGE THERE IS A PLASTIC BUSHING THAT DISINTEGRATES QUITE OFTEN UNDER NORMAL USE. PARTS ARE AVAILABLE BUT THE WIREING…
Owner-reported narrative. 227,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10067793 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10117534 · 2005-04-06 (April 6, 2005)
CRUISE CONTROL FAILED TO ENGAGE WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH. CONSUMER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE WIRING CONNECTED TO THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH WAS BURNT. CONSUMER WENT TO THE DEALER AND PURCHASED A SWITCH AND INSTALLED IT HIMSELF. CONSUMER EXPRESSED CONCERN THAT THIS COULD CAUSE THE CRUISE CONTROL TO FAIL DISENGAGING INSTEAD OF ENGAGING. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 110,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10117534 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10030227 · 2003-07-28 (July 28, 2003)
STEERING BOX FAILURE ON 1996 FORD F-350 FOUR WHEEL DRIVE,133"WHEEL BASE, CANADIAN BUILT TRUCK, CAUSING TOTAL LOSS OF STEERING.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10030227 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10019247 · 2003-05-24 (May 24, 2003)
1996, F-350, CREW CAB, 4X4, WITH 35,000 ORIGINAL MILES WAS TOWING 5TH WHEEL TRAVEL TRAILER IN MOUNTAINOUS AREA. EXHAUST PIPES CAUSED THE SPARE TIRE TO CATCH ON FIRE. THE SPARE TIRE WAS NEW AND HAD NEVER BEEN REMOVED SINCE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN 1996 USED, WITH 3,000 MILES ON IT. THE SPARE TIRE WAS ABOUT 3-4 INCHES AWAY FROM THE EXHAUST PIPE HEAT SHIELD. ( NOT TOUCHING). REAR GAS TANK WAS NOT HARMED DUE TO QUICK ACTION ON FIRE EXTINGUISHING. DRIVER WAS UNAWARE OF FIRE UNTIL NOTIFIED BY PERSONS OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. SPARE TIRE BURNED CLEAR TO T…
Owner-reported narrative. 35,846 miles reported. Look up ODI 10019247 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10466835 · 2012-07-20 (July 20, 2012)
I HAVE A FORD F-350 7.3L TURBO DIESEL. WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT 70 MPH., THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE ENGINE POWER WAS REDUCED BY HALF. AFTER I PULLED OVER THE LIGHT WENT OUT AND THE ENGINE RETURNED TO NORMAL. TWO WEEKS LATER THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN. I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC WHO FOUND THE FUEL FILTER, THE FUEL PUMP, AND THE FUEL PICKUP SCREENS CLOGGED WITH RESIDUE FROM THE LINER OF THE FUEL TANKS. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 157,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10466835 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 723257 · 2000-05-27 (May 27, 2000)
4 WD NEVER WORKED, BUT DID NOT REALIZE UNTIL WARRANTY OUT; BALL JOINTS KEPT GOING OUT, HAD TO BE FIXED TWICE, AUTO TRANSMISSION WENT OUT SHORTLY AFTER WARRANTY OUT, WERE TOLD WAS FAULTY TRANS. AND AVE. OF 1 PER DAY THROUGHOUT US WERE GOING OUT, THAT FORD WAS SWITCHING TO DIFFERENT TYPE TRANSMISSION IN FUTURE. TRANS. REPAIR CONTACTED FORD TO SEE IF THEY WOULD FIX IT SINCE IT WAS CLOSE TO WARRANTY MILEAGE, THEY REFUSED. WE HAVE SINCE HEARD MANY STORIES OF OTHER OWNERS HAVING SAME PROBLEM.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 723257 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 739941 · 2001-01-25 (January 25, 2001)
DELIVERED NEW 22 MAR. 1996. TAKEN IN AT 16768 MILES ON 10-DEC. 96 FOR HARD SHIFTING OF AUTO. TRANS. ANDOIL LEAK FROM FRONT MAIN ENGINE SEAL. WAAS RETURNED TWO WKS. LATER FOR REAR ENGINE SEAL LEAK. MECHANICS REPLACED PARTS AND ADJ. TRANS. ENGINE OIL LEAKS STOPPED, BUT STILL HAD TRANS. SHIFT PROBLEMS. FRONT WHEELS BEGIN TO PULL HARD TO LEFT AFTER BEING TAKEN IN TO DEALER TO HAVE TIRES ROTATED. THEY HAD TO BE FORCED OFF HUB BY TWO MEN. FRONT END ALIGNEMENTS WERE DONE BUT AT 65000 MILES WHEELS STILL PULL TO THE LEFT. FIRESTONE 235/85/16 TIRE WAS R…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 739941 at NHTSA ↗