1999 Ford E-250: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
30 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
59,555 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1999 model year. Data snapshot: . 15 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 4 of 30 complaints (13.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 8 | 26.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 4 | 13.3% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 6.7% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 6.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 6.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 3.3% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 4 |
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 4 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 3 |
| Tires | 3 |
| Electrical System | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 2 |
| Equipment Adaptive/Mobility | 2 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 2 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 4; Tires:Tread/Belt: 4; Engine And Engine Cooling: 3; Tires: 3; Electrical System: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 2; Equipment Adaptive/Mobility: 2; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 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 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 4 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 6; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 4; 150,000 and above: 1
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (6). 15 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 | 6 |
| 2001 | 2 |
| 2002 | 2 |
| 2003 | 3 |
| 2004 | 4 |
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
2000: 6; 2001: 2; 2002: 2; 2003: 3; 2004: 4; 2005: 2; 2006: 2; 2007: 1; 2008: 2; 2010: 2; 2011: 2; 2012: 1; 2017: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 8 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 4 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 2 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10008993 · 2003-02-21 (February 21, 2003)
THE VEHICLE SWAYED WHEN DRIVING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. THE MECHANIC NOTICED A STABILIZER BAR HAD NOT BEEN INSTALLED WHICH CAUSED THE FRONT TIRE TO WEAR ON THE INSIDE. *JB *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10008993 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10015156 · 2003-04-04 (April 4, 2003)
THE HEAD GASKET FAILED, WHICH CAUSED OIL TO LEAK. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10015156 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10015906 · 2003-04-15 (April 15, 2003)
GAS LEAKED FROM THE FUEL FILLER VALVE WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REFUELED (CNG). *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10015906 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10058943 · 2004-02-25 (February 25, 2004)
I OWN A FORD 1999 E250 VAN THAT HAS BEEN CUSTOMIZED BY THE SPORTSMOBILE COMPANY INTO AN RV. IT CAME WITH FOUR FIRESTONE STEELTEX RADIAL R4S LT225/75R16 M/S TIRES. AS I WAS DRIVING IN THE LEFT LANE OF I-505S (JUST N OF EXIT FOR ALLENDALE RD), THE TREAD ON MY LEFT REAR TIRE SEPARATED. I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY PULL ONTO THE RIGHT SHOULDER. I DROVE (AT REDUCED SPEED ON THE DAMAGED TIRE) TO THE MIDWAY RD RV PARK AT THE NEXT EXIT. THERE I MOUNTED THE SPARE. THE TIRES HAD 22K MILES ON THEM AND HAD BEEN MAINTAINED PROPERLY.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 22,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10058943 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10075029 · 2004-06-08 (June 8, 2004)
1999 FORD E250 CARGO VAN, 24K MILES, ALL 4 BALL JOINTS FAILED. REPLACEMENT SCHEDULED, WILL RETAIN PARTS. KNOW OF TWO OTHER LOW MILEAGE, LATE MODEL FORD TRUCKS WITH SIMILAR LOW MILEAGE BALL JOINT FAILURES. FORD DOES NOT BELIEVE THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE YET THEIR OWN SERVICE PEOPLE ARE TELLING ME THEY SEE AN INORDINATE NUMBER OF THESE FAILURES AND WONDER WHY THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 24,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10075029 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10082971 · 2004-07-29 (July 29, 2004)
BEGINING IN THE YEAR 2000, THE 98 E150 WENT THROUGH THE FACTORY MOTOR AT 90,000 MILES. COOLANT MIXING WITH OIL WITHOUT EVER OVERHEATING. FORD WAS GOING TO FIX UNTIL I TOLD THEM THAT MY MY VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT A PRIVATELY OWNED SHOP VERSUS THE DEALERSHIP (MY BROTHER OWNS THE SHOP AND THE LOCAL DEALER SENDS HIM ALL OF THEIR DIFFICULT REPAIRS). IT TOOK ME APPROXIMATELY 16 MONTHS COME UP WITH THE MONEY TO HAVE THE MOTOR MACHINED AND REPAIRED PROPERLY. TOTAL COST $4000. I FINALLY FELT CONFIDENT THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD SERVE ME WELL, UNTIL TWO WEE…
Owner-reported narrative. 9,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10082971 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10093726 · 2004-11-05 (November 5, 2004)
MY HUSBAND AND I EXPERIENCED TWO BLOW OUTS ON FIRESTONE TIRES DURING A TRIP IN JULY-AUGUST, 2004. AFTER HAVING TO REPLACE ALL OF THE TIRES DURING THE TRIP WE CALLED FORD AND FIRESTONE. FIRESTONE OFFERED TO PAY$100.00 TO COVER SOME OF THE EXPENSES OF SPARE TIRE REPLACEMENT(AFTER THE BLOW OUTS AND BEFORE WE PURCHASED NEW TIRES BECAUSE WE FEARED FURTHER PROBLEMS) BUT WE REFUSED THIS. WE BELIEVE THESE STEELTEX RADIAL R4S TIRES ARE HAZARDOUS AND SOME WARNING SHOULD BE ISSUED. WE WERE FORTUNATE TO HAVE SURVIVED WITHOUT BODILY INJURY. I WILL CALL…
Owner-reported narrative. 42,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10093726 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10114858 · 2005-03-10 (March 10, 2005)
VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING AT 65 MPH WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL. CONSUMER WILL CONTACT MANUFACTURER.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10114858 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
5 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
00V284000 · Equipment:Other:Labels
Reported: 2000-09-21 (September 21, 2000)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: BI-FUEL CNG PICKUP TRUCKS AND BI-FUEL CNG VANS, MODIFIED BY CFI CONTROL SYSTEMS, INC., FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 303, "FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITY OF COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS VEHICLES." THE LABEL AFFIXED TO THE FUEL FILLER DOOR BY THE VEHICLE MODIFIER CONTAINS THE INSPECTION DATE AND EXPIRATION DATE OF THE CNG TANK. HOWEVER, IT DOES NOT CONTAIN THE STATEMENT "SEE INSTRUCTIONS ON THE FUEL CONTAINER FOR INSPECTION AND SERVICE LIFE."
Consequence: THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS.
Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED A LABEL WITH THE REQUIRED STATEMENT, ALONG WITH INSTRUCTIONS FOR AFFIXING THE LABEL AT THE FUEL FILLER DOOR. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN NOVEMBER 2, 2000. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.
NHTSA campaign record ↗07V336000 · Vehicle Speed Control
Reported: 2007-08-03 (August 3, 2007)
ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS, PASSENGER VEHICLES, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, AND MOTOR HOMES CHASSIS, THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH MAY, UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, LEAK INTERNALLY AND THEN OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.
Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS. OWNERS OF THE PASSENGER CARS INCLUDED IN THIS CAMPAIGN WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO RETURN THEIR VEHICLES TO THEIR DEALERS TO HAVE THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH DISCONNECTED AS AN INTERIM REPAIR. AS SOON AS REPAIR PARTS ARE AVAILABLE (EXPECTED OCTOBER 2007), OWNERS WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO RETURN TO THE DEALERS FOR INSTALLATION OF A FUSED WIRING HARNESS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 13, 2007, AND MAILING COMPLETED BY SEPTEMBER 19, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-888-222-2751.
NHTSA campaign record ↗08V051000 · Vehicle Speed Control:Cruise Control
Reported: 2008-02-04 (February 4, 2008)
FORD IS RECALLING 225,000 MY 1992-2003 ECONOLINE, MY 1993-1995 TAURUS SHO, MY 1992-1998 CROWN VICTORIA, MY 1993 BRONCO, F-SERIES, MY 1995-1997 F-SERIES SUPER DUTY STRIPPED CHASSIS, MY 1992-1998 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS, AND MY 1992-1995 LINCOLN TOWN CAR VEHICLES. THE AFFECTED VEHICLES WERE PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED USING A WIRING HARNESS THAT IS NOT COMPATIBLE WITH THE VEHICLE CIRCUIT POLARITY.
Consequence: AS A RESULT, THE FUSE IS LOCATED IN THE OUTPUT CIRCUIT RATHER THAN IN THE INTENDED INPUT POWER FEED CIRCUIT, AND MAY NOT OFFER THE INTENDED PROTECTION IN THE EVENT OF AN ELECTRICAL SHORT TO GROUND.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW WIRING HARNESS, OR REPLACE THE MATING ELECTRICAL COMPONENT. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 18, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.
NHTSA campaign record ↗09V399000 · Vehicle Speed Control
Reported: 2009-10-13 (October 13, 2009)
FORD IS RECALLING MODEL YEARS 1995-2003 WINDSTAR, 2000-2003 EXCURSION DIESEL, 1993-1997 AND 1999-2003 F-250 SD THROUGH F-550 SD DIESEL, 1992-2003 E-150 THROUGH E-550, 1995-2002 EXPLORER, 1997 AND 2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER, 1995-1997 AND 2001-2003 RANGER, AND 1994 F53 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE TEXAS INSTRUMENTS SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH (SCDS). THE SCDS MAY LEAK INTERNALLY AND THEN OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.
Consequence: A VEHICLE FIRE COULD OCCUR WITH OR WITHOUT THE ENGINE RUNNING.
Remedy: FORD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS THAT DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS IN LINE WITH THE SCDS. ON 1999-2003 WINDSTAR VEHICLES WITH A LEAKING SCDS, DEALERS WILL ALSO INSPECT THE ABS CONTROL MODULE CONNECTOR AND REPAIR AS NECESSARY. REPAIRS WILL BE COMPLETED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 27, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-888-222-2751.
NHTSA campaign record ↗99V046000 · Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch
Reported: 1999-03-15 (March 15, 1999)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: UTILITY VANS EQUIPPED WITH THE "60/40" HINGED SIDE CARGO DOORS. THE STRIKERS FOR THE 60/40 DOOR SINGLE LATCH SYSTEM WERE FOUND TO CONTAIN STRESS CRACKS AT THE STRIKER WIRE LOWER STAKE JOINT. STRIKERS WITH STRESS CRACKS MAY NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 206, "DOOR LOCKS AND DOOR RETENTION COMPONENTS."
Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE DOOR STRIKERS MAY NOT HOLD THE DOOR, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY OR PROPERTY DAMAGE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DOOR STRIKER.
NHTSA campaign record ↗