1996 Ford E-350: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
36 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
38,935 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1996 model year. Data snapshot: . 10 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Tires is the most frequently named component, appearing in 8 of 36 complaints (22.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 6 | 16.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 4 | 11.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 2.8% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 2.8% |
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 | 8 |
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 8 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 2 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc | 2 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood | 1 |
| Engine | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe | 1 |
Tires: 8; Tires:Tread/Belt: 8; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 2; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc: 2; Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood: 1; Engine: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 3 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 3 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 1
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 26 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 | 11 |
| 2001 | 9 |
| 2002 | 6 |
| 2003 | 5 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
2000: 11; 2001: 9; 2002: 6; 2003: 5; 2009: 1; 2012: 1; 2013: 1; 2016: 1; 2017: 1
Pattern summary
Tires leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 6 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 4 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 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 10009381 · 2003-02-26 (February 26, 2003)
THE INJECTOR MODULE FAILED, WHICH CAUSED THE POWER STEERING TO STOP WORKING. *JB THIS WAS THE SECOND FUEL INJECTOR DRIVER MODULE THAT FAILED DUE TO WATER IN THE MODULE. THE ENGINE STOPPED WITH OVT WARNING. SCC
Owner-reported narrative. 77,320 miles reported. Look up ODI 10009381 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10031886 · 2003-08-01 (August 1, 2003)
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH TREAD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE. SEVERAL WEEKS LATER THE SAME THING HAPPENED WITH THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 23,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10031886 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10031897 · 2003-08-01 (August 1, 2003)
CONSUMER STATES THAT VALVE STEMS RECOMMENDED FOR VEHICLE IS NOT EFFECTIVE AFTER 8000 MILES. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS TIRES WOULD BECOME FLAT FOR NO APPARENT REASON. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP, WHO INFORMED CONSUMER OF THE VALVE PROBLEM.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 52,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10031897 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10041552 · 2003-10-09 (October 9, 2003)
SUBJECT VEHICLE IS A FORD E350 SUPERDUTY VAN CHASSIS MANUFACTURED IN MAY 1996 WITH VN [XXX] EQUIPPED WITH A E40D TRANSMISSION. THE TRANSMISSION IN A 1997 CLASS C MOTORHOME STARTED TO LEAK. THE PROBLEM WAS DETECTED BEFORE COMPLETE FAILURE, WHICH COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A FIRE. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO GARAGE. WHEN TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT A SEAL HAD TO BE REPLACE. THE OEM PART NUMBER WAS E9TP 7AP48 AA. THE SEAL WAS REPLACE WITH A PART FROM PERCISION INTERNATIONAL WITH PART NUMBER 16601EV, WHICH CAME WITH THE FOLLOWING ADVISORY "THE ORIGIN…
Owner-reported narrative. 42,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10041552 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10042686 · 2003-10-09 (October 9, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING AT 45/55 MPH RIGHT FRONT TIRE WENT OUT OF ROUND, AND THE LEFT FRONT TIRE STARTED SHOWING SIGNS OF FATIGUE. WHEN THIS OCCURRED FRONT SHOCKS FAILED, AND THE HYDRAULIC FLUID SPILLED ONTO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THIS RESULTED IN SEVERE FRONTAL VEHICLE DAMAGE. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 19,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10042686 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10279777 · 2009-08-08 (August 8, 2009)
DISCOVERY OF CRACKED FRONT ROTORS ON MY 1996 E-350 MOTORHOME. FIRST CRACKED ROTOR FOUND IN MAY 2007 WITH 35,000 MILES ON VEHICLE. SECOND CRACKED ROTOR FOUND IN SEPTEMBER 2009 WITH 41,000 MILES ON VEHICLE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 35,869 miles reported. Look up ODI 10279777 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10445627 · 2012-01-27 (January 27, 2012)
DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT LATCH DOES NOT LOCK. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10445627 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10520493 · 2013-06-18 (June 18, 2013)
THIS ISSUE WAS ON A 1996 FORD F350 AMBULANCE ON ROUTE TO EMERGENCY CALL WHEN ENGINE SHUT DOWN AND LOST ALL POWER LIKE IT WAS OUT OF FUEL 7.3 LITER DIESEL AND TANK WAS FULL. HAD UNIT TOWED TO CROSS WOOD FORD IN KERNERSVILLE NC AND $2700.00 LATER AFTER NEW FUEL TANK FUEL PUMP 6 INJECTORS AND TURBO DUE TO LINER INSIDE OF TANK CAME OFF AND CLOGGED THE FUEL SYSTEM AND ENGINE FORD MOTOR COMPANY WAS NO HELP AND SAID SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY THEY WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING TO RESOLVE THE COST ISSUES. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 109,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10520493 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
3 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
06V286000 · Vehicle Speed Control
Reported: 2006-08-01 (August 1, 2006)
ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH SPEED CONTROL, GASOLINE OR NATURAL GAS ENGINES, THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH MAY OVERHEAT.
Consequence: OVERHEATING COULD RESULT IN SMOKE OR BURN AND AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS INTO THE SPEED CONTROL SYSTEM FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 7, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-866-436-7332. (NOTE: ALSO SEE RECALLS 05V017 AND 05V388)
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 ↗