2000 Ford E-350: complaints, problems and recalls

THE 3 PASSENGER BENCH/SECOND ROW/RIGHT HAND SHOULDER SEAT BELT NOW FAILS TO RETRACT. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM. THE FIRST OCCURRENCE WAS IN 2001 AND THE BELT AND RETRACTOR WERE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY ON 11/19/2001. ONE OTHER BELT IN THE VEHICLE HAS ALSO HAD LATCHING PROBLEMS BUT WAS REPLACED AT THE SAME TIME IN 11/2001 .*JB

Owner-reported narrative. 45,350 miles reported. Look up ODI 10010360 at NHTSA ↗

SPARE TIRE FELL FROM HOLDER. *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. 100,566 miles reported. Look up ODI 10014325 at NHTSA ↗

ACCIDENT WHICH OCCURRED IN EAST ST. LOUIS, ILLINOIS INVOLVING A FORD E-350 15 PASSENGER VAN. DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, WHICH THEN LEFT THE ROAD AND ROLLED ONTO ITS SIDE. VAN WAS TOP HEAVY, TOO DIFFICULT TO CONTROL, BEGAN FISHTAILING AND ROLLED OVER. DESIGN DEFECT AND FAILURE TO WARN. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10016426 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE TREAD SEPARATED. *NLM *CB *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 23,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10017949 at NHTSA ↗

BRIDGESTONE DUELER LT285/74R16, BLEW OUT AT 60 MPH IN F350 PU ON I15, IN CALIF. LIFTED LEFT REAR OFF GROUND WITH NO WARNING AND DAMAGING LR QUARTER PANEL RECENTLY REPLACED BY FIRESTONE STEEL TEX TIRE FAILURES (2XS). WENT FOUR HOUR AND RIGHT REAR BRIDGESTONE SEPERATE CLEANLY, AS IF RECAP. TIRES CHECKED PRIOR TO TRIP, AND AGAIN AFTER FIRST BLOWOUT. NOT LOADED, PULLING EMPTY HORSE TRAILER. CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHY I'M REPORTING THIS, NTHSA IS EFFECTIVE AS THE USELESS TIRES! *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. 50,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10031187 at NHTSA ↗

THE WHEEL BEARING ARE SEIZING UP AND GOING BAD THIS PROBLEM IS ONGOING WITH ALL THESE HEAVY DUTY PICK UPS F350 DUAL DIESEL. THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO HAUL HEAVY LOADS AND IF THE BEARING TOTALLY SIEZES UP THE WHEEL WILL FALL OFF. A MECHANIC WE KNOW SAYS THIS IS A PROBLEM THE COMPANY HE WORKS FOR REPLACES 10 A WEEK.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10032624 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A STRONG VIBRATION FOR APPROXIMATELY 1 SECOND AND THEN I HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSION-LIKE SOUND AS THE RIGHT REAR TIRE DISINTEGRATED DAMAGING THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 29,875 miles reported. Look up ODI 10033042 at NHTSA ↗

CONSUMER NOTICED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION OUTER RIGHT TIRE SEPARATED. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10034159 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2000-04-19 (April 19, 2000)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CUTAWAYS AND STRIPPED CHASSIS WITH SINGLE REAR WHEELS. THE LUG NUTS CAN POTENTIALLY BOTTOM OUT ON A SHOULDER ON THE STUDS.

Consequence: IF THIS OCCURS, THERE CAN BE AN INADEQUATE CLAMP LOAD TO ATTACH THE WHEEL TO THE AXLE, RESULTING IN NOISE, DAMAGE TO THE WHEEL AND HUB, OR IN EXTREME CASES, LOSS OF A REAR WHEEL WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE REAR WHEEL ATTACHING STUDS.

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.

Reported: 2001-04-05 (April 5, 2001)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: ON CERTAIN VANS WITH AMBULANCE PREP PACKAGES OR OTHER SEVERE-DUTY APPLICATIONS INVOLVING OPERATION AT OR NEAR THE GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT WITH FREQUENT TWISTING OF THE VEHICLE BODY, SUCH AS OFF-ROAD, ROUGH ROAD OR SPEED BUMP EVENTS, THE 35 GALLON MID-SHIP FUEL TANK COULD DEVELOP A CRACK WHERE IT CONTACTS THE FRAME CROSS MEMBER. IF THE FUEL TANK CRACKS, FUEL LEAKAGE COULD OCCUR.

Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FUEL TANK AND, IF CRACKED, WILL REPLACE THE TANK. INSULATOR PADS WILL BE INSTALLED ON ALL VEHICLES TO REDUCE THE STRESS LEVELS IN THE FUEL TANK. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN APRIL 19, 2001. 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.

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.

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.

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.