1996 Ford F-250: complaints, problems and recalls

THE VEHICLE TIRE TREAD HAS BEGUN TO SEPARATE. *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10019971 at NHTSA ↗

THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT, LOCKING BUCKLE WILL NOT LOCK AND HOLD.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 108,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10029062 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

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 ↗

WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH WITH NO LOAD TIRE BLEWOUT. *BF *NM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10097472 at NHTSA ↗

THE CRUISE CONTROL WILL BE CANCELLED BY TURNING ON THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL ONLY, NOT THE RIGHT TURN SIGNAL. CAUSING A LOSS OF VEHICLE SPEED. THE CRUISE CONTROL OTHERWISE FUNCTIONS NORMALLY. ALSO, IF I AM AT A STEADY SPEED IN HIGH GEAR [OVERDRIVE] , THE TRUCK WILL DOWNSHIFT, AND THE RPM'S WILL INCREASE 300-500 IF I UTILIZE THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL. THIS PHENOMENON DOES NOT OCCUR WHEN STOPPED IN GEAR OR IN PARK. I RECENTLY REPLACED THE TACHOMETER WHICH HAD BEEN STICKING. THE WHILE OBSERVING THE NEW TACH, I NOTICED THE RPM CHANGES. CANCELLING THE OVER…

Owner-reported narrative. 108,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10116547 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED VEHICLE WILL COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN. THERE IS NO WARNING. CONTACTED THE DEALER. WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10117500 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

Reported: 2005-09-07 (September 7, 2005)

ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH SPEED CONTROL, THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH MAY OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.

Consequence: A FIRE AT THE SWITCH COULD OCCUR.

Remedy: BY LETTER DATED SEPTEMBER 12, 2005, OWNERS WERE INSTRUCTED TO RETURN THEIR VEHICLES TO THEIR DEALERS TO HAVE THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH DISCONNECTED. OWNERS WHO HAVE HAD THEIR SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATED ARE BEING NOTIFIED THAT PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE AND ADVISED TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TO RECONNECT THE SPEED CONTROL BEGINNING IN FEBRUARY 2006. OWNERS WHO DID NOT HAVE THEIR SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATED ARE BEING NOTIFIED TO HAVE THEIR SYSTEM REMEDIED BEGINNING IN FEBRUARY 2006. OWNERS ARE URGED TO AVAIL THEMSELVES OF THE FREE DISCONNECT SERVICE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE BECAUSE OF THE SIGNIFICANT RISK OF FIRE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673. (NOTE: ALSO SEE RECALLS 05V017 AND 06V286)

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)

Reported: 1996-08-01 (August 1, 1996)

THE CROSSMEMBER FRAME GUSSETS WERE INSTALLED WITH UNDERSIZED THREADED FASTENERS FOLLOWING A BREAKDOWN OF THE PRODUCTION RIVET GUN THAT IS GENERALLY USED. THIS GUSSET IS THE ATTACHMENT POINT FOR THE REAR STRAP OF THE MID-SHIP FUEL TANK.

Consequence: THE SUBJECT FASTENERS CAN SEPARATE CAUSING IN THE REAR STRAP OF THE AFFECTED FUEL TANK TO BECOME DISCONNECTED. A LOOSE OR DISCONNECTED REAR STRAP ALLOWS THE FUEL TANK TO POSSIBLY CONTACT THE ROAD SURFACE INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CROSSMEMBER GUSSET FASTENERS WITH THE SPECIFIED ALTERNATIVE FASTENERS (BOLTS).

Reported: 1996-08-29 (August 29, 1996)

THE CERTIFICATION LABELS ON THE INVOLVED VEHICLES HAS INCORRECT REAR TIRE INFLATION PRESSURE DESIGNATIONS. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS NO. 120, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES OTHER THAN PASSENGER CARS."

Consequence: INCORRECT INFLATION PRESSURES COULD CAUSE PREMATURE WEAR OF THE REAR TIRES. .

Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH CORRECT CERTIFICATION LABELS AND INSTRUCTIONS FOR INSTALLING THESE LABELS. DEALERS CAN INSTALL THIS LABEL IF THE OWNER SO DESIRES.