1996 Ford F-350: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
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 10011731 · 2003-03-13 (March 13, 2003)
NAR 03/13/2003 WHILE DRIVING THE CONSUMER PULLED OVER AND NOTICED THE ENTIRE VEHICLE WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE REAR AXLE WAS COMPLETELY BURNED. WITH NO PRIOR PROBLEMS IT JUST CAUGHT ON FIRE. *CB *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10011731 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 10022269 · 2003-05-30 (May 30, 2003)
PROBLEMS WITH MICHELIN TIRES, SPILTS ON TIRES. *MR PH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10022269 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 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 10044392 · 2003-10-21 (October 21, 2003)
THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR TIRE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH. AS A RESULT REAR FENDER AND EXHAUST WERE DAMAGED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS UNDETERMINED. THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10044392 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10044904 · 2003-12-04 (December 4, 2003)
THE ROOF PANEL IS SEPARATING FROM THE FRAME. NO RUST PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED. *AK THE ROOF PANEL WOULD POP OPEN ON OCCASIONS WHEN DRIVEN ON THE HIGHWAY. THE ROOF PANEL LOOKED AS IF IT WERE OPENED BY A CAN OPENER AND HAD RUN FROM THE DRIVER'S DOOR TO THE MIDDLE OF THE TWO REAR DOORS. *SCC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 200,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10044904 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 ↗96V146000 · Structure:Frame And Members
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).
NHTSA campaign record ↗96V161000 · Equipment:Other:Labels
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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗