1996 Ford E-150

Routine

Owners filed 59 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the service brakes, hydraulic › antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip. It has been recalled 3 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip6
200
Vehicle Speed Control › Cruise Control3
030
Tires3
100
Steering › Gear Box (other Than Rack and Pinion)3
101
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline3
000
Vehicle Speed Control2
100
Service Brakes2
010
Seat Belts › Front › Buckle Assembly2
000
Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage › Tank Assembly › Filler Pipe and Cap2
000
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine2
000

3 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Vehicle Speed Control09V399000
Filed Oct 13, 20094,500,000 vehiclesFord Motor Company

Defect. 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.

Risk. 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.

Vehicle Speed Control › Cruise Control08V051000
Filed Feb 4, 2008225,000 vehiclesFord Motor Company

Defect. 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.

Risk. 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.

Vehicle Speed Control06V286000
Filed Aug 1, 20061,200,000 vehiclesFord Motor Company

Defect. ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH SPEED CONTROL, GASOLINE OR NATURAL GAS ENGINES, THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH MAY OVERHEAT.

Risk. 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)

What owners reported

Newest filings
Service Brakes
Filed Apr 28, 201481,555 milesTN

MY VEHICLE ACCORDING THE NHTSA HAS RECALL #09V399000 FOR THE BRAKE SYSTEM SPEED CONTROL WHICH CAN CATCH ON FIRE EVEN IN THE GARAGE WITH THE VEHICLE OFF. I ASKED FORD TO REPAIR THIS BECAUSE I JUST BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE AND THEY CLAIM THERE ARE NO RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE, AND I KNOW THERE IS AND I KNOW THE RECALL HASN'T BEEN INSTALLED ON MY VEHICLE. ARE THEY SAYING THIS BECAUSE TIME RAN OUT TO HAVE THIS DONE BECAUSE I JUST BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE OR DO THEY JUST NOT WANT TO? THANKS FOR YOUR HELP. *JS

Service BrakesFire
Filed Apr 21, 2013168,000 milesOH

VEHICLE WAS PARKED, AND UPON ENTERING NOTICED THE SMELL OF AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. STARTED THE VEHICLE, ODOMETER WAS INOPERABLE AND VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF PARK. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, FOUND A BLOWN 15 AMP FUSE IN THE FUSE PANEL. REPLACED FUSE, ODOMETER CAME BACK ON AND VEHICLE SHIFTED OUT OF PARK. APPROXIMATELY 10 SECONDS LATER, THE SMELL OF BURNING WIRING WAS EVIDENT, AS WAS SMOKE FROM UNDER THE HOOD. PULLED THE FUSE BACK OUT, OPENED THE HOOD TO FIND THE BRAKE PRESSURE SWITCH ON FIRE, WHICH MELTED THE BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR AS WELL AS THE BATTERY CASING ALSO. *TR

Structure
Filed Nov 20, 200985,000 milesVA

A CHROME COLOR GRILLE ABOUT 2.5 FEET WIDE AND 6" TALL FLEW OFF THE FRONT OF OUR 1996 F150 FORD VAN WHILE WE WERE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED. I NOTICED OTHER SIMILAR FORD VANS THAT HAVE ALSO LOST THE SAME FRONT GRILL PART. WE WERE GOING 55 MPH DOWN A 2 LANE HIGHWAY AND A LARGE TRUCK WAS GOING THE OTHER WAY. THE GUST OF AIR FROM THE PASSING TRUCK WAS SUFFICIENT TO TEAR OFF THE GRILL PART AND CAUSE IT TO FLY OVER THE TOP OF OUR VAN. *TR

Vehicle Speed ControlCrash
Filed Jul 9, 2009150,000 milesPA

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD E-150. WHENEVER THE CONTACT STARTS THE ENGINE AND DEPRESSES THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE ENGINE BECOMES STUCK AT A HIGH RPM AND WILL NOT RETURN TO THE IDLE POSITION. THE FAILURE CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO EITHER SURGE FORWARD OR BACKWARDS DEPENDING ON WHAT GEAR IT IS IN AT THE TIME. THE ENGINE HAS TO BE TURNED OFF IN ORDER TO RESTORE THE VEHICLE TO A PROPER SPEED. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKES DO NOT HOLD OR STOP THE VEHICLE WHEN THEY ARE ENGAGED. THE FIRST TIME THIS FAILURE OCCURRED, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A TREE AT 10 MPH. THERE WERE NO INJURIES; HOWEVER, THE REAR WINDOW WAS DAMAGED. THROUGH RESEARCH, THE CONTACT FOUND NUMEROUS ISSUES WITH THIS DEFECT ON THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP TWICE. DURING THE FIRST VISIT, THE MECHANIC CLEANED OUT THE ENGINE, ENGINE THROTTLE, AND CABLES. THE FAILURE WAS CORRECTED FOR TWO MONTHS BEFORE IT RECURRED AGAIN. DURING THE SECOND VISIT, THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE SHOP AND THE MECHANIC CHECKED TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING WAS LUBRICATED PROPERLY. THE SHOP DID NOT GUARANTEE THAT THE FAILURE WOULD NOT RECUR. THE CONTACT BELIEVES THAT A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 152,000.

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline › Belts and Associated Pulleys
Filed Dec 12, 2006OH

1996 FORD E-150 SERPENTINE BELT, AIR CONDITIONING COMPRESSOR. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, IGNITION MODULE REPLACED, ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED, TIE RODS REPLACED, FUEL PUMP REPLACED. *KB

Suspension › Front › Springs › Coil Springs
Filed Sep 6, 2006IL

BROKEN FRONT SPRING ON 1996 ECONOLINE VAN APPARENTLY DUE TO CORROSION ISSUE. DEALER DIAGNOSED PROBLEM AND STATES THAT BROKEN SPRING MAY OR MAY NOT COME LOSE AND RESULT IN A SAFETY HAZARD. *NM

Vehicle Speed Control › Cruise ControlFire
Filed Aug 15, 2006130,000 milesMS

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE WHILE PARKED. THE FIRE WAS LOCALIZED UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN IN FOR SERVICE. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL # 06V286000 WHICH PERTAINED TO THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. *AK

Vehicle Speed Control › Cruise ControlFire
Filed Aug 10, 2005115,000 milesMI

DT: THE CALLER SAID THAT WHILE AT WORK HIS VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. IT WAS SITTING FOR 2 HOURS AND 15 MINUTES. VEHICLE WAS SITTING ACROSS THE STREET FROM WHERE THE CALLER WORKED, AND THE NEIGHBORS SAW THE FIRE AND HELPED PUT IT OUT ALONG WITH A PASSING POLICE OFFICER. FIRE WAS CAUGHT IN TIME, AND NO OTHER DAMAGE WAS CAUSED. DEALER /MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings
Filed May 18, 2005OH

1996 FORD E150 EXPERIENCED BRAKE FAILURE DUE TO CORRODED BRAKE LINES.*MR THE FAILED PART WERE AT THE ABS CONTROL VALVE AND EXTENDED TO THE FRONT BRAKES. FOUR MONTHS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH. *NM

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited SlipCrash
Filed Apr 13, 2005144,000 milesTN

1. I WAS TRAVELING A 35 MPH ON A STRAIGHT ROAD DURING THE DAYLIGHT HOURS. THE ROAD WAS DRY. THE WEATHER WAS SUNNY, AND THERE WAS VERY LITTLE TRAFFIC IN A TWO LANE ROAD. AS I APPROACHED STANDING TRAFFIC AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT I BEGAN TO SLOW GRADUALLY WITH ENGINE BRAKING. AS I APPOACHED THE STOPPED CAR I BEGAN TO TOUCH THE BRAKE PEDAL, AND IMMEDIATELY NOTICED NO BRAKING EFFECT. I THAN PRESSED THE PEDAL A COUPLE MORE INCHES, AND STILL THERE WAS LITTLE BRAKING EFFECT. I THEN PRESSED AS HARD AS I COULD, AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SLOW GRADUALLY, BUT NOT IN TIME TO AVOID HITTING THE CAR STOPPED AT THE TRAFFIC LIGHT. THERE WAS MINOR DAMAGE DONE TO THE STANDING VEHICLE, BUT ONLY BECAUSE I WAS TRAVELING SO SLOWLY AND HAD BEGUN TO ANTICIPATE THE STOP IN PLENTY OF TIME. HAVING BEEN AN AUTOMOBILE MECHANIC IN YEARS PAST, I DETERMINED THAT THE FAULT WAS IN THE VACUUM BOOSTER OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED REPAIR SHOP AND HAD THE BRAKE SYSTEM EVALUATED. THEY EXAMINED THE ENTIRE BRAKE SYSTEM AND COULD FIND NO REASON FOR THE FAILURE. THEY SAID THAT IT COULD HAVE BEEN A MOMENTARY FAILURE OF THE ABS OR VACUUM BOOSTER SYSTEMS, BUT THEY COULD NOT DETERMINE THE FAULT UNLESS IT HAPPENED AGAIN WHILE THEY WERE TESTING THE VEHICLE. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THIS SAME PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED TO OTHERS.*AK

Vehicle Speed Control › Cruise ControlFire
Filed Feb 10, 2005120,000 milesKS

WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED A FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

Steering › Gear Box (other Than Rack and Pinion)Crash1 injured
Filed Jan 11, 2005112,000 milesNY

1996 FORD F-150 2WD MILEAGE 112,500 (WELL MAINTAINED) OSS OF STEERING RESULTING FROM SOMETHING INSIDE STEERING BOX DISENGAGING. CAUSING NO CONTROL FROM OPERATOR OF VEHICLE. VEHICLE PULLED TO RIGHT AND HIT PARKED CAR, ONCE PASS PARKED CAR VEHECLE CONTINUED TO PULL TO RIGHT, OVER THE LAWN AND HITTING ANOTHER PARKED CAR IN DRIVWAY BEFORECOMING TO A STOP NTIRE INCIDENT TOOK 3 SECONDS. I WAS ON I SIDE STREET CLOSE TO HOME DOING ABOUT 30-35 MPH, HAD IT BEEN A HIGHWAY, PEOPLE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. LSO AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY WHY! PLEASE SEE IF THERE ARE ANY OTHER COMPLAINTS LIKE THIS!*AK

Tires › Tread/Belt
Filed Sep 15, 200330,000 milesFL

THE CONSUMER STATED THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION. *AK TIRES WERE BROUGHT BRAND NEW AND THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITH 30,000 MILES ON THE TIRES. DEALER WOULD NOT REPLACE THE FIRST TIRE THAT FAILED. CONSUMER DID HAVE 100,000 MILE WARRANTY ON THE TIRES. *PH *JB

Power Train › Axle Assembly › Axle Shaft › Seal
Filed Jun 23, 2003130,000 milesMN

REAR MAIN SEAL REPLACED AT 110K, STARTED TO LEAK AGAIN AT 130K. DEALER WILL NOT WARRANTY. *NLM

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Jun 23, 2003110,000 milesMN

OIL PAN RUSTED THROUGH, SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM FOR 1996 FORD E150 ECONOLINES. *NLM

Electrical System › Wiring › Interior/Under Dash
Filed May 20, 2003WI

THE HEAD LIGHTS FAILED WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALER DETERMINED THE PROBLEM WAS A FAULTY WIRING HARNESS UNDER THE DASH. *JB

Suspension › Rear › Springs › Leaf Spring Assembly › Shackle
Filed May 20, 2003WI

THE REAR LEAF SPRING FAILED. *JB

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Apr 3, 2003WI

THE OIL PAN RUSTED, WHICH CAUSED OIL TO LEAK. *JB

Electrical System › Starter Assembly
Filed Apr 2, 2003MI

STARTER HAS FAILED SIX TIMES SINCE PURCHASE. DIFFERENT BRANDS USED, INCLUDING OEM, AND ALL HAVE FAILED. PROFESSIONALLY REPAIRED AND INSPECTED EACH TIME. *NLM

Structure › Frame and Members › Underbody Shields
Filed Jan 9, 2003LA

THE BODY MOUNT BUSHINGS ON MY FORD E150 ECONOLINE VAN HAVE FAILED AND THE FORD MANUFACTURER DOESN'T THINK IT IS THEIR PROBLEM. AFTER SOME INVESTIGATION I HAVE COME TO THE CONCLUSION IT IS A MATERIAL DEFECT. I HAVE CHECKED WITH A FEW BODY REPAIR SHOPS IN MY AREA AND THEY HAVE HAD ONLY 1 CASE OF HAVING TO REPLACE THIS TYPE OF PART. I CAN NOT GET ANYONE TO QUOTE ME A PRICE OF HOW MUCH IT WILL COST TO REPAIR THIS.

20 of 59 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1994
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20230100Routine
20211000Routine
20168100Routine
20158100Routine
20146600Routine
201319600Routine
201212800Routine
2011231300Routine
201010900Routine
200971400Routine
2008111810Routine
2007121900Routine
2006171610Routine
200516400Routine
200433700Routine
200321610Routine
200228330Routine
200137410Routine
200050620Routine
199983620Routine
199860510Routine
1997102640Routine
1996 — this page59380Routine
199571370Routine
19941217121Fatalities reported
199371440Routine
1992644110Routine
199115110Routine
199017300Routine

Compare every E-150 year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Oct 13, 2009. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.