1996 Ford E-250

Routine

Owners filed 20 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the tires › tread/belt. It has been recalled 3 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Tires › Tread/Belt3
000
Tires2
000
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline2
000
Wheels › Lugs/Nuts/Bolts/Studs1
000
Vehicle Speed Control1
000
Structure › Frame and Members1
101
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Pedals and Linkages1
100
Service Brakes, Hydraulic1
000
Power Train › Driveline › Driveshaft1
000
Power Train › Clutch Assembly › Pedal/Hand Lever(motorcycle)1
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
Power Train › Clutch Assembly › Pedal/Hand Lever(motorcycle)
Filed Sep 29, 200876,000 milesAZ

I WAS STOPPED AT AN INTERSECTION WITH TRUCK IN GEAR AND CLUTCH PEDAL DOWN, ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CLUTCH RELEASED WITH THE PEDAL STILL DOWN CAUSING THE TRUCK TO LURCH INTO THE STREET ABOUT 15 FT BEFORE I COULD STOP WITH THE BRAKES. THE CARS IN THE STREET WERE ABLE TO AVOID ME BUT I WAS VERY SHAKEN. I FOUND THE PROBLEM WAS THE "CLUTCH ROD END PLASTIC BUSHING AND RETAINER" HAD FAILED ALLOWING THE CLUTCH TO RELEASE WITHOUT THE PEDAL. THIS WAS REPLACED BUT FAILED AGAIN 6 MONTHS LATER. FORTUNATELY I ALWAYS KEEP THE TRUCK IN NEUTRAL WHEN STOPPED NOW SO IT WAS ONLY AN INCONVENIENCE. CHECKING THE INTERNET FOR A FIX I FOUND SEVERAL COMPANIES THAT MAKE A REPLACEMENT ASSEMBLY FOR THIS BECAUSE OF ALL THE FAILURES. I HAVE BEEN KEEPING THE "ROD END" IN PLACE WITH WIRE AND ALWAYS KEEP IN NEUTRAL TO PREVENT ANOTHER FAILURE BUT HAVE ORDERED A REPLACEMENT ASSEMBLY AN EBAY COMPANY TO PREVENT THIS VERY DANGEROUS FAILURE FROM HAPPENING AGAIN. WHY HASN'T FORD NOTIFIED ANYONE ABOUT THIS POSSIBLE CATASTROPHIC AND LIFE THREATENING FAILURE AND AT LEAST SUPPLIED PARTS TO FIX THIS CORRECTLY. *TR

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Filed Jun 25, 2008151,000 milesAZ

THERE IS A PRESSURE SWITCH ON MY MASTER CYLINDER OF THE BRAKING SYSTEM. THERE IS O LISTED RECALL FOR MY PICKUP TRUCK HOW EVER AFTER ABOUT $900.00 AND 2 DIFFERENT AUTO SHOPS I FOUND THIS SWITCH TO BE THE DEFECTIVE PART AND WHEN I WENT TO THE DEALER JIM CLICK OF TUSCON AZ AND THE PARTS GUY GAVE ME THE PART I REQUESTED I QUESTIONED THE WIRING HARNESS ADAPTOR AND WHY THE SWITCH WAS NOT THE SAME AS I BROUGHT HIM. HE STATED WELL THERE WAS A LOT OF FAILURES WITH THE OLD DESIGN AND IT WAS A RECALL I STATED WELL SHOULDN'T THE PART BE FREE NO RESPONSE - - THE DEFECT IN THE PART WAS AN AIR LEAK CAUSING ME TO CHASE IT FOR A YEAR ON AND OFF CONSTANTLY BLEEDING LITTLE AIR BUBBLES OUT WITH OVER A GALLON OF FLUID. I NOTICED IT WITH JUST THE EVER SO SLIGHT OF DIRT STICKING TO THE LEAK ON THE UNDER SIDE OF SWITCH WHICH COULD NOT BE SEEN. THIS LEAK RESULTED IN A CONSTANTLY SOFT PEDAL WITH A ABOUT A 1-2 SECOND BRAKING DELAY. I CHECKED TO FORD SITE AND THE ONLY EXISTING RECALL IS A SPEED SENSOR. NOT FOR THIS PART. *TR

Fuel System, Gasoline
Filed Apr 14, 200489,000 milesCO

I HAVE 2 1996 FORD E250 VANS. THEY BOTH LEAK GAS OUT THE FILL TUBE IF I FILL THEM ALL THE WAY UP. ESPECIALLY IF I PARK ON A SLOPE. I ASKED THE FORD DEALER IF THIS WAS A RECALL ITEM AND THEY TOLD ME NO. IT SHOULD BE.

Latches/Locks/Linkages › Doors › Latch
Filed Mar 22, 2004100,000 milesMT

MY DRIVERS SIDE DOOR HANDLE WAS HANGING UP. 4 YRS AGO IT BROKE, REPLACED IT 3 TIMES OVER THE NEXT YEAR. GAVE UP AND JUST ROLL MY WINDOW DOWN AND OPEN IT FROM THE OUTSIDE. NOW MY PASSENGER DOOR IS DOING IT. LAST WEEK RAN INTO SOMEBODY AT THE GAS STATION WHO WATCHED ME ROLL MY WINDOW DOWN TO GET OUT AND WAS LAUGHING, SAID HIS FORD VAN SAME YEAR DOES NOT WORK ON PASSENGER SIDE. MET A MAN ALMOST 3 YRS AGO AT FORD DEALERSHIP WALKING WITH DOOR HANDLE IN HAND, SAME THING. I HAVE MET AT LEAST 6 OR 7 PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM IN THIS YEAR OF FORD TRUCK. IF YOU HAVE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE IN A HURRY OR THE POWER SYSTEM FAILS YOU ARE OUT OF LUCK FOR YOU ARE STUCK IN IT. I HAVE MET TO MANY PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED. VERY FRUSTRATED. I FOUND ON THE FORD POWERSTROKE FORUM THAT MANY OTHER PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM AND THEY SAY IT IS HANGING UP ON A PIECE OF METAL INSIDE. NOW I HAVE NO DOORS THAT OPEN FROM INSIDE.*AK

Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage › Tank Assembly
Filed Nov 22, 2002OH

AFTER FILLING FUEL TANK WITH GAS THE GAS WILL LEAK AROUND THE SEAM OF THE TANK. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THEIR WAS A LEAK IN THE FUEL TANK WHICH WAS CAUSED BY THE FRAME RUBBING AGAINST THE TANK. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS PART BUT IT FOR THE 1995 VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. TS

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed May 6, 2002MO

VEHICLE LUNGES FORWARD WITH THE FOOT APPLIED TO THE BRAKE. VEHICLE IDLES REAL ROUGH BEFORE ACCELERATING. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT, AND COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED BY THE DEALER.*AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Aug 31, 2001NJ

WHILE WAITING AT STOP LIGHT OR SIGN VEHICLE WOULD IDLE ROUGHLY. WOULD JERK FORWARD WITH FOOT ON BRAKE. SOMETIMES WOULD ALMOST STALL OUT WHEN AT A STOP. BEEN TO DEALER, AND NOTHING COULD BE FOUND. IT WAS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM.*AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Mar 7, 2001NJ

.ENGINE OIL PAN LEAKED ALL OVER DRIVEWAY. WARRANTY WAS UP IN JANUARY OF 2001. OIL PAN WAS RUSTED. *AK *SLC

Tires
Filed Feb 5, 2001TX

RADIAL R4S, LT 225/75R16, DOT VD1L1XD418338, REPLACEMENT TIRES, 1 BLOWOUT PASSENGER REAR AT 2000 MILES ON TIRE, 2 TREAD SEPARATION ON PASSENGER REAR TIRE. BEFORE 8000 MILES ON TIRES, AND AT ABOUT 65 MPH. *AK *SLC

Tires › Tread/Belt
Filed Dec 7, 2000AR

TWO FIRESTONE STEELTEX RADIAL R4S TIRES EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION, CONSUMER REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT. NLM

Tires › Tread/Belt
Filed Nov 30, 2000AL

THE ORIGINAL FIRESTONE STEELTEX R4S LT 225/75R16 E TIRES WERE REPLACED AT 20000 MILES DUE TO SIDEWALL AND TREAD CRACKS, THE REPLACEMENT TIRES WERE REPLACED AT 30451 MILES DUE TO TREAD SEPARATION, DEALER CREDITED THE CONSUMER FOR SOME OF THE TIRE EXPENSE. *MJS

Tires
Filed Oct 10, 2000CA

THE FIRST INCIDENT R-R TIRE BLEW OUT /REPLACED WITH SPARE TIRE. BOUGHT A NEW REPLACEMENT, AND ROTATED THE R-F TIRE TO THE R-R; STOWED THE (R-R) SPARE TIRE ; IN THE SECOND INCIDENT, THE R-R TIRE SEPARATED WHILE DRIVING ON I-10 FROM PHOENIX, AZ TO LA, CA (TIRESIZE: 225/75R16D)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 225/75R16D )

Tires › Tread/Belt
Filed Aug 9, 2000TX

DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED, THE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE AND COLLAPSED TUBING AND METAL WEATHER PROTECTION INSIDE THE TIRE WELL; THE TIRE REMAINED PRESSURIZED; I WAS GIVEN REMAINING TIRE CREDIT AT A FIRESONE TIRE DEALER.( DOT NUMBER: VNIL IKE TIRE SIZE: LT22575R16 )

Structure › Frame and MembersCrash1 injured
Filed Feb 21, 2000MD

IS THERE ANY RECOMMENDED PRINTED REPAIR FOR DAMAGED SECTIONS OF THE FRAME OF THIS VEHICLE. THERE IS A TEAR IN THE METAL OF THE COMPRESSED AREA OF THE ASORBING PART OF THE CRUMPLE ZONE OF THE FRAME. *AK

Power Train › Axle Assembly › Axle Shaft › Seal
Filed Jun 3, 1999NY

REAR AXLE SEAL IS LEAKING BRAKE FLUID, AND CAUSING BRAKES TO WEAR OUT FASTER. *AK

Wheels › Lugs/Nuts/Bolts/Studs
Filed Jun 1, 1999MI

THE RIGHT WHEEL BOLTS AND NUTS SHEARED OFF, CAUSING THE RIGHT WHEEL TO FALL, AND ALMOST CAUSED A CRASH. CURRENTLY, LEFT WHEEL BOLTS AND NUTS ALSO SHEARED OFF. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION AND VIN#. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Mar 26, 1999FL

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Pedals and LinkagesCrash
Filed Dec 19, 1997PA

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES IN A PANIC STOP, CONSUMER'S FOOT HIT THE BRAKE PEDAL AND ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAUSE THE BRAKE PEDAL AND ACCELERATOR PEDAL ARE TOO CLOSE TOGETHER, CAUSING THE VEHICLE NOT TO STOP, ONCE RESULTING IN A COLLISION. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System › Emission Control › Gas Recirculation Valve (egr Valve)
Filed Oct 27, 1997CA

EGR VALVE FAILED.

Power Train › Driveline › Driveshaft
Filed Feb 4, 1997NY

WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, VEHICLE EXPERIENCES VIBRATION IN DRIVESHAFT. *AK

20 of 20 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1999
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20230100Routine
20221000Routine
20172000Routine
20161000Routine
201471100Routine
2013111100Routine
201281210Routine
201161800Routine
201091310Routine
200921900Routine
200862200Routine
200762710Routine
2006123100Routine
2005111110Routine
200481800Routine
200317820Routine
200217520Routine
200118330Routine
200018520Routine
199931610Routine
199816500Routine
199724440Routine
1996 — this page20300Routine
199515311Fatalities reported
199411300Routine
19937310Routine
199214310Routine
19918100Routine
19904200Routine

Compare every E-250 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.