2001 Ford E-350

Routine

Owners filed 52 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the engine and engine cooling. It has been recalled 4 times.

When it fails
020k40k60k90k120k200k

37 complaints record an odometer reading. Failures cluster around 75,00090,000 miles; the median is 89,000 miles.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Engine and Engine Cooling7
020
Power Train › Automatic Transmission4
000
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine4
000
Fuel System, Diesel3
000
Engine3
000
Tires2
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc › Rotor2
000
Seat Belts › Front › Buckle Assembly2
000
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline2
000
Electrical System2
010

4 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 Control07V336000
Filed Aug 3, 20073,600,000 vehiclesFord Motor Company

Defect. 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.

Risk. 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.

Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage › Tank Assembly01V114000
Filed Apr 5, 2001151,000 vehiclesFord Motor Company

Defect. 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.

Risk. 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.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Engine
Filed Sep 9, 2020119,000 milesCO

SPARK PLUG - I'M REALLY SHOCKED THIS HASN'T BEEN RECALLED! PURCHASED THIS 2001 FORD E-350 FROM THE ORIGINAL OWNER WHO WAS A MECHANIC AND KEPT ALL SERVICE RECORDS OF THIS VEHICLE. IT IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. HAD THE VAN SERVICED AND LOOKED OVER BEFORE TAKING IT ON A LONGER TRIP. AT 2 AM AND ONLY AFTER 5 HOURS OF DRIVING (ALL HIGHWAY) WE HEARD A LOUD BANG FOLLOWED BY EVEN LOUDER RUMBLING AND INTENSE GAS SMELL. THIS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING AND THE VAN WAS IN MOTION ON THE HIGHWAY. WE WERE ABLE TO EXIT THE HIGHWAY AND WAIT UNTIL THE MORNING. THE NEXT MORNING WE TOOK THE ENGINE APART AND FOUND THE SPARK PLUG COMPLETELY BLOWN OUT OF THE ENGINE. AFTER BUYING THE REPAIR KIT FROM THE PARTS STORE AND PUTTING IN A NEW SPARK PLUG WE WERE ABLE TO LIMP OUR WAY HOME. DUE TO THE FORCE CAUSED BY THE FIRST SPARK PLUG BEING SHOT OUT, THE ENGINE NOW SOUNDS LIKE SOME OTHER SPARK PLUGS ARE VERY LOOSE AND READY TO GO. NOT SURE THE TOTAL DAMAGE UNTIL IT CAN BE REPAIRED BY A MECHANIC.

Seat Belts
Filed May 9, 2018153,700 milesNM

THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT RANDOMLY COMES UNLATCHED. THIS HAS HAPPENED BEFORE THIS DATE AND HAPPENS MULTIPLE TIMES EACH TIME IT IS DRIVEN. IT DOES NOT MATTER IF THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION OR NOT. IT HAS HAPPENED SITTING STILL IN THE DRIVEWAY AND AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THIS IS A TRW 33012760 PART.

Engine
Filed Oct 18, 2016117,000 milesCA

MY 2001 FORD E350 SUPER DUTY VAN BLEW OUT A SPARK PLUG WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH AND COST ME $900 FOR DEALERSHIP TO REPAIR....WITH ONLY 117,000 MILES ON IT. FORD NEEDS TO DO A RECALL ON THIS. *TR

Engine
Filed Sep 13, 2015159,693 milesCT

SPARK PLUG WAS EJECTED FROM ENGINE. NO ADVANCED WARNING OR UNUSUAL SOUNDS OF ANY KIND. ENGINE HAD BEEN RUNNING PERFECTLY AND RELIABLY UP UNTIL THIS EVENT.

Structure › Body
Filed Sep 17, 201470,000 milesDE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD E-350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS EXCESSIVE CORROSION ON THE SUB FRAME, UNDER CARRIAGE AND THE TIE RODS. THE TECHNICIAN ADDED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ABLE TO BE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. UPDATED 10/31/14*LJ UPDATED 7/9/2015*JS

Fuel System, Gasoline
Filed Apr 28, 2012143,000 milesAZ

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STARTED RUNNING ROUGH/MISSING LOST ENGINE POWER. HAD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED HOME REPLACED THE FUEL FILTER AND PUMP. STILL HAD PROBLEMS. TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO FINALLY ADVISED FUEL TANK LAMINATE WAS FLAKING. FOUND 4 OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THIS SITE FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. ONLINE FOUND THAT THIS IS HAPPENING IN MULTIPLE YEARS/DIESEL TYPES FROM FORD. *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Dec 26, 2011148,028 milesOH

SPARK PLUG BLOW OUT OF 5.4L ENGINE CAUSING GAS FUMES IN PASSENGER AREA. *TR

Engine and Engine CoolingFire
Filed Sep 20, 2011CO

I PARKED MY F 350 DIESEL IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE FOR THE NIGHT. NEXT MORNING ,BEFORE 6 A.M., I WOKE TO THE NOISES OUTSIDE:CRACKING, POPPING, AND EXPLOSIONS. THE FRONT OF MY TRUCK WAS ON FIRE. IT WAS COMING AROUND ALL SIDES OF THE HOOD AND AROUND THE FRONT WHEEL AREA,ALSO THROUGH THE DASH AND STEERING AREA. I CALLED THE FIRE DEPT. AND STARTED PUTTING THE FIRE OUT USING THE GARDEN HOSE. FOUR MORE EXPLOSIONS HAPPENED,AND TWO FRONT TIRES EXPLODED AS WELL. I FOUGHT THE FLAMES UNTIL FIRE TRUCKS SET UP AND TOOK OVER. THEY PUT IT OUT JUST IN TIME TO SAVE $ 4,000 CASH AND AMMO INSIDE THE CAB. *TR

Fuel System, Other › Delivery › Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings
Filed Sep 15, 2011TX

2001 FORD E-250. CONSUMER STATES LEAK IN FILL HOSE *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE FILL HOSE HAD TO BE REPLACED TWICE, BECAUSE IT LEAKED WHEN RE-FUELING. *JB

Fuel System, Diesel
Filed Mar 3, 2011MS

2001 FORD F350. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ENGINE PROBLEMS *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED AS HE WAS DRIVING, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER. HE MANAGED TO GET TO THE EMERGENCY LANE AND HAD THE TRUCK TOWED TO THE DEALER. UPON INSPECTION, THE DEALER FOUND THE FUEL FILTER OVER THE DIESEL TANK WAS CLOGGED DUE TO RUST FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE TANK.

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Nov 12, 2010167,350 milesTN

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD E-350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THERE WAS A LOUD POPPING NOISE FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND NOTICED THAT A SPARK PLUG AND COIL PACK HAD COME OUT OF PLACE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY THE CONTACT. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AGAIN TWO WEEKS LATER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HIS GARAGE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THEY WOULD FILE A REPORT AND REPAIRED THE VEHICLE WITH A TEMPORARY FIX. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 167,350 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 167,422.

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Sep 16, 2010193,000 milesNC

SPARK PLUG BLOW OUT ON FORD ENGINE FOR THE THIRD TIME DIFFERENT PLUG EACH TIME AND ALSO HAS HAPPENED OVER THE INTERVAL OF 80,000 MILES. *TR

Engine and Engine CoolingFire
Filed Aug 25, 2010150,411 milesGA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2001 FORD E350. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED OUTSIDE OF THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE WHEN HE HEARD AN LOUD EXPLOSION. THE VEHICLE HAD CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED. ONCE THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT A HOLE HAD BEEN BURNED IN THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE, RIGHT ABOVE THE MASTER CYLINDER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE REMAINED OUTSIDE OF THE CONTACT'S HOME AND WAS NOT DRIVABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 150,411.

Electrical SystemFire
Filed Apr 13, 201055,000 milesWA

FORD E350 15 PASSENGER VAN SUFFERED PASSENGER CABIN FIRE...MAY BE RELATED TO CRUISE CONTROL RECALL. THE FIRE OCCURRED IN MY 2001 VAN IN MY DRIVEWAY WITH NO KEY IN THE IGNITION. *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Mar 15, 201079,500 milesNJ

WE HAVE A 2001 FORD E-350 VAN WITH LESS THAN 80,000 MILES. A SPARK PLUG HAS EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE, STRIPPING THE BLOCK. OF COURSE, GASOLINE SPEWS FROM THE OPEN CYLINDER, AND THE SPARK PLUG IS STILL SENDING OUT A SPARK. A VERY DANGEROUS DEFECT, ONE THAT I READ IS COMMONPLACE, FROM THE WEBSITE : HTTP://WWW.FORDPROBLEMS.COM/SPARK-PLUG-EJECTED-FROM-ENGINE.SHTML. *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Dec 29, 200914,000 milesNY

SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF TRITON V10 ENGINE ALMOST CAUSING A FIRE. TRUCK ONLY HAS 14,000 MILES ON IT. VERY COSTLY REPAIR AND COULD HAVE CAUSED A FIRE OR INJURIES. *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Nov 7, 2009149,000 milesGA

NORMAL USE .FORD E-350 5.4 2001.SUDDEN FAILURE OF RIGHT NO.2 CYLINDER .SPARKPLUG EJECTED. COIL-OVER DAMAGED.;REPAIR BY COIL INSERT. *TR

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip › Control Unit/Module
Filed Aug 2, 200983,000 milesCA

ABS MODULE SHORTING OUT BECAUSE OF BRAKE FLUID IN THE MODULE. I HEARD A LOUD POPPING NOISE JUST OUTSIDE MY HOME WHERE MY VAN IS PARKED, LESS THAN 2 FT. FROM THE HOUSE, AND WENT OUT TO INVESTIGATE. SMOKE WAS BILLOWING FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, SO I RAISED THE HOOD AND DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY. THE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE AREA OF THE ABS MODULE, SO I REMOVED IT AND THE COVER HAD BLOWN OFF, AND THE CIRCUIT BOARD INSIDE WAS FRIED. THIS IS A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD, AND YET I WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE A RECALL ABOUT THIS ISSUE. MY VAN IS A 2001 FORD E-350. THE VEHICLE WAS IDLE, AND HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN FOR ALMOST 2 DAYS (IT WAS THE WEEKEND), THE ENGINE WAS NOT RUNNING, THE KEYS WERE NOT IN THE IGNITION, AND THE VAN WAS LOCKED AT THE TIME OF THIS INCIDENT. *TR

Fuel System, Diesel
Filed Dec 3, 200892,000 milesOH

I HAVE A 2001 FORD E-350 VAN WITH A 7.3 LITRE DIESEL ENGINE. WE HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING ENGINE PROBLEMS AND UPON RETURNING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE WE PURCHASED IT, WE WERE INFORMED THAT THE FUEL TANK INTERIOR LINING HAS DEGRADED AND IS CLOGGING THE FUEL SYSTEM. ESTIMATES FOR THE REPAIR ARE IN THE RANGE OF $1500-1600. UPON INVESTIGATION ON THE INTERNET AND DURING A CONVERSATION WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER, WE HAVE LEARNED THAT THIS IS AN ON-GOING PROBLEM WITH FORD DIESEL EQUIPED VEHICLES. WE FEEL THIS IS A PRODUCT DEFECT AND SHOULD BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE MANUFACTURER TO CORRECT IT AT THEIR EXPENSE. *TR

Exterior Lighting
Filed Nov 5, 200880,000 milesAK

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD E350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE BRAKE LIGHTS IN THE REARVIEW MIRROR ILLUMINATE; HOWEVER, THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT WORK AT ALL. THE FAILURE HAS BEEN OCCURRING FOR A WEEK. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A CRASH COULD OCCUR DUE TO THE LIGHTS NOT ILLUMINATING. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 80,000.

20 of 52 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1997
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20270100Routine
20260100Routine
20252100Routine
20242100Routine
20232200Routine
202214300Routine
202122600Routine
20202000Routine
20193010Routine
20183400Routine
201713410Routine
20165300Routine
20157200Routine
2014171110Routine
201313900Routine
2012161210Routine
2011192000Routine
2010171800Routine
2009102720Routine
2008393200Routine
2007183510Routine
2006533920Routine
2005551620Routine
2004461111Fatalities reported
200346841Fatalities reported
200253510Routine
2001 — this page52430Routine
200059832Fatalities reported
199972932Fatalities reported
199863810Routine
199779562Fatalities reported
199650310Routine
199569331Fatalities reported
199451550Routine
199343340Routine
199241340Routine
199119120Routine
199023210Routine

Compare every E-350 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.