THE DEFECTIVE ALTERNATOR BEARINGS LOCKED UP, CAUSING THE ALTERNATOR TO CATCH ON FIRE. THE VEHICLE IS AT THE DEALER AT THE MOMENT. *AK
1996 Ford F-350 complaints
Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 1996 record →
FRONT END STABILIZER BAR BENT, CAUSING VIBRATION.
FRONT BUMPER REPLACED DUE TO POOR METAL FINISHING
EMERGENCY BRAKE CABLE LINKAGE FAILED.
TIRES FAILED. (BFG MUD AND SNOW - SIZE 35 X 1250-16)
FRONT WHEEL LOCKING HUBS MALFUNCTIONED TWICE. *AK
VEHICLE VEHICLE VIBRATES WHEN RUNNING ACROSS BUMPS IN THE ROADWAY, WONT'T STOP UNTIL ENGINE IS TURNED OFF.
AXEL SEALS FAILED.
HOOD BECAME UNLATCHED, HOOD FLEW OPEN WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, ACCORDING TO DEALER HOOD NEEDS REPLACING, AT OWNERS COST. *AK CONSUMER STATED HOOD FAILED TO LATCH PROPERLY, ALSO CATCH DID NOT WORK.*JB
FAULTY SUSPENSION, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO PULL VERY HARD TO THE LEFT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. *AK
WHILE DRIVING DOWN ON THE HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, BOTH RIGHT/LEFT WHEELS FELL OFF. DUE TO BOTH RIMS AND 10 LUGS COMING OFF. DEALER REPLACED LUGS AND NUTS. *AK
THE FRONT END IS MISALIGNED, CAUSING EXCESSIVE WEAR OF THE FRONT TIRES. PLEASE INCLUDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
MOTORHOME ELDORADO 29 1/2 FT. 12000 GVW, ABS FAILURE: PEDAL GOES TO WITHIN AN INCH OF FLOOR, CAN'T PUMP BRAKE, BRAKE ACTION SEEMS INADEQUATE IN STOPPING ON DRY PAVEMENT OR GRAVEL, ONLY REAR WHEELS STOP VEHICLE, NOT ENOUGH BRAKE PRESSURE DURING PANIC STOP. *AK
WHILE DRIVING,THE STEERING WHEEL AND COLUMN MOVES UP AND DOWN ABOUT 2 INCHES. REPLACED TIE ROD. *AK
POOR ABS BRAKE PERFORMANCE, THE ABS LIGHT STAYS ON AT ALL TIMES. THE WHEELS LOCK UP AND EXTENDED STOPPING IS EXPERIENCED. *AK
STEERING FAILURE, WHEN MAKING A TURN TO LEFT OR RIGNT VEHICLE MAKES A LOUD BANGING NOISE. *AK
UNDER THE HOOD FIRE, ELECTRICAL SHORT, FAULTY WIRING HARNESS OVERHEATED, WILL PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. *AK
THE LEFT REAR WHEEL LOCKS UP IN A NORMAL BRAKING SITUATION. THE DEALER HAS WORKED ON THIS (7) TIMES. THE SYSTEM HAS ABS. *AK
WHILE DRIVING, GOING DOWN GRADE, TOWING A TRAILER, DRIVER'S FRONT BRAKES CAUGHT FIRE DUE TO BRAKE CALIPER PISTON FAILURE, EXPERIENCED SPONGEY, TRAVEL TO FLOOR AND NO BRAKES, HIT ELK, DLR CAN'T CORRECT. *AK
ANTILOCK BRAKES FAILED, CAUSING LEFT REAR BRAKE TO LOCK UP.
FAILURE ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND COLUMN, WHEN DRIVING THE CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. *AK
OWNER PARKED VEHICLE ON SLIGHT INCLINE, SHIFTED TO PARK, SHUT OFF IGNITION AND LEFT VEHICLE, EMERGENCY BRAKES NOT ENGAGED, MOMENTS LATER VEHICLE ROLLED ABOUT 150 FT, CRASHED INTO POLE, VEHICLE WA SSTILL IN PARK WHEN POLICE ARRIVED. *AK
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED, CAUSING ACCIDENT.
WARPING OF REAR BRAKE DRUMS, APPEAR TO BE OUT OF ROUND.*AK
VEHICLE THAT WAS PARKED IN 3RD GEAR WITH EMERGENCY BRAKE ON ROLLED AWAY, HIT NEIGHBOR'S GARAGE THAN STOOD AT A STAND STILL.*AK
ABS: WHILE COMING TO INTERSECTION, PUMPED BRAKES, REARENDED/ LOCKED UP , CAUSED ACCIDENT, VEHICLE HIT PASSENAGER'S SIDE OF ANOTHER VEHICLE.*AK
ABS: PUMPED BRAKES WHILE COMING TO STOP, REARENDED/LOCKED UP, PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED SIX TIMES SINCE PURCHASE, REPAIRED 2 TIMES, NO ACCIDENT.*AK
WHILE TRAVELING NORMAL HIGHWAY SPEEDS, DUAL WHEEL BRAKES OVERHEAT, CAUSING REAR WHEELS TO DRAG, BRAKES FADE WHEN HOT, DRIVER HAS HAD TO PUT VEHICLE IN REVERSE AND BACK TO RELEASE BRAKES, DRUMS AND SHOES HAVE BEEN REPLACED 2 TIMES, VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN SHOP FIVE TIMES, THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. *SLC
WHEN DRIVING AND TAPPING THE ACCELERATOR THERE IS A NOISE IN THE FRONT END . PLEASE DESCRIBE .*AK
VEHICLE VIBRATES WHEN APPLYING BRAKES, DRIVER ALMOST LOST VEHICLE CONTROL. *AK
Reading these
NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Full record for the 1996 Ford F-350 → · Every F-350 year → · How the figures are calculated →