53 of the
1,311 complaints filed about the Ford E-150
are about the body and structure —
4% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 1994.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD E-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRAME EXPERIENCED SEVERE CORROSION. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE LOST STEERING ABILITY BECAUSE THE BOLTS CONNECTED TO THE GEAR BOX, WHICH WERE ALL CONNECTED TO THE FRAME, DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SAFELY MANEUVER THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LES STUMPF FORD (3030 W COLLEGE AVE, APPLETON, WI) WHERE THE FAILURE WAS CONFIRMED; HOWEVER, NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED BECAUSE THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 86,000.
NHTSA complaint #11115083 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DRIVING ON BESTBUY PARKING LOT, WENT OVER A SPEED BUMPER HEARD A LOUD CLUNK COMING FROM DRIVER SIDE FRONT TIRE. DROVE HOME, STOPPED VAN, GOT HELP, WHILE TURNING THE STEERING TO LEFT, LOUD METAL CLUNK FROM THAT DRIVER SIDE, HELPER ON FLOOR NOTICED THAT BOTTOM BOLT HOLDING POWER STEERING BOX IS GOING IN AND OUT, RUSTED ON FRONT AND BACK OF FRAME, THIS BOX SHOULD BE MOUNTED ON REINFORCED BRACKETS FRONT AND BACK OF FRAME THEN WELDED TO FRAME TO PROTECT OCCUPANTS FROM POSSIBLE SEPARATION OF BOX AND FRAME WITH CONSEQUENT LOSS OF CONTROL AND POSSIBLE ACCIDENT (COULD BE FATAL WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE). SO, WITH THE ENGINE ON, IN PARK, IF THE STEERING IS TURN TO THE LEFT, DRIVER WILL FEEL AND HEAR THE CLUNK.
NHTSA complaint #10933940 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I OPENED THE SUN/MOON ROOF AND IT WOULD NOT CLOSE AND AFTER A COUPLE OF ATTEMPTS IT STUCK IN THE FULL OPEN POSITION. THE FORD DEALER SAID THAT TWO PINS OR BRACKETS OR CLIPS HAD BROKEN OFF THE TRACK MECHANISM THAT THE SUN/MOON ROOF SLIDES WHEN OPENING OR CLOSING. THE VEHICLE WAS MOVING WHEN IT FAILED AND REMAINED IN THE OPEN POSITION. NUMEROUS REPAIR SHOPS IN THE AREA HAVE TOLD ME THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON F-150 SUN/MOON ROOFS DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE TWO PLASTIC PINS THAT BECOME BRITTLE AND BREAK OFF RESULTING IN THE SUNROOF FAILING. IT IS MY BELIEF THAT THIS IS AN OCCUPANT SAFETY ISSUE DUE TO THE SUDDEN EXPOSURE TO OUTSIDE ELEMENTS WITHOUT THE ABILITY TO CLOSE THE SUNROOF. THE FORD DEALERS REPAIR COST WAS NEARLY $2000 FOR A REPLACEMENT OF THE SUNROOF.
NHTSA complaint #10927074 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FORD DOOR LATCH RECALLS - OUR FORD F150 ECO BOOST (YEAR 2011) HAS A DOOR LATCH PAWL SPRING THAT IS DEFECTED. ONE OF MY KIDS RECENTLY WAS INJURED WHEN THE SPRING BROKE ON THEM WHEN TRYING TO SHUT THE DOOR CLOSE ON THE GAS STATION (VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY BUT TURNED ON) WHEN THE LIGHT CAME ON INDICATING PASSENGER FRONT DOOR WAS OPEN, SHE WAS HAVING TROUBLE OPENING THE DOOR TO HAVE IT SHUT, WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE SPRING BROKE CAUSING DOOR HANDLE TO CRACK AND BREAK ON HER. SHE WAS CUT BY THE DOOR HANDLE UPON THE IMPACT OF THE SPRING RELEASING.
NHTSA complaint #10907414 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY 11 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS ATTEMPTING TO CLOSE THE TAILGATE AND DIDN'T SEE THERE WAS SOMETHING LODGED IN THE CREVICE. THE TAILGATE POPPED OFF AND FELL ON HER KNEE. SHE IS IN EXCRUCIATING PAIN. WE ARE AT THE ER. THIS IS NOT SAFE. THERE HAS TO BE A BETTER SAFER WAY TO ATTACH THE GATE. I HAVE OWNED 3 F150S AND HAVE NEVER HAD THIS ISSUE. THANK GOD MY 6 YEAR OLD WAS OUT OF THE VECINITY. THIS COULD HAVE EASILY INJURED OR KILLED HIM AS WELL.
NHTSA complaint #10730232 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ON JUNE 10, 2014 I LEFT MY OFFICE AND TRAVELED ACROSS THE PARKING DRIVEWAY AT ABOUT 7 MPH, A DISTANCE OF ABOUT 150 FEET WHERE I ATTEMPTED TO STOP(USING MY RIGHT FOOT ON THE BRAKE) BEFORE MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN ONTO A BUSY FAST MOVING STREET. AT THIS POINT MY FOOT HIT THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR AT THE SAME TIME (THEY ARE EXTREMELY CLOSE) CAUSING ME TO SUDDENLY LURCH FORWARD TOWARD THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC COMING FROM MY LEFT. FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO QUICKLY USE MY LEFT FOOT TO POWER BRAKE AND SAFELY STOP MY VEHICLE. THIS WAS THE THIRD TIME IN 250 MILES OF CITY DRIVING MY NEW VEHICLE THAT THIS HAD HAPPENED, BUT THE FIRST TIME I RECORDED THE TIME AND DATE OF THE INCIDENT, REALIZING THERE WAS A DESIGN ISSUE. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM, I CAN SEE MANY REAR END ACCIDENTS BEING CAUSED BY THIS DESIGN. SINCE I STILL OWN A 2004 FORD E150 VAN, SIDE BY SIDE MEASUREMENT COMPARISONS WERE EASILY MADE AND I THINK I CAN SEE WHAT HAS HAPPENED. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL HAS BEEN RAISED ABOUT AN INCH AND A QUARTER HIGHER THAN MY 2004 VAN AND IS APPROXIMATELY ONE QUARTER INCH CLOSER TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. IN ADDITION BECAUSE OF THE LARGE ENGINE COWLING, THE BRAKE PEDAL IS LOCATED MOSTLY TO THE LEFT OF CENTER OF THE CENTER LINE OF THE STEERING WHEEL WHICH FORCES THE DRIVER TO EFFECTIVELY CROSS OVER AWKWARDLY TO HIT THE CENTER OF THE BRAKE PEDAL. THIS IS A VERY UNNATURAL MOTION NOT REQUIRED ON ANY VEHICLES THAT I LOOKED AT BEFORE CONTACTING YOU. IF THE BRAKE PEDAL IS PUSHED DOWN EVEN SLIGHTLY FROM THE RIGHT HAND SIDE/EDGE OF THE BRAKE PEDAL (NORMAL HABIT BY MOST DRIVERS REVIEWING WEAR PATTERNS ON BRAKE PEDALS OF MANY VEHICLES AT MY OFFICE COMPLEX) THE BOTTOM OF A MAN'S RIGHT SHOE WILL ALMOST ALWAYS BE SOMEWHAT OVER THE ACCELERATOR, AND THE POTENTIAL FOR DUAL/SIMULTANEOUS BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR PUSHING IS CREATED.
NHTSA complaint #10598091 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DRIVING HOME FROM SHOPPING I BACKED OUT OF A PARKING SPACE AND HEARD A LOUD POPPING SOUND UPON INSPECTION THE 2 MOUNTING BOLTS HOLDING THE GEARBOX TO THE FRAME RAIL HAD SHEARED OFF AND THE 3RD ONE HAD RIPPED THROUGH THE FRAME RAIL COMPLETELY AND DROPPED THE GEARBOX HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED HOME UPON FURTHER INSPECTION THERE ARE STRESS CRACKS AROUND THE MOUNTING HOLES FOR THE GEARBOX BOLTS.
NHTSA complaint #10502038 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
HOPE THIS ISN'T A DUP; I STARTED A REPORT YESTERDAY, BUT DON'T THINK I COMPLETED IT. ASKED TO DO SOME WORK ON MY 1994 CLUB WAGON (167K MI), AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOUND A CRACK ON THE LOWER SIDE OF THE FRAME, BENEATH THE STEERING BOX. HE WOULDN'T DO THE WORK. SUBSEQUENTLY A BODY SHOP FOUND THERE WERE ACTUALLY TWO CRACKS, ONE ON THE INBOARD SIDE OF THE FRAME, RADIATING FROM THE STEERING BOX MOUNTING HOLE, TRAVELING BACK AND DOWN, AROUND THE LOWER CORNER OF THE FRAME, THEN FORWARD ABOUT 3" ON THE LOWER FACE OF THE FRAME ,ALONG THE EDGE. THE LAST 2" OF THE CRACK WERE OPEN, WITH ABOUT A 2MM GAP. THE CRACK ON THE OPPOSITE FACE TRAVELED IN AN ARC OF PERHAPS 60 DEGREES CENTERED ON THE MOUNTING BOLT HOLE, ABOUT 2" FROM THE CENTER, THEN DIAGONALLY DOWN TO THE LOWER EDGE, THEN BACK A COUPLE OF INCHES ALONG THAT LOWER EDGE. BOTH LOOK LIKE FATIGUE DUE TO SB TORQUE ON THE FRAME. FORD WON'T FIX THE PROBLEM, PROVIDE A METHOD TO FIX IT, OR COMMENT ON THE POSSIBILITY OF FIXING IT. THE CORPORATE CONSUMER HELP PHONE LINE SAID I SHOULD BUY A SHOP MANUAL AND READ IT TO DETERMINE IF THERE IS A WAY TO FIX IT. THE LOCAL FORD DEALER RECOMMENDED A BODY SHOP. THAT SHOP OFFERED TO WELD PATCHES OVER THE CRACKS. AFTER READING SIMILAR STORIES, THAT SOUNDS LIKE A PROFOUNDLY BAD IDEA. A SEARCH THIS (NHTSB) SITE FOR SIMILAR PROBLEMS CLAIMS 15 TOTAL PROBLEMS WITH THIS MODEL AND YEAR. HOWEVER, ANOTHER SITE (HTTP://HARRIGILL.NET/FORDVAN/INDEX.HTML) LISTS 39 FOR THE SAME MODEL AND YEAR, COPIED FROM THE NHTSA IN 2007 - AND YET MORE FROM 1993. WHERE ARE THE OTHERS? AND WHAT OF THE PROBLEM WITH THE SAME FRAME IN OTHER YEARS? WHAT IS THE TOTAL NUMBER OF REPORTED PROBLEMS FOR THIS DESIGN, SUMMED OVER ALL YEARS? IT SEEMS TO ME THE NHTSA AND FORD SHOULD HAVE WARNED OWNERS OF THIS PROBLEM. PERHAPS YOU HAVEN'T NOTICED BECAUSE FRAME NOT IN YOUR LIST OF PARTS?
NHTSA complaint #10500077 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
RENZENBERGER, INC VAN NUMBER 4451 HAS HAD THESE PROBLEMS FOR AT LEAST ONE MONTH. MY COWORKERS SUPERVISOR AND I HAVE COMPLAINED MULTIPLE TIMES TO OUR SUPERVISOR BUT HE SAID TO JUST DEAL WITH IT BECAUSE HE HAS NO OTHER VANS AVAILABLE. TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT, THIS VAN IS A ROLLING SAFETY HAZARD.
NHTSA complaint #10438204 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
(DEFECTIVE LOCK/HANDLE) THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED WHEN THE DOOR WAS IN A LOCK POSITION AND A PASSENGER TRIED TO OPEN THE DOOR. SOMETHING SNAPPED. THEN THE DOOR WAS UNABLE TO OPEN EVEN AFTER THE DOOR IS UNLOCKED. AFTER MY FRIEND DID ME A FAVOR TO FIX IT, THE SAME THING HAPPENED ON THE PASSENGER DOOR. THE DOOR WAS LOCKED THEN MY COWORKER TRIED TO OPEN THE DOOR BEFORE I UNLOCKED IT FROM THE CAR ALARM, THEN A COMPONENT ON THE HANDLE SNAPPED. SO NOW I HAVE TO OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE BACK OR SIDE DOOR.
NHTSA complaint #10416585 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
(DEFECTIVE LOCK/HANDLE) THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED WHEN THE DOOR WAS IN A LOCK POSITION AND A PASSENGER TRIED TO OPEN THE DOOR. SOMETHING SNAPPED. THEN THE DOOR WAS UNABLE TO OPEN EVEN AFTER THE DOOR IS UNLOCKED. AFTER MY FRIEND DID ME A FAVOR TO FIX IT, THE SAME THING HAPPENED ON THE PASSENGER DOOR. THE DOOR WAS LOCKED THEN MY COWORKER TRIED TO OPEN THE DOOR BEFORE I UNLOCKED IT FROM THE CAR ALARM, THEN A COMPONENT ON THE HANDLE SNAPPED. SO NOW I HAVE TO OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE BACK OR SIDE DOOR.
NHTSA complaint #10416585 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD E150. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 70 MPH WHEN THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR OPENED INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 154,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 156,000. UPDATED 8/30/11 *CN UPDATED 09/26/11
NHTSA complaint #10412388 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I PURCHASED THIS 1994 FORD E-150 CLUBWAGON FROM A PRIVATE OWNER IN 08/2008, IT WAS AND STILL IS IN BETTER THAN GOOD CONDITION. IT HAD A RECALL TO REPLACE A FUSED JUMPER HARNESS WHICH WAS DONE IN 12/2008. IN EARLY SPRING OF 2009, I JUST BOUGHT A NEW SET OF TIRES AND GOT A FRONT END ALIGNMENT, ABOUT TWO WEEKS LATER, I WAS TRAVELING AT ABOUT 45 MILES AN HOUR ON A BUSY FOUR LANE STREET, WHEN I HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD AND MY VAN BEGAN TO SHAKE VERY VIOLENTLY. AT THE SAME TIME I WAS PASSING A REPAIR SHOP, I GOT THE VAN UNDER CONTROL AND PULL IN. BEING A CERTIFIED MECHANIC MYSELF I BEGAN TO EXAMINE THE STEERING LINKAGE, EVERYTHING SEEMED FINE, WHEN THE SHOP MECHANIC NOTICED THAT THE LOWER STEERING GEARBOX BOLT HAD WENT THROUGH THE FRAME AND HAD BROKE AT THE THREADS. AFTER PUTTING IT IN THE SHOP A FEW TIMES, WITH SHORT TERM SUCCESS, THAT PARTICULAR AREA OF THE FRAME CONTINUED TO HAVE PROBLEMS. WHAT STARTED OUT AS A SMALL HOLE, AFTER A FEW ATTEMPTS AT THE SHOP, HAS NOW BECOME LARGER. I CHECKED WITH THE LOCAL FORD DEALER ABOUT A RECALL, THERE WAS NONE. I'VE WORKED AS A MECHANIC FOR MANY YEARS, AND HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS HAPPEN BEFORE, I HAVE A FEW THEORIES ON THE SUBJECT, POSSIBLY AN OVER TORQUED GEARBOX AND/OR A VERY WEAK FRAME. BUT NEVERTHELESS FORD SHOULD RECALL THESE VEHICLES AND MAKE THE NECESSARY REPAIRS BEFORE SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY INJURED OR BECOMES A FATALITY. BECAUSE THIS DEFECT COULD HAPPEN AT ANY GIVEN TIME AND WITHOUT WARNING.
NHTSA complaint #10410141 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DRIVING DOWN THE I94 FREEWAY IN MICHIGAN WITH MY WIFE, 2 CHILDREN, 7 AND 5,GOING ABOUT 70 MPH AND HEARD A NOISE LIKE A MUFFLER DRAGGING OR SOMETHING. IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER AND FOUND MY GAS TANK DRAGGING UNDER THE TRUCK. FRONT STRAP RUSTED AND BROKE OFF AND TANK WAS BEING PUSHED FORWARD, ALMOST GRINDING ALL THE WAY THROUGH! THE TANK WAS BEING HELD UP BY THE PLASTIC REAR STRAP HOLDER AND THE GAS FILLER TUBE. THE BACK STRAP WAS ALSO RUSTED THROUGH! HAD TO JACK UP THE TANK WITH BOTTLE JACK AND PIECES OF 2X4 FOUND ALONG THE FREEWAY. WAITED FOR FATHER IN LAW TO BRING RATCHET STRAPS TO LIFT UP VERY HEAVY FULL TANK WHILE LYING ON MY BACK ON THE FREEWAY. MY FAMILY WAS TERRIFIED!
NHTSA complaint #10357355 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
1999, FORD F-150 GAS STRAP FAILURE. TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 14, 2010 WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 94 I COULD HEAR A CLINKING NOISE BENEATH THE BODY OF THE TRUCK. WHEN I PULLED OVER AND LOOKED UNDER THE TRUCK, ONE OF THE SUPPORT STRAPS FOR THE GAS TANK WAS BROKEN AND HANGING BELOW THE VEHICLE. THIS STRAP FAILED WITHOUT ANY KNOWN EXTRAORDINARY CAUSE SUCH AS A COLLISION, OR ANY OTHER SUCH INCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #10355700 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD E-150. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR HAD SUDDENLY OPENED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE DOOR HINGES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 130000.
NHTSA complaint #10342014 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
06-03-2007 RIGHT DOOR HANDLE (OUTSIDE PART) BROKE AND I COULD NOT GET INTO MY VAN. NO ABUSE ON MY PART. I HAD THE DOOR HANDLE REPLACED BY FORD DEALERSHIP AT MY EXPENSE ($125.00). 03-03-2008 LEFT DOOR HANDLE (OUTSIDE PART) BROKE WHEN I PULLED THE HANDLE. I NOW HAVE TO GET INTO MY VAN BY THE PASSENGER SIDE, AND CRAWL OVER TO THE DRIVERS SIDE. THIS IS AWFUL SINCE I HAD ADVANCED COPD BREATHING PROBLEMS. I HAD TO ORDER THE PART TODAY, AND HOPE FOR THE BEST TO GET IT INSTALLED, AGAIN AT MY EXPENSE. THE HANDLES SHOULD NOT BROKE ON A 1998 VEHICLE SO SOON. I HAVE READ ALL COMPLAINTS FOR 1998 FORD E150 VANS, I HAVE A SHERROD CONVERSION VAN. 04-10-2009 BACK A/C & HEAT DOES NOT BLOW COLD OR HEAT FROM BACK UNIT. THE FAN PART IS THE ONLY PART THAT WORKS IN THE BACK UNIT. IS THERE A RECALL ON THIS. 01-20-2002 THE FRONT A/C & HEAT DISTRIBUTION ASSEMBLY HAD TO BE REPLACED WHEN IT STOPPED WORKING COMPLETELY. DEALERSHIP TOLD ME SHERROD IS OUT OF BUSINESS AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO BRING IT IN FOR A DIAGNOSTIC CHECK, AND REPLACEMENT AT MY EXPENSE. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THESE PROBLEMS, AND HELP ME OUT. THANK YOU.
NHTSA complaint #10297724 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #10293069 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.