Owners have filed 14 complaints
about the 1994 Ford E-250 with NHTSA between 1995 and 2019.
The largest single group is the brakes.
Across this model's run it ranks 13 of 17 worst.
The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew
an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous
ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 35
Against the median year of the Ford E-250. 50 means typical for this
model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 74
14.3% of these complaints
involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of
9.7%.
Early failure — not reported
Too few complaints recorded a mileage to measure this.
Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 1994 Ford E-250
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Brakes
642.9%
Median failure at 105,025 miles
Other & Unspecified
17.1%
Doors, Latches & Locks
17.1%
Tires
17.1%
Steering
17.1%
Airbags
17.1%
1 crashes, 0 fires
Electrical System
17.1%
Transmission & Drivetrain
17.1%
Median failure at 75,000 miles
Engine & Cooling
17.1%
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Dec 1995peak 4Mar 2019
NHTSA investigations into the 1994 Ford E-250
An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough
complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks
something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.
EA95012Opened 31 Mar 1995Closed 28 May 1996POWER TRAIN
FAILURE OF SERPENTINE BELT
AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS CLOSING REPORT IS INCLUDED.
Complaints that involved harm
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
Cohasset, MACrash1 injured
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
HAD A FRONTAL IMPACT DUE TO FAILURE OF STEERING BOX, DRIVER'S AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY, OCCUPANT INJURED. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK
NHTSA complaint #832045 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
at 105,025 milesChapel Hill, NC
SERVICE BRAKES
REAR ABS MODULE FAILED. CAUSING OVER PRESSURIZATION OF FRONT BRAKES RESULTING IN PASSENGER SIDE BRAKE HOSE SEPARATION. SO NO REAR OR FRONT BRAKES! THANK GOD IT HAPPENED NEAR MY DRIVEWAY OTHERWISE PEOPLE COULD DIE. I HAD JUST REENTERED DRIVERS SEAT AND RELEASED PARKING BRAKE AND ENGAGED BRAKE PEDAL WITH 1 FOOT. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY POINTED IN A STRAIGHT LINE.
NHTSA complaint #11185736 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 75,000 milesGore, VA
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 FORD E250. THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS GEARS WHEN DRIVING BETWEEN 0-55 MPH. ALSO WHEN DRIVING UP- HILL OR DOWN- HILL, THE TRANSMISSION WILL SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FIVE TIMES FOR INSPECTION. THE TORQUE CONVERTER WAS REPLACED, AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT. NONE OF THE REPAIRS HAVE REMEDIED THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000 THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS OVER 300,000.
NHTSA complaint #10292269 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Annapolis, MD
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
ALB ARE A DANGER TO DRIVER IN WET ROADS WHEN YOU GO TO STOP AND SLIDE BRAKES COME OFF IT TAKES TO LONG TO COME BACK ON . WHEN YOU NEED TO STOP TO AVOID A ACCIDENT YOU CAN STOP FASTER WITH OUT THEM BY PUMPING BRAKES WHEN THEY COME OFF THERE IS NOTHING YOU CAN DO. WAIT TO HIT SOMEONE TILL BRAKE COME BACK. NOTHING SHOULD TAKE THE DRIVER AWAY FROM HIS CAR THEY WILL GET SOME ONE KILLED.
NHTSA complaint #10171867 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Greenville,, SC
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
OUR 1994 15 PASSENGER FORD VAN RIGHT SIDE VAN DOOR HAS THE STANDARD LOCK KNOB WHICH CAN BE PLAYED WITH BY OCCUPANT. IF THE KNOB IS SCREWED OFF , THE CONNECTING LOCKING MECHANISM WILL DROP INTO THE DOOR BEHIND THE INTERIOR PANEL. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, THE DOOR IS LOCKED AND CAN NOT BE UNLOCK WITH KEY, KNOB OR ELECTRIC OPENER. THE OCCUPANTS ONLY WAY OUT IS OVER THE FRONT SEAT OR OVER THE REAR SEATS AND OUT THE TAIL GATE DOOR. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE AND THE DOOR PANEL HAS TO BE REMOVED TO UNLOCK. VERY DANGEROUS AND IS NOT CHILD PROOF. *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10023300 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Long Beach, CA
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
THREE MICHELIN TIRES HAD TREAD SEPERATION, REPLACE ALL 4 TIRES, MILES LATER 1 BLEW AT 70MPH, THE TIRE WAS BADLY DAMANGED AND COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE. AGAIN AT 24,849 ANOTHER TIRE BLEW.
NHTSA complaint #9005158 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Virginia Beach, VA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
WHEN KEY IS IN IGNITION BUILT-IN INTERLOCK CAUSES VEHICLE NOT TO START. ACCOURDING TO MANUFACTURER'S CARD, WOULD NEED TO PRESS ON BRAKES/ SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL, AND PLAY OR JIGGLE KEY IN IGNITION TO GET VEHICLE STARTED. VEHICLE AT TIMES CAN STALL IN TRAFFIC, AND IS A SAFETY HAZARD. NOT AT DEALERSHIP.
NHTSA complaint #897207 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Winter Park, FL
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
RIGHT FRONT TIRE FAILED DAMAGED FENDER AND SIDE VIEW MIRROR (DOT NUMBER: W2CO1PX037 TIRESIZE: 255/70/R16)
NHTSA complaint #735813 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Cohasset, MACrash1 injured
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
HAD A FRONTAL IMPACT DUE TO FAILURE OF STEERING BOX, DRIVER'S AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY, OCCUPANT INJURED. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK
NHTSA complaint #832045 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Altamont, NY
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
OIL PAN HAS PREMATURELY RUSTED WITHIN 50,000 MILES, CAUSING OIL TO LEAK WHICH COULD RESULT IN FIRE. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #849192 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Gladwin, MI
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ABS BRAKE FAILURE OF THE FRONT DISC BRAKES, COMPLETE LOSS OF BRAKES DUE FAULTY CALIPERS, CAUSING THE ROTORS AND PADS TO WEAR PREMATURELY.
NHTSA complaint #810935 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Gladwin, MI
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
ABS BRAKE FAILURE OF THE FRONT DISC BRAKES, COMPLETE LOSS OF BRAKES DUE FAULTY CALIPERS, CAUSING THE ROTORS AND PADS TO WEAR PREMATURELY.
NHTSA complaint #810935 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Gladwin, MI
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER
ABS BRAKE FAILURE OF THE FRONT DISC BRAKES, COMPLETE LOSS OF BRAKES DUE FAULTY CALIPERS, CAUSING THE ROTORS AND PADS TO WEAR PREMATURELY.
NHTSA complaint #810935 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Gladwin, MI
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS
ABS BRAKE FAILURE OF THE FRONT DISC BRAKES, COMPLETE LOSS OF BRAKES DUE FAULTY CALIPERS, CAUSING THE ROTORS AND PADS TO WEAR PREMATURELY.
NHTSA complaint #810935 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Vidor, TX
STEERING:LINKAGES:KNUCKLE:SPINDLE:ARM
FRONT LEFT WHEEL FELL OFF, UPPER SPINDLE BOLT BROKE. TT
NHTSA complaint #976280 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.