FaultScore

FaultScore report

1996 Ford E-250 problems

Owners have filed 24 complaints about the 1996 Ford E-250 with NHTSA between 1997 and 2008. The largest single group is the tires. Across this model's run it ranks 3 of 17 worst.

D

FaultScore 70/100

Higher is worse. Measured against the other years of the Ford E-250.

How this is worked out

The numbers

24

Complaints

3

Crashes reported

0

Fires reported

1

Injuries reported

What kind of bad

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.

Complaint volume 60 vs 50 Severity 86 vs 50 Early failure not reported
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 60
Against the median year of the Ford E-250. 50 means typical for this model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 86
16.7% 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.

How 1996 compares with every other Ford E-250

Click any bar to open that year's report.

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded

What breaks on a 1996 Ford E-250

Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.

Tires 6 25.0%
Brakes 4 16.7%

1 crashes, 0 fires · median 151,000 mi

Engine & Cooling 4 16.7%
Transmission & Drivetrain 3 12.5%

Median failure at 76,000 miles

Fuel & Propulsion 2 8.3%

Median failure at 89,000 miles

Acceleration & Cruise Control 2 8.3%

1 crashes, 0 fires

Doors, Latches & Locks 1 4.2%

Median failure at 100,000 miles

Wheels 1 4.2%
Body & Structure 1 4.2%

1 crashes, 0 fires

When it fails

Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all complaints include one.

75,000 – 99,999 miles 2 50.0%
100,000 – 149,999 miles 1 25.0%
150,000+ miles 1 25.0%

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.

Feb 1997 peak 3 Sep 2008

Complaints that involved harm

Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.

Silver Spring, MD Crash 1 injured

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

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.

NHTSA complaint #719028 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Ford City, PA Crash

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES

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.

NHTSA complaint #819146 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Ford City, PA Crash

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

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.

NHTSA complaint #819146 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

The most recent complaints

In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.

at 76,000 miles Chandler, AZ

POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY:PEDAL/HAND LEVER(MOTORCYCLE)

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.

NHTSA complaint #10243923 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 151,000 miles Tucson, AZ

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

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.

NHTSA complaint #10232234 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 89,000 miles Morrison, CO

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

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.

NHTSA complaint #10066114 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 100,000 miles Hamilton, MT

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH

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.

NHTSA complaint #10062789 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Hamilton, OH

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

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

NHTSA complaint #8023163 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Grain Valley, MO

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

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.

NHTSA complaint #8009232 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Jackson, NJ

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

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.

NHTSA complaint #895637 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Woodbridge, NJ

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

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

NHTSA complaint #882416 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Conroe, TX

TIRES

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

NHTSA complaint #879801 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

HOT Springs, AR

TIRES:TREAD/BELT

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

NHTSA complaint #558328 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

HOT Springs, AR

TIRES:TREAD/BELT

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

NHTSA complaint #558328 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Laceys SPR, AL

TIRES:TREAD/BELT

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

NHTSA complaint #557723 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Pleasanton, CA

TIRES

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 )

NHTSA complaint #733964 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Beaumont, TX

TIRES:TREAD/BELT

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 )

NHTSA complaint #727298 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Silver Spring, MD Crash 1 injured

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

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.

NHTSA complaint #719028 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Centerbach, NY

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS

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

NHTSA complaint #838840 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Centerbach, NY

POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT:SEAL

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

NHTSA complaint #838840 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Troy, MI

WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS

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#.

NHTSA complaint #838648 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Sunrise, FL

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #704948 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Santa Barb, CA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE (EGR VALVE)

EGR VALVE FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #605568 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Santa Barb, CA

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS

REAR BRAKES FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #605568 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Ford City, PA Crash

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES

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.

NHTSA complaint #819146 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Ford City, PA Crash

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

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.

NHTSA complaint #819146 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

DIX Hills, NY

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT

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

NHTSA complaint #806231 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.