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.
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 — 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.
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
625.0%
Brakes
416.7%
1 crashes, 0 fires · median 151,000 mi
Engine & Cooling
416.7%
Transmission & Drivetrain
312.5%
Median failure at 76,000 miles
Fuel & Propulsion
28.3%
Median failure at 89,000 miles
Acceleration & Cruise Control
28.3%
1 crashes, 0 fires
Doors, Latches & Locks
14.2%
Median failure at 100,000 miles
Wheels
14.2%
Body & Structure
14.2%
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
250.0%
100,000 – 149,999 miles
125.0%
150,000+ miles
125.0%
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 1997peak 3Sep 2008
Complaints that involved harm
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
Silver Spring, MDCrash1 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, PACrash
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, PACrash
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 milesChandler, 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 milesTucson, 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 milesMorrison, 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 milesHamilton, 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.
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, MDCrash1 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, PACrash
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, PACrash
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.