FaultScore

Ford E-250 engine problems

63 of the 421 complaints filed about the Ford E-250 are about the engine — 15% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 1999.

63

Complaints

15%

Share of all complaints

1

Crashes

6

Fires

Engine & Cooling complaints by model year

1992 E-250 5 7.9%
1993 E-250 2 3.2%

Median failure at 162,792 miles

1994 E-250 1 1.6%
1996 E-250 4 6.3%
1997 E-250 6 9.5%

Median failure at 98,500 miles

1998 E-250 4 6.3%

Median failure at 92,300 miles

1999 E-250 11 17.5%

Median failure at 88,775 miles

2000 E-250 2 3.2%

Median failure at 45,200 miles

2001 E-250 11 17.5%

Median failure at 111,669 miles

2002 E-250 2 3.2%

Median failure at 84,357 miles

2005 E-250 1 1.6%

Median failure at 187,000 miles

2006 E-250 1 1.6%

Median failure at 5,600 miles

2007 E-250 1 1.6%

Median failure at 23,000 miles

2008 E-250 2 3.2%

Median failure at 119,200 miles

2009 E-250 1 1.6%

Median failure at 95,484 miles

2010 E-250 1 1.6%

Median failure at 95,000 miles

2011 E-250 2 3.2%

Median failure at 35,303 miles

2012 E-250 2 3.2%

Median failure at 53,000 miles

2013 E-250 1 1.6%
2014 E-250 3 4.8%

Median failure at 123,500 miles

What owners said

2009 Ford E-250 at 95,484 miles Sacramento, CA

ENGINE

The contact owns a 2009 Ford E-250. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be serviced and was informed that the catalytic converters and an unknown sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 95,484.

NHTSA complaint #11513410 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2013 Ford E-250 Havre De Grace, MD

ENGINE

The vehicle Blew a spark plug while driving. It took place right as I attempted to accelerate up to highway speed of 50 MPH. When I had it checked the mechanic said the number 3 plug was blown out and I had a busted injector. Vehicle mileage is 164k. The repair was over $1100.00 with none being covered under my full coverage insurance policy. I need to let others know what to expect from their Ford vehicle... Found out that this is a frequent problem with Ford Engines 5.4 Liter V-8..

NHTSA complaint #11507184 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2008 Ford E-250 at 162,400 miles Brewerton, NY

ENGINE

THANKFULLY I WAS DRIVING SLOWLY BETWEEN CURVES ON A STRETCH OF ROADWAY WITH A 30MPH SPEED LIMIT (ONE LANE EACH DIRECTION) WHEN I 'BLEW A SPARK PLUG'. THE COIL WAS ALSO DAMAGED I WAS TOLD. I WAS ALSO TOLD THERE'S NO GUARANTEE THAT IT WOULD NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN, AND I HAVE 7 OTHER SPARK PLUGS AND COILS IN THE ENGINE, SO EXPECT IT. ALLEGEDLY 3 WERE REPLACED JUST BEFORE WE BOUGHT THIS USED IN 2016. I TRIED TO GET RECEIPTS FOR VEHICLE MAINTENANCE RECORDS, BUT THE SHOP REFUSED AND THE PRIVATE OWNER HAD MOVED AND THROWN HER PAPERWORK AWAY. THIS WAS IN MASSACHUSETTS. I HAD NO WARNING, THAT I KNOW OF. SUDDENLY THERE WAS A LOUD BANG AND A REPEATED BANG, BANG, BANG! I PULLED OVER IMMEDIATELY. (THANKFULLY IT WASN'T A 3 OR MORE LANE HIGHWAY WITH MY MOTHER IN HER WHEELCHAIR!) THE BANGING ONLY STOPPED WHEN THE ENGINE WAS OFF. I WAS UNABLE TO LOOK AT THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WITH THE VAN ON BECAUSE I WAS AFRAID OF MORE DAMAGE! IT WAS PUT ON A FLATBED AND TOWED BY AAA, TO A SHOP A FEW MILES AWAY. UNFORTUNATELY, THIS SHOP COULDN'T GET IT INSIDE TO WORK ON. A FRIEND OF MINE DID THE REPAIR IN THE PARKING LOT. ***APPARENTLY THIS IS A VERY FREQUENT PROBLEM WITH THESE FORD E250 ENGINES. THERE IS A LOT OF PEOPLE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAD NO IDEA! IT COULD BE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS ON A MULTI LANE HIGHWAY, TRAVELING AT HIGH SPEEDS, GOING UP AND DOWN THE MOUNTAINS (I TRAVEL BETWEEN NYS & MASSACHUSETTS), IN SUBZERO TEMPERATURES ESPECIALLY WITH SOMEONE IN A WHEELCHAIR ONBOARD!*** I HAVE NO RECEIPTS. AAA OF CENTRAL NY SHOULD HAVE A RECORD OF THE TOW.

NHTSA complaint #11387290 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2014 Ford E-250 at 200,000 miles Standford, CT

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD E-250. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE REPAIR WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A RECALL OR WARRANTY. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.

NHTSA complaint #11320508 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2014 Ford E-250 at 73,660 miles Shapleigh, ME

ENGINE

ON NOVEMBER 27, 2019 I WAS DRIVING BACK TO MY OFFICE AFTER COMPLETION OF A CHIMNEY JOB WHEN MY MOTOR WENT WITH ONLY 73,660. I THEN HAD TO HAVE MY VEHICLE TOWED AND THAT'S WHEN MY MECHANIC PULLED THE VALVE COVERS AND DISCOVERED A BROKEN VALVE SPRING THAT HAD CAUSED IT TO DROP THE VALVE INTO THE PISTON WHICH THEN CAUSED THE COOLANT AND OIL TO MIX. IN RETURN, THIS CAUSED A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE TO THE ENGINE. AT THAT POINT THE ENGINE WAS PULLED. IT WAS ALSO NOTED THAT THE SIDE OF THE ENGINE BLOCK WAS CRACKED AND BENT THE OIL PAN. UPON CLEANING THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET SURFACES HE FOUND THAT DUE TO A POSITIVE CRANKCASE FROM THE VALVE DAMAGING THE PISTON THAT THE INTAKE WAS FULL OF OIL COOLANT MIXTURE AS WELL AS PIECES OF METAL FROM THE PISTON SHATTERING.

NHTSA complaint #11318855 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2014 Ford E-250 at 123,500 miles Grafton, WI

ENGINE

NUMBER 2 SPARK BELOW OUT OF THE MOTOR,WHEN DRIVING

NHTSA complaint #11151284 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2010 Ford E-250 at 95,000 miles China Twp., MI

ENGINE

SPARK PLUG WAS PUSHED OUT OF THE CYLINDER HEAD BY CYLINDER COMPRESSION RESULTING IN POWER LOSS AND FIRE CONCERN. THESE ARE FACTORY INSTALLED SPARK PLUGS AND HAVE NEVER BEEN SERVICED. THE CONDITION OCCURRED AFTER A 200 MILE TRIP. THIS VEHICLE HAS 95K MILES AND HAS BEEN ROUTINELY SERVICED.

NHTSA complaint #11021315 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1999 Ford E-250 at 95,551 miles Harrisonburg, VA

ENGINE

SPARK PLUG EJECTION WITH PLUG PARTS GOING INTO MOTOR AND PUTTING HOLE IN PISTON-THIS IS A WORK VAN-NO WAY TO ECONOMICALLY FIX IT. HAPPENED WHEN DRIVING 25MPH ON CITY STREET

NHTSA complaint #10969126 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2008 Ford E-250 at 76,000 miles Rochester, NY

ENGINE

MY TRANSMISSION WENT ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO. I WAS TOLD THAT FORD HAD BAD TRANSMISSIONS IN THE YEARS OF MY VAN, BY THE MECHANIC. THEN FRIDAY NIGHT I WAS DRIVING ALONG AND THE VAN STARTED ACTING FUNNY, NOT ACCELERATING AND A WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON. THEN A LITTLE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND MY CAR DIED. I GOT IT TO GO ABOUT 30MPH ON THE EXPRESSWAY AND GOT IT TO THE GARAGE. :[ I LOOKED UP WHAT HAPPENED AND FOUND OUT THAT THE THROTTLE BODY PROBLEM IS COMMON IN THE FORD, JUST NOT THE E250. BUT IT IS THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE ESCAPE, SO OBVIOUSLY A FORD PROBLEM!! I HAVE ALREADY PUT IN A NEW TRANSMISSION AND NOW THIS. I FEEL THAT THESE THINGS SHOULD NOT GO AFTER ONLY 9 YEARS. THIS VEHICLE IS FOR TRANSPORTING MY TWO BOYS IN WHEELCHAIRS WITH A MUSCLE DISEASE. I NEED MY CAR!!! BUT I AM GOING BROKE! IF THESE PROBLEMS ARE FORD AND YOU ARE FIXING THEM FOR FREE WITHIN TEN YEARS, THEN THAT IS WHAT YOU SHOULD DO! [XXX]. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA complaint #10960296 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2001 Ford E-250 at 130,000 miles Royal OAK, MI

ENGINE

SPARK PLUG ON CYLINDER #7 BLEW OUT OF THE CYLINDER HEAD. 2ND TIME THIS HAS OCCURRED ON THIS VEHICLE. REPAIR SHOP STATES IT IS NOT REPAIRABLE THIS TIME APPROX. $3000 FOR NEW HEAD INSTALLED. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM ON THIS 5.4 TRITION ENGINE. FORD SHOULD RECALL TO FIX THIS PROBLEM 130,000 MILES ON THIS TRUCK.

NHTSA complaint #10947861 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2011 Ford E-250 at 34,000 miles Pearland, TX

ENGINE

THE PCM AT 34,000 MILES CAUSED TWO FUEL PUMPS TO BURN OUT IN 4 DAYS. A "WRENCH" WARNING SYMBOL APPEARED ON THE DASH AND THE VANS ENGINE DIES WHILE GOING AT HIGH SPEED (WE PULL A PRESSURE WASHING TRAILER HOLDING WITH HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS & WATER). IF IT WAS RAINING OR EVEN HEAVY TRAFFIC THIS COULD CAUSE A DANGEROUS LIFE THREATENING CRASH. ON WET ROADS THESE HEAVY COMMERCIAL VEHICLES CAN EASILY HYDRO-PLAIN WHEN THIS OCCURS PUTTING THE DRIVER & OTHERS IN DANGER WHO MAY BE IN THE PATH. WE ARE NOW WITHOUT OUR SERVICE VAN FOR 2 WEEKS & FORD ESTIMATED IN THE EXCESS OF $2600 IN REPAIRS ON A VEHICLE WITH JUST 34,000 MILES ON THE VAN.WE JUST REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION 3 MONTHS AGO. MY STEP FATHER IS 84 YEARS OLD WHO OWNS THIS VEHICLE AND HE IS A RETIRED NAVY CAPTAIN OF OVER 25 YEARS. HE AND I ARE BOTH CONCERNED THAT THIS VEHICLE IS TOO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AT HIGH SPEEDS (60-70MPH) WITH THE LOADS WE CARRY IN OUR EVERY DAY SERVICE SCHEDULE. FORD SEEMS TO OFFER NO ASSISTANCE FINANCIALLY AND NO COMFORT IN RESOLVING THE SAFETY ISSUES RESULTING IN THE FAILURE OF THE PCM (POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE) WHICH IS OBVIOUSLY VERY DANGEROUS WHEN LARGE COMMERCIAL VEHICLES HAVE THE ENGINE FAILING OR DYING AT HIGH SPEEDS. AFTER READING ABOUT THE THROTTLE BODY PROBLEMS THAT FORD EXPERIENCING WITH OVER 1,600,000 VEHICLES BEING RECALLED, IT SEEMS THAT THE SAME WARNING SYMBOL OF THE TWO SIDED WRENCH APPEARS ON THE DASH AND THE SAME ENGINE FAILING OCCURS AT HIGH SPEEDS. THE SERVICE MECHANIC AT BIG STAR FORD IN MANVEL TX. TOLD ME HE REPLACED THE FIRST FUEL PUMP, DROVE IT ON THE HWY AND HAD TO TOW IT BACK TO THE DEALER BECAUSE IT DIED WHILE TEST DRIVING THE VAN AND BURNED OUT THE NEW FUEL PUMP HE JUST INSTALLED, THEN HE SAID HE PUT A NEW FUEL PUMP IN AGAIN AND USED THAT TO DIAGNOSE THAT THE PCM WAS THE PROBLEM WHILE RUNNING IT ON IDLE FOR AN HOUR. WE ARE NOW CONCERNED THIS NEW PUMP IS DAMAGED.

NHTSA complaint #10911231 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2012 Ford E-250 at 49,000 miles Albuquerque, NM

ENGINE

VEHICLE WARNING SYSTEM INDICATED TO SAFELY STOP TRUCK IMMEDIATELY. TRUCK WOULD NOT RESTART. TRUCK WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP (~60 MILES). FORD REPLACED ONE OF THE EXHAUST GAS SENSORS UNDER WARRANTY. DEALERSHIP PERSONNEL INDICATED THAT THIS WAS A RECURRING PROBLEM AND IT WOULD PROBABLY HAPPEN AGAIN. MARCH OF 2015 SIMILAR CIRCUMSTANCES, VEHICLE WARNING SYSTEMS INDICATED TO SAFELY STOP TRUCK IMMEDIATELY. TRUCK CONTINUED RUNNING AND DROVE THE 80 MILES BACK TO DEALERSHIP. MILEAGE AT THE DATE OF THE SECOND OCCURRENCE WAS ~54,500. A DIFFERENT EXHAUST GAS SENSOR WAS REPLACE, NO WARRANTY COVERAGE. DEALERSHIP PERSONNEL CONTINUE TO INDICATE RECURRING PROBLEM AND IT WOULD PROBABLY HAPPEN AGAIN. CONTACTED FORD, NO RESOLUTION ON COST INCURRED OR IF THERE IS A RE-DESIGN AND REPLACEMENT OF SENSOR (S).

NHTSA complaint #10693668 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2012 Ford E-250 at 57,000 miles Springhope, NC

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD E-250. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RADIATOR WAS LEAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA complaint #10660112 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2011 Ford E-250 at 36,606 miles LOS Vegas, NV

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD E-250. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR WAS CONSTANTLY ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE UREA PUMP WAS CONTAMINATED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,606. JCC

NHTSA complaint #10621472 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1999 Ford E-250 at 110,000 miles North Fort Myers, FL

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

SUBJECT: FORD V-8 TRUCK ENGINE SPARK PLUG BLOWOUT COMMENTS: I AM A CONSTRUCTION COMPANY BUSINESS OWNER THAT USES FORD VANS FOR OUR WORK. THIS PAST WEEK WE HAD A SPARK PLUG BLOW OUT OF THE HEAD OF ONE OF OUR VEHICLES THIS IS THE THIRD TIME IT HAS OCCURRED ON THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE EACH TIME WE HAVE TO PLACE IT IN THE SHOP IT COSTS NEARLY $300.00 TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. NOT TO MENTION THE LOSS OF USE OF THE TRUCK FOR 2 -3 DAYS. WHILE RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM ONLINE I HAVE DISCOVERED THAT THIS HAS BEEN A FAIRLY COMMON OCCURRENCE ON MANY OF THESE ENGINES FOR SEVERAL YEARS. I WONDER IF THEIR IS SOME RECOURSE THRU FORD OTHER THAN A CLASS ACTION LAW SUITE TO RECOVER THE EXPENSE? PLEASE RESPOND YOURS TRULY[XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA complaint #10417014 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2001 Ford E-250 at 128,000 miles Beaumont, TX Fire

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

I OWN A 2001 F250 FORD WITH AN 5.4L GAS ENGINE . THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT BREAKING IGNITION COIL CAUSING SMALL FIRE . THE THREADS WERE GONE AND HEADS MUST BE REPLACED ON VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #10354953 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1993 Ford E-250 at 162,792 miles Carolina, PR Fire

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN ON THE HIGHWAY, AND IT CAUGHT FIRE. THE POLICE AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WERE PRESENT AT THE SCENE, BUT AT THE TIME THE INCIDENT TOOK PLACE, IT WAS A COMPLETE LOSS.

NHTSA complaint #10345585 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2001 Ford E-250 at 150,854 miles Woodstock, GA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

WHILE DRIVING UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS, THE #2 SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF THE HEAD AND STRIPPED OUT THE THREADS MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO REINSTALL THE SPARK PLUG WITHOUT HAVING MAJOR ENGINE WORK DONE. THIS IS THE SECOND OCCURRENCE IN THIS ENGINE. I HAVE SINCE BEEN INFORMED THAT THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN FIXED BEFORE THE HEADS WERE PUT INTO PRODUCTION. THE FORD DEALERSHIP WANTS APPROXIMATELY $3000.00 TO REPLACE THE HEADS. I HAVE USED AN AFTERMARKET REPAIR KIT APPROVED BY, BUT NOT USED BY FORD. REMOVED PART IS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION. I AM LOSING COUNTLESS HOURS OF WORK TIME, I AM SELF-EMPLOYED, AND OVER $100.00 IN TOWING EXPENSES.

NHTSA complaint #10328608 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2001 Ford E-250 at 120,000 miles Port ST. Lucie, FL

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

WAS DRIVING MY 2001 FORD E250 VORTEC V8 AT APPROX. 30 MPH WHEN A SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF THE ENGINE. AN HOUR AND A HALF AWAY FROM HOME , IN A NOT SO GOOD AREA OF TOWN. I WAS LEFT STRANDED. 120,000 MILES ON ODOMETER.

NHTSA complaint #10328354 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1999 Ford E-250 at 82,000 miles Winfield, MO

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

I RETURNED TO MY TRUCK AFTER WORK TO GO HOME. WHEN I STARTED IT, THERE WAS A LOUD POPPING NOISE FROM UNDER THE HOOD. AFTER INVESTIGATION, I FOUND THE #3 SPARKPLUG ON THE PASSENGER SIDE GONE. IT WAS BLOWN OUT.

NHTSA complaint #10320942 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other Ford E-250 problems