Owners have filed 18 complaints
about the 1997 Ford E-450 with NHTSA between 2000 and 2011.
The largest single group is the body & structure.
Across this model's run it ranks 17 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 — 32
Against the median year of the Ford E-450. 50 means typical for this
model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 0
0% 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.
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.
Sep 2000peak 10Jul 2011
NHTSA investigations into the 1997 Ford E-450
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.
PE09055Opened 7 Dec 2009Closed 21 Apr 2010ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
HVAC Switch Failures
ODI has received 1 complaint and reports from 4 transportation fleets alleging 182 switch failures.Each fleet operates mini buses built on a Ford E350 or E450 cutaway chassis.The OEM HVAC blower switches have melted, smoked, burned or experienced open flame and become inoperable on vehicles in each fleet.Some drivers have reported a burning smell or smoke coming from the dash.One fleet reported a vehicle fire.No injuries were sustained.However, the bus was carrying special needs children when the driver noticed smoke coming from the dash.The driver was able to evacuate the children prior to th...
EA05005Opened 22 Mar 2005Closed 2 Aug 2006ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES
EA05-005 IS CLOSED WITH FORD?S ACTIONS IN RECALLS 05V-017, 05V-388, AND 06V-286, RECALLING APPROXIMATELY 6.7 MILLION VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH TEXAS INSTRUMENTS SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCHES (SCDS).THE BRAKE SYSTEMS IN THESE RECALLED VEHICLES GENERATE A VACUUM THAT CAN POTENTIALLY CAUSE THE SCDS TO FAIL AND, IN CERTAIN SWITCH INSTALLATION ORIENTATIONS, CATCH FIRE.FORD IS ALSO INCLUDING THE ENTIRE POPULATION OF 1998 EXPLORERS.FORD HAS INFORMED ODI THAT TESTING TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURES IN THE 1998 EXPLORERS WILL CONTINUE AFTER THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.ODI BELIEVES THAT THE VEHIC...
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
at 54,000 milesMenlo Park, CA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD E-450. THE CONTACT STATED THE HEATER CONTROL SWITCH FAILED TO FUNCTION; THEREFORE, ONLY COLD AIR EMITS FROM THE HEATER SYSTEM. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE FAILURE DESCRIBED IN A MANUFACTURES RECALL . THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000.
NHTSA complaint #10412171 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Toledo, OH
TIRES:SIDEWALL
THE 1997 TIRES WITH 18,000 MILES ON THEM HAVE LARGE CRACKS AROUND THE ENTIRE SIDEWALL OF ALL 6 TIRES (MOTORHOME). NOW AFRAID TO DRIVE BECAUSE OF ALL THE FIRESTONE RE-CALLS. WAS WONDERING IF THESE TIRES HAD A RE-CALL (FIRESTONE STEELTEX RADIAL R4S, LT225/75R16 M/S). NO "INCIDENT" AS OF YET...
NHTSA complaint #10065633 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Washington, VA
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
TREAD SEPARATION, WOULD AVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT IF TIRE HAD BEEN LOCATED ON FRONT WHEEL.
NHTSA complaint #764770 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Jasper, TX
TIRES
HAD 2 BLOWOUTS.1AT 22000MI AND 1 AT 26000.THREW ALL THE TREAD ON THE 1ST ONE TIRE COOL TO TOUCH AND OUTSIDE TEMP 58DEG.LOOKS LIKE TREAD HAD NEVER BEEN GLUED ON TO CARCUS.THE 2ND TIRE BLEW AT 55MPH OUTSIDE TEMP56DEG.LOOKED AS IF PART OF THE TREAD WAS GLUED.I KNOW OF 2 OTHER CLASS C MOTORHOMES WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM.BETWEEN THE 3 MH WE HAVE HAD 7 BLOWOUTS. *AK (DOT NUMBER: VD1L 1XD TIRESIZE: 225/75/16)
NHTSA complaint #752095 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Simi Valley, CA
TIRES
BOTH RIGHT REAR DUALS BLEW OUT. REPLACED ALL 6 TIRES FOR FAMILY SAFETY. *AK (TIRESIZE: LT22575R16)
NHTSA complaint #750574 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Huntington, WV
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
WHILE TRAVELING HEARD A LOUD NOISE. PULLED VEHICLE OVER AND NOTICED TREAD SEPARATION. LT225/75R16. *AK CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCED BLOW OUT TWICE, ALSO HAS EXPERIENCED BLOW OUTS DUE TO SIDEWALL CRACKS.
NHTSA complaint #889070 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Little ROC, AR
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
THE FRONT CROSSMEMBER CRACKING AT MAIN FRAME, FORD HAS ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN #991411 TO ADDRESS THIS CONDITION. *MJS
NHTSA complaint #559832 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Little ROC, AR
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
THE FRONT CROSSMEMBER CRACKING AT MAIN FRAME, FORD HAS ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN #991411 TO ADDRESS THIS CONDITION. *MJS
NHTSA complaint #559836 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Little ROC, AR
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
THE FRONT CROSSMEMBER CRACKING AT MAIN FRAME, FORD HAS ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN #991411 TO ADDRESS THIS CONDITION. *MJS
NHTSA complaint #559838 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Little ROC, AR
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
THE FRONT CROSSMEMBER CRACKING AT MAIN FRAME, FORD HAS ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN #991411 TO ADDRESS THIS CONDITION. *MJS
NHTSA complaint #559831 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Little ROC, AR
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
THE FRONT CROSSMEMBER CRACKING AT MAIN FRAME, FORD HAS ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN #991411 TO ADDRESS THIS CONDITION. *MJS
NHTSA complaint #559839 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Little ROC, AR
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
THE FRONT CROSSMEMBER CRACKING AT MAIN FRAME, FORD HAS ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN #991411 TO ADDRESS THIS CONDITION. *MJS
NHTSA complaint #559840 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Little ROC, AR
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
THE FRONT CROSSMEMBER CRACKING AT MAIN FRAME, FORD HAS ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN #991411 TO ADDRESS THIS CONDITION. REWELDING OF CROSSMEMBER HAS NOT CORRECTED PROBLEM, WAS STILL CRACKING, REDONE WITH SUPPORT ADDED. *MJS
NHTSA complaint #559841 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Little ROC, AR
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
THE FRONT CROSSMEMBER CRACKING AT MAIN FRAME, FORD HAS ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN #991411 TO ADDRESS THIS CONDITION. REWELDING OF CROSSMEMBER HAS NOT CORRECTED PROBLEM, WAS STILL CRACKING, REDONE WITH SUPPORT ADDED. *MJS
NHTSA complaint #559842 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Little ROC, AR
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
THE FRONT CROSSMEMBER CRACKING AT MAIN FRAME, FORD HAS ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN #991411 TO ADDRESS THIS CONDITION. REWELDING OF CROSSMEMBER HAS NOT CORRECTED PROBLEM, WAS STILL CRACKING, REDONE WITH SUPPORT ADDED. *MJS
NHTSA complaint #559837 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Little ROC, AR
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
THE FRONT CROSSMEMBER CRACKING AT MAIN FRAME, FORD HAS ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN #991411 TO ADDRESS THIS CONDITION. REWELDING OF CROSSMEMBER HAS NOT CORRECTED PROBLEM, WAS STILL CRACKING, REDONE WITH SUPPORT ADDED. *MJS
NHTSA complaint #559835 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Wellington, KS
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
TIRE FAILED WHILE RESPONDING ON AN EMERGENCY AMBULANCE CALL. TREAD PEELED OFF AND BROKE THE LEFT FRONT BREAK LINE. DID BODY DAMAGE TO THE LEFT FRONT FENDER, DOOR AND RUNNING BOARD. ALL FIRESTONE TIRES HAVE BEEN REPLACED ON TWO AMBULANCES SINCE THIS ACCIDENT.( DOT NUMBER: VDIL TIRE SIZE: 225/75R16 )
NHTSA complaint #732036 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Franklinville, NJ
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
PE #00020; FIRESTONE, STEELTEX, P225/75R16. RIGHT INSIDE REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM TIRE. VEHICLE IS A AMBULANCE AND MOVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH. DOT # BEGINS WITH VD. TIRES WERE THE PRODUCTION TIRES OF THE VEHICLE WITH 27000 MILEAGE. VEHICLE IS A FORD, E450, CHASSIS.*AK THE AMBULANCE CORP. REQUESTS REIMBURSMENT FOR 12 TIRES THAT WERE REPLACED FOR TREAD SEPARATION.
NHTSA complaint #870689 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.