FaultScore

Ford E-450 electrical problems

29 of the 546 complaints filed about the Ford E-450 are about the electrical system — 5% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2005.

29

Complaints

5%

Share of all complaints

0

Crashes

14

Fires

Electrical System complaints by model year

1993 E-450 1 3.4%

Median failure at 199,000 miles

1997 E-450 1 3.4%

Median failure at 54,000 miles

2000 E-450 1 3.4%
2002 E-450 3 10.3%

Median failure at 34,500 miles

2004 E-450 6 20.7%

Median failure at 90,599 miles

2005 E-450 7 24.1%

Median failure at 75,011 miles

2006 E-450 4 13.8%

Median failure at 63,513 miles

2008 E-450 1 3.4%

Median failure at 20,000 miles

2011 E-450 2 6.9%

Median failure at 22,500 miles

2013 E-450 1 3.4%
2016 E-450 1 3.4%
2026 E-450 1 3.4%

What owners said

2026 Ford E-450 Georgetown, SC

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Parking Brake The Sticker on this U-Haul 15 foot Truck says, "Engage the Parking Brake before turning off the Engine, otherwise UNCONTROLLED OPERATION OF VEHICLE may occur.". I pulled on the Parking Brake as the Sticker warned. With my foot off the Gas Pedal, at about 25 - 30 MPH the U-Haul Steered way to the right by itself, and drove onto the Right Curb. This was quite Frightening and Unexpected. Then it happened again later that day at just about 30 MPH, again with my foot off the Gas Pedal and Kind of Coasting into a small Town. Later that Night it happened again at about 25 -30 MPH and pulled to the right and almost into the right side ditch, on a two lane Highway. My Safety was at risk because I could have hit a Telephone Pole or have been steered into the right side ditch. IF it had happened, on a Multi-Lane Highway, I could have Hit a Vehicle in the Right Lane. Others are put at Risk, because anyone on a Sidewalk near the Right side Curb, Could have been Hit, by this Uncontrolled Steering. The U-Haul Regional Manager, Emily Noe said it had not been reported by anyone else. This U-Haul Truck had about 14K miles on it and is fairly new. I assume this U-Haul Truck had been Inspected, before being placed on the Road. There is the Yellow Sticker inside the Truck, with Black Letters that warn about pulling On the Parking Brake before Parking and shutting down the engine....which I did!!! I feel other U-Haul Customers should be warned before an Accident DOES occur. Better Yet this U-Haul Truck should be taken off the Road.

NHTSA complaint #11741946 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2004 Ford E-450 Lowell, MA Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

My box truck caught on fire, fire started at the plug in receptacle that keeps the glow plug warm and spread from there. Luckily my across the street neighbor helped put out the fire temporarily with 2 of his fire extinguisher until the fire truck arrived, otherwise it would have been a major catastrophe.

NHTSA complaint #11449743 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2011 Ford E-450 at 22,500 miles West Seneca, NY

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT ON A CITY STREET AND AGAIN ON AN INTERSTATE, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. A DIAGNOSTIC REPORT DETERMINED THAT THE FUEL PUMP CIRCUIT WIRING HARNESS WAS BAD. THE VEHICLE HAS 23,000.

NHTSA complaint #11377857 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2013 Ford E-450 Pace, FL

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

NO CRANK NO START WITH ANTITHEFT ON . LOST COMMUNICATION

NHTSA complaint #11120875 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2016 Ford E-450 Highland Heights, KY Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD E-450. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AUTOMATIC TRANSFER SWITCH CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE EXTINGUISHED ITSELF AND A FIRE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CONTACT CALLED AN UNKNOWN DEALER, BUT AN APPOINTMENT COULD NOT BE SCHEDULED FOR TWO WEEKS. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR REPAIRS. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V598000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA complaint #11039800 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2002 Ford E-450 at 11,315 miles Palm BAY, FL

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I RECENTLY PURCHASED A MOTORHOME WITH THE FORD E-450, WHILE DRIVING OUT OF MY PARK I LOST MY TURN SIGNALS AND BRAKE LIGHTS.

NHTSA complaint #10702574 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2004 Ford E-450 at 119,000 miles Fullerton, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD E-450. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER CONTROL MODULE, STARTER AND THE HOP OIL PRESSURE PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 119,000.

NHTSA complaint #10694474 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2011 Ford E-450 Baton Rouge, LA Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THIS VEHICLE WAS CONVERTED TO AN AMBULANCE BY WHEELD COACH. THE AMBULANCE CAUGHT FIRE AND SPREAD TO THE BUILDING IN WHICH IT WAS PARKED AND UNOCCUPIED. A PARAMEDIC SMELLED SOMETHING COMING FROM THE BAY, AND, WHEN HE WENT TO INVESTIGATE, HE SAW SMOKE AND FIRE DRIPPING FROM UNDERNEATH THE AMBULANCE. AN INVESTIGATOR DETERMINED THAT THE LUG CONNECTION AT THE ALTERNATOR WAS IMPROPERLY INSTALLED BY WHEELED COACH. THE CONNECTION PRODUCED A HIGH RESISTANCE CONNECTION, PRODUCING TEMPERATURES SUFFICIENT TO IGNITE A COMPETENT FUEL SOURCE AND/OR CAUSED THE BATTERY CABLE INSULATION TO FAIL, PRODUCING ELECTRICAL ARCING THAT PROVIDED A COMPETENT IGNITION SOURCE TO CAUSE THE FIRE.

NHTSA complaint #10671038 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 Ford E-450 Chelsea, MA Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THE PRELIMINARY REPORT REGARDING THE FIRE ONBOARD A COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS SOLDIERS HOME OWNED HANDICAPPED TRANSPORTATION BUS INDICATES THE FIRE CAUSE MAY HAVE BEEN ELECTRICAL IN NATURE. THE VEHICLE IN QUESTION IS A 2006 FORD E- 450. AN ODOR OF SMOKE WAS REPORTED BY THE DRIVER, ENIO LOPEZ, JUST AFTER ASSISTING A VETERAN ONTO THE BUS AT THE CHELSEA SOLDIERS HOME. UPON REPORTING THE ODOR OF SMOKE, THE DRIVER WAS INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE THE VETERAN FROM THE VEHICLE AND SHUT THE VEHICLE DOWN. THE FLEET SERVICE ADMINISTRATOR FOR THE CHELSEA SOLDIERS HOME, UPON INVESTIGATING THE ODOR OF SMOKE LOCATED A FIRE IN THE RIGHT FRONT OF THE BUS IN THE ELECTRICAL PANEL. THEY CONTACTED THE CHELSEA FIRE DEPARTMENT AND GRABBED THE EXTINGUISHER ONBOARD TO ATTEMPT TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE AND PREVENT FURTHER DAMAGE. UPON DISCHARGING THE EXTINGUISHER, THE FIRE DID NOT GO OUT AND SEEMED TO BE INTENSIFYING ALSO SMOKE AND FLAMES WERE VISIBLE FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. A CAMPUS SECURITY OFFICER RESPONDING TO CALLS FOR MORE EXTINGUISHERS ASSISTED THEMIN FIGHTING THE FIRE. TWO MORE EXTINGUISHERS WERE PROVIDED TO THEM AND BY AN ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES SUPERVISOR AND EMPLOYEE. CHELSEA FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED ON SEEN AND FINISHED EXTINGUISHING THE FIRE, DISCONNECTING THE BATTERY AND OVERHAULING THE INTERIOR OF THE BUS TO EXTINGUISH THE REMAINING POCKETS OF FIRE. ONCE THE FIRE WAS COMPLETELY EXTINGUISHED THE BUS WAS TURNED BACK OVER TO THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS SOLDIERS HOME AND WAS TOWED TO ITS CURRENT LOCATION BEHIND VINNIE'S PLACE.

NHTSA complaint #10575770 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2008 Ford E-450 at 20,000 miles Griffin, GA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE HWY ENGINE LOSS POWER. TRUCK WOULD NOT GO OVER 35 MPG. APPROX THREE MONTHS LATER IT DONE IT AGAIN. ON TWO MORE TIMES IT SHUT OFF ON INTERSTATE .

NHTSA complaint #10556951 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2005 Ford E-450 at 56,831 miles Louisville, KY

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD E-450. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE RESTARTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 05V270000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56, 831.

NHTSA complaint #10503708 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2002 Ford E-450 at 34,500 miles Kirtland, OH

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

SPARK PLUG EJECTED WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE CAUSING EMERGENCY BREAKDOWN RESULTING IN 550.00 BILL FOR SPARK PLUG SLEEVE REPAIR THEN 50 MILES FROM THIS INCIDENT THE FAN BELT SHREDDED RESULTING IN ENGINE OVERHEATING AND ANOTHER EMERGENCY REPAIR OF 520.00 FOR NEW BELT AND ALTERNATOR.

NHTSA complaint #10454816 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1997 Ford E-450 at 54,000 miles Menlo 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.

2005 Ford E-450 Callahan, FL Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

2005 FORD CUTAWAY E450. INSURANCE COMPANY SENT CORRESPONDENCE ON BEHALF OF CONSUMER RELATED TO A FIRE AND TOTAL LOSS OF VEHICLE *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE RUNNING LIGHTS AND THE CARGO LIGHTS WERE COMING ON AND GOING OFF FOR NO REASON. HE STATED AT TIMES, THERE WAS AN ODOR COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE DAY OF THE FIRE, THE CONSUMER HAD DRIVEN THE VEHICLE FOR APPROXIMATELY TWO HOURS AND HAD BEEN SITTING FOR APPROXIMATELY TWO HOURS WHEN THE HORN STARTED BLOWING. THE CONSUMER THEN REALIZED THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. ACCORDING TO THE INVESTIGATION REPORT, THE FIRE ORIGINATED IN THE DASH AREA OF THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. IT WAS ALSO THE OPINION OF THE FIRE INVESTIGATOR, THAT ELECTRICALLY GENERATED HEAT FROM A MALFUNCTION COULD NOT BE RULED OUT.

NHTSA complaint #10396316 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2005 Ford E-450 at 78,690 miles SAN Juan, PR

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I HAVE A 2005 FORD E450 CUTAWAY 6.0L DIESEL ENGINE AND IT WILL SHUTDOWN COMPLETELY DURING NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. THIS CONDITION WAS DIAGNOSE BY A CERTIFIED MECHANIC AS A PROBLEM W/ FICM & PCM COMPUTERS BOTH WHERE REPLACED BY US. THE PROBLEM CONTINUES AND AFTER LONG HOURS OF RESEARCH FOUND RECALL CAMPAIGN (05V270000) CALL FORD AND THEY INFORMED ME THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THIS FAILURE OCCURS APROX. 15 MIN AFTER DRIVING AT NORMAL SPEEDS. WE HAVE EMPLOYEES WHO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE AND WERE CLOSE TO HAVE VERY SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES THAT CAN CAUSE MAJOR INJURIES TO THE PUBLIC AND OUR EMPLOYEES.

NHTSA complaint #10269483 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2005 Ford E-450 at 78,690 miles SAN Juan, PR

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

I HAVE A 2005 FORD E450 CUTAWAY 6.0L DIESEL ENGINE AND IT WILL SHUTDOWN COMPLETELY DURING NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. THIS CONDITION WAS DIAGNOSE BY A CERTIFIED MECHANIC AS A PROBLEM W/ FICM & PCM COMPUTERS BOTH WHERE REPLACED BY US. THE PROBLEM CONTINUES AND AFTER LONG HOURS OF RESEARCH FOUND RECALL CAMPAIGN (05V270000) CALL FORD AND THEY INFORMED ME THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THIS FAILURE OCCURS APROX. 15 MIN AFTER DRIVING AT NORMAL SPEEDS. WE HAVE EMPLOYEES WHO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE AND WERE CLOSE TO HAVE VERY SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES THAT CAN CAUSE MAJOR INJURIES TO THE PUBLIC AND OUR EMPLOYEES.

NHTSA complaint #10269483 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2004 Ford E-450 Granite City, IL Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

FORD E450 FRONT BLOWER MOTOR SWITCH FAILURE ON TRANSIT BUSES USED FOR PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION. *NJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE PROBLEM IS NOT ISOLATED TO ONE VEHICLE AND IS BEING FOUND ROUTINELY IN ALL THE VEHICLES OF THIS TYPE IN HIS FLEET AS THE SWITCHES ROUTINELY OVERHEAT. ONE OF THE VEHICLES CAUGHT FIRE AS A RESULT OF THE FAULTY SWITCH.

NHTSA complaint #10257890 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2004 Ford E-450 at 120,000 miles Pelion, SC

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD E-450. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SPONTANEOUSLY STALLED. THE VEHICLE USUALLY RESTARTS ITSELF AFTER THE FAILURE OCCURS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON FIVE OCCASIONS AND ALL THE FUEL INJECTORS WERE REPLACED. A MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FUEL INJECTION CONTROL MODULE (FICM) WIRE HARNESS WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 05V270000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING); THEREFORE, THEY WOULD NOT ASSUME ANY FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 337,000.

NHTSA complaint #10255995 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 Ford E-450 at 30,000 miles Forrest City, AR Fire 2 injured

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

ME AND MY PARTNER WERE RESPONDING TO A MVC IN A FORD AMBULANCE WHEN THE COMPUTER MODULE ON MY SEAT SHORTED OUT CAUSING THE TRUCK TO BURST INTO FLAMES. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT THE 2 NEW AMBULANCES WE GOT IN THIS YEAR HAVE THE SAME EXPOSED POSITIVE BATTERY POST THAT CAUSED IT TO SHORT OUT.

NHTSA complaint #10247161 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2002 Ford E-450 at 85,323 miles Hampstead, MD Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

IN EARLY JULY MY VEHICLE SUFFERED AN ELECTRICAL FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THIS IS A VEHICLE COVERED UNDER THE EXISTING FORD RECALL FOR THE SPEED CONTROL WIRING. THE DEALER , WHO HAD REPAIRED THE VEHICLE JUST 45 DAYS EARLIER, STATED THAT THIS FIRE WAS NOT ASSOCIATED WITH THE RECALL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THIS WAS A DIFFERENT TYPE OF WIRING FIRE. I AM CONCERNED THAT THE RECALL IN PLACE MAY NOT FULLY ADDRESS THE RISK OF FIRE, AND THAT THERE MAY BE MORE OF A SAFETY ISSUE REGARDING THE WIRING HARNESS THAN HAS BEEN DISCLOSED.

NHTSA complaint #10242340 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other Ford E-450 problems