Owners have filed 11 complaints
about the 1996 Ford F-250 SD with NHTSA between 2003 and 2014.
The largest single group is the engine & cooling.
Across this model's run it ranks 29 of 31 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 — 2
Against the median year of the Ford F-250 SD. 50 means typical for this
model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 94
18.2% of these complaints
involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of
9.7%.
Early failure — 0
0% of failures with a mileage on record happened under
36,000 miles, against a national rate of
29%.
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 F-250 SD
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Engine & Cooling
436.4%
Median failure at 93,538 miles
Tires
218.2%
Median failure at 145,782 miles
Acceleration & Cruise Control
218.2%
0 crashes, 1 fires · median 131,000 mi
Fuel & Propulsion
19.1%
Median failure at 230,000 miles
Brakes
19.1%
Median failure at 100,700 miles
Electrical System
19.1%
0 crashes, 1 fires · median 104,000 mi
When it fails
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all
complaints include one.
75,000 – 99,999 miles
333.3%
100,000 – 149,999 miles
444.4%
150,000+ miles
222.2%
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.
Aug 2003peak 1Jul 2014
NHTSA investigations into the 1996 Ford F-250 SD
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.
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...
Complaints that involved harm
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
at 104,000 milesJackson, NJFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
1996 F-250 CAUGHT FIRE IN MY DRIVEWAY WHILE ON VACATION, AND AFTER NOT BEING USED FOR 4 DAYS. FIRE INVESTIGATORS DETERMINED THE FIRES CAUSE AND ORIGIN TO BE THE SPEED DEACTIVATION SWITCH WHICH I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE TO HAVE REPAIRED. NOTICE WAS REC'D IN LATE AUGUST 2006, APPOINTMENT MADE FOR OCTOBER 11 2006 AND TRUCK BURNED OCTOBER 8 2006. FORD QUALITY CONTROL STATES THEY CAN DO THE INVESTIGATION THRU PICTURES E- MAILED TO CORP. HEADQUARTERS, THEN STATES AFTER SEEING THE PICTURES THAT THE TRUCK IS TOO BADLY DAMAGED TO DETERMINE FIRE CAUSE AND DENIES THE CLAIM. PLEASE HELP ME.
NHTSA complaint #10170798 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Luther, OKFire
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
DT: THE CONTACT STATED ON FEBRUARY 27, 2004 THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. IT STARTED IN THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH. FORD F250 1996. THERE WAS NO FOREWARNING, THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED TEN TO TWELVE HOURS. FORD REPAIRED THE VEHICLE AT CONTACT'S EXPENSE. HOWEVER, THE INSURANCE COMPANY COVERED A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF IT.
NHTSA complaint #10139260 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
at 145,782 milesSurprise, AZ
TIRES
KUMHO KL78 245/75R16 LOAD RANGE E TIRE. PURCHASED A SET OF KL78 TIRES IN NOVEMBER 2011 FOR MY 3/4 TRUCK. SINCE THE TIME OF PURCHASE I HAVE PUT LESS THAN 20,000 MILES ON THE TRUCK / TIRES. THREE OF THE TIRES HAVE DEVELOPED LARGE DEFORMATION ACROSS THE TREAD CAP, LIKE A BULGE. THIS IS A MANUFACTURING SAFETY DEFECT CAUSED BY THE SEPARATION OF STEEL BELTS OF THE TIRE ALLOWING THE RUBBER TO DEFORM.
NHTSA complaint #10609228 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 131,000 milesGalt, CA
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD F-250 SUPER DUTY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH BECAME OILY AND STARTED LEAKING BRAKE FLUID. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED OF A RECALL FOR THE FAILURE UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 09V399000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AND OFFERED NO OTHER ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 131,000. UPDATED 02/12/13*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE SPEED CONTROL ACTIVATION SWITCH FAILED. HE NOTICED THE CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING EIGHT MONTHS PRIOR. HE THEN NOTICED A WIRING HARNESS/CONNECTOR NEAR THE BAKE FLUID RESERVOIR WAS OILY AND THAT THE RESERVOIR WAS LOW. THE DEALER REPLACED THE SWITCH. UPDATED 02/13/13
NHTSA complaint #10493207 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Sherwood, OR
TIRES
PLY SEPARATION. TIRE STORE CONFIRMED THEY WERE AWARE OF OTHER OCCURRENCES. THERE'S NO SECTION TO REPORT TYPE IN FORM SO I WILL HERE. TYPE APT. M&S LT235/85/R16. OTHER I.D. INFO.120/116Q.
NHTSA complaint #10450086 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 230,000 milesAdairsville, GA
FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD F250. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FILTER HOUSING CRACKED AND LEAKED DIESEL FLUID FROM THE TOP OF THE ENGINE DOWN INTO THE VEHICLE. HE WAS CONCERNED THAT THE LEAK COULD CAUSE A FIRE. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC ASSUMED THAT THE FUEL PUMP WAS CAUSING THE LEAK. AFTER THE REPAIRS WERE COMPLETED, THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FUEL HOUSING CRACKED AND CAUSED THE LEAK. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 230,000.
NHTSA complaint #10272941 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 90,848 milesApple Valley, CA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC MY CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR FAILED WITHOUT WARNING CAUSING MY DIESEL ENGINE TO SHUT OFF, LEAVING ME WITH NO STEERING AND BRAKING ABILITY. THIS ACTION ALMOST CAUSED A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT. MY TRUCK WAS TOWED TO MY LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND THE CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR WAS REPLACED. I RETAINED THE SENSOR THAT WAS REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #10240855 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 96,228 milesKemp, TX
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD F250 HD. THE CAM SENSOR WAS REPLACED ON OCTOBER 28, 2003. THE CONTACT BELIEVES THAT THE REPLACEMENT PART IS FAULTY AND WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. THERE IS A SAFETY RECALL ON THE CAM SENSOR, BUT IT DOES NOT APPLY TO HIS VEHICLE YEAR. THERE HAS BEEN NO RECENT FAILURE TO DATE. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 113,800 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE IN 2003 WAS 96,228. UPDATED 01/17/08 *BF UPDATED 01/17/08
NHTSA complaint #10212199 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 100,700 milesLouisville, KY
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
I HAVE A 1996 FORD F-250 HEAVY DUTY PICKUP WHICH I PURCHASED NEW AND ALL THE BRAKE LINES ARE COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH. I WAS TESTING THE BRAKES AFTER ADJUSTING THEM IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE WHEN THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. ALL THE FLUID WAS BLOWN OUT OF THE RUSTED LINE ON THE FRONT BRAKES, AFTER I REPAIRED THEM AND WAS BLEEDING THE AIR FROM THEM, WHILE HOLDING DOWN ON THE PEDAL ANOTHER LINE ON THE REAR BRAKES BLEW OUT. IN SHORT, I SPENT 10 HRS. REPLACING ALL THE BRAKE LINES THAT WERE RUSTED OUT. I HAVE OLDER CARS AND TRUCKS AND HAVE NEVER HAD THIS ISSUE BEFORE. IF I HAD BEEN HAULING A LOAD THAT THIS TRUCK IS RATED TO PULL (14,000LBS.) TOWING CAPACITY,I COULD HAVE RUN RIGHT OVER SOMEONE. I WONDER HOW MANY OTHER TRUCKS ARE OUT THERE ON OUR ROADS WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM? I CONTACTED FORD MOTOR CO. FOR WHICH THEIR RESPONSE WAS TO CONTACT THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS THAT I TOLD THEM I HAVE ALREADY COMPLETED. I HOPE THIS IS AN ISOLATED INCIDENT BUT I HAVE MY DOUBTS. *TR UPDATED 01-15-08. *KB THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKE LINES RUSTED THROUGH. UPDATED
NHTSA complaint #10202582 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 180,000 milesCoquitlam BC Canada, 00
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL
TRUCK STALLED OR QUIT FOR NO APPARENT REASON WHILE DRIVING.
NHTSA complaint #10180898 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 104,000 milesJackson, NJFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
1996 F-250 CAUGHT FIRE IN MY DRIVEWAY WHILE ON VACATION, AND AFTER NOT BEING USED FOR 4 DAYS. FIRE INVESTIGATORS DETERMINED THE FIRES CAUSE AND ORIGIN TO BE THE SPEED DEACTIVATION SWITCH WHICH I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE TO HAVE REPAIRED. NOTICE WAS REC'D IN LATE AUGUST 2006, APPOINTMENT MADE FOR OCTOBER 11 2006 AND TRUCK BURNED OCTOBER 8 2006. FORD QUALITY CONTROL STATES THEY CAN DO THE INVESTIGATION THRU PICTURES E- MAILED TO CORP. HEADQUARTERS, THEN STATES AFTER SEEING THE PICTURES THAT THE TRUCK IS TOO BADLY DAMAGED TO DETERMINE FIRE CAUSE AND DENIES THE CLAIM. PLEASE HELP ME.
NHTSA complaint #10170798 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Luther, OKFire
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
DT: THE CONTACT STATED ON FEBRUARY 27, 2004 THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. IT STARTED IN THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH. FORD F250 1996. THERE WAS NO FOREWARNING, THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED TEN TO TWELVE HOURS. FORD REPAIRED THE VEHICLE AT CONTACT'S EXPENSE. HOWEVER, THE INSURANCE COMPANY COVERED A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF IT.
NHTSA complaint #10139260 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 76,232 milesStaten Island, NY
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS BREAKING AND NOT GASKET ON EXHAUST MANIFOLD.
NHTSA complaint #10032902 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.