Owners have filed 14 complaints
about the 1996 Ford Motor Home with NHTSA between 1999 and 2016.
The largest single group is the brakes.
Across this model's run it ranks 5 of 7 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 — 39
Against the median year of the Ford Motor Home. 50 means typical for this
model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 37
7.1% 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.
How 1996 compares with every other Ford Motor Home
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 Motor Home
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Tires
321.4%
Fuel & Propulsion
321.4%
0 crashes, 1 fires · median 63,500 mi
Acceleration & Cruise Control
321.4%
Brakes
321.4%
Lights
17.1%
Suspension
17.1%
Median failure at 110,000 miles
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.
Oct 1999peak 3Apr 2016
Complaints that involved harm
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
at 17,000 milesSolsberry, INFire
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
THIS MOTORHOME ONLY HAS 17,000 MILES ON IT AND IT HAS HAD 4 FUEL PUMPS ON IT AND IS GETTING READY TO HAVE THE 5TH ONE. THEY HAVE ALL BEEN ORIGINAL FORD PARTS COSTING $450 EACH. IT IS A FAULTY DESIGN AND FORD KNOWS IT! THIS IS A 36 FT CHASSIS AND THE STYLE OF TUBING AND PUMP CANNOT KEEP UP, THEY KEEP BURNING UP. FORD CHANGED THE STYLE OF FUEL PUMP THAT REQUIRES A JUMPER HARNESS KIT TO KEEP THIS FROM HAPPENING BUT DID NOT ISSUE A RECALL ON ANY OF THESE. NOW THAT I AM AGAIN HAVING ISSUES WITH THIS FUEL PUMP I FEEL IT IS ONLY FAIR THAT FORD FIX THIS ISSUE. I HAVE A MOTORHOME WITH ONLY 17,000 MILES ON IT THAT HAS $2000 JUST IN FUEL PUMPS ALONE NOT COUNTING ANY LABOR AND THEY WANT TO SAY IT'S NOT A DESIGN ISSUE WHEN ALL OVER THE INTERNET AND EVEN THEIR FORUMS' IT CLEARLY IS AND HAS BEEN A PROBLEM. LOOK AT ARTICLE NO. 97-23-9 THAT IS JUST ONE! I CAN'T EVEN TRAVEL OVER AN HOUR IN THIS MOTORHOME WITHOUT LETTING IT SIT FOR THIRTY MINUTES FOR THE GAS TO COOL BACK DOWN. FORD WANTS TO TELL ME IT'S BECAUSE IT ONLY HAS 17,000 MILES ON IT. BELIEVE ME IF I COULD DRIVE IT MORE I WOULD. YOU CAN'T TRUST THIS THING AND YOU NEVER HAVE BEEN ABLE TO. IT HAS BEEN KEPT IN A CLIMATE CONTROLLED GARAGE SO IT HAS NOT BE ABUSED IN ANY WAY. IT IS US, THE CONSUMER THAT HAS BEEN ABUSED BY FORD.
NHTSA complaint #10861408 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
at 17,000 milesSolsberry, INFire
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
THIS MOTORHOME ONLY HAS 17,000 MILES ON IT AND IT HAS HAD 4 FUEL PUMPS ON IT AND IS GETTING READY TO HAVE THE 5TH ONE. THEY HAVE ALL BEEN ORIGINAL FORD PARTS COSTING $450 EACH. IT IS A FAULTY DESIGN AND FORD KNOWS IT! THIS IS A 36 FT CHASSIS AND THE STYLE OF TUBING AND PUMP CANNOT KEEP UP, THEY KEEP BURNING UP. FORD CHANGED THE STYLE OF FUEL PUMP THAT REQUIRES A JUMPER HARNESS KIT TO KEEP THIS FROM HAPPENING BUT DID NOT ISSUE A RECALL ON ANY OF THESE. NOW THAT I AM AGAIN HAVING ISSUES WITH THIS FUEL PUMP I FEEL IT IS ONLY FAIR THAT FORD FIX THIS ISSUE. I HAVE A MOTORHOME WITH ONLY 17,000 MILES ON IT THAT HAS $2000 JUST IN FUEL PUMPS ALONE NOT COUNTING ANY LABOR AND THEY WANT TO SAY IT'S NOT A DESIGN ISSUE WHEN ALL OVER THE INTERNET AND EVEN THEIR FORUMS' IT CLEARLY IS AND HAS BEEN A PROBLEM. LOOK AT ARTICLE NO. 97-23-9 THAT IS JUST ONE! I CAN'T EVEN TRAVEL OVER AN HOUR IN THIS MOTORHOME WITHOUT LETTING IT SIT FOR THIRTY MINUTES FOR THE GAS TO COOL BACK DOWN. FORD WANTS TO TELL ME IT'S BECAUSE IT ONLY HAS 17,000 MILES ON IT. BELIEVE ME IF I COULD DRIVE IT MORE I WOULD. YOU CAN'T TRUST THIS THING AND YOU NEVER HAVE BEEN ABLE TO. IT HAS BEEN KEPT IN A CLIMATE CONTROLLED GARAGE SO IT HAS NOT BE ABUSED IN ANY WAY. IT IS US, THE CONSUMER THAT HAS BEEN ABUSED BY FORD.
NHTSA complaint #10861408 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 110,000 milesVancooper, WA
SUSPENSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD E-350 CALLISTA MOTOR HOME (NA). THE CONTACT NOTICED PROPANE LEAKING, A CRACKED FUEL LINE, AND THE CHASSIS WAS UNSTABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE PROPANE REGULATOR, TIE ROD, BALL JOINT, AND DRIVE LINES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.
NHTSA complaint #10810475 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 110,000 milesVancooper, WA
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD E-350 CALLISTA MOTOR HOME (NA). THE CONTACT NOTICED PROPANE LEAKING, A CRACKED FUEL LINE, AND THE CHASSIS WAS UNSTABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE PROPANE REGULATOR, TIE ROD, BALL JOINT, AND DRIVE LINES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.
NHTSA complaint #10810475 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Port Angeles, WA
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
1996 FORD ECONOLINE MOTORHOME WITH A RECALL FOR FUSED JUMPER CABLE. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE DEALER TOLD HIM THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE REQUESTED REPAIR PART AND TO CALL BACK. HE STATES THAT THE RECALL STATES THAT THERE IS ANOTHER WAY TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM. *KB THE RECALL STATED AN INCOMPATIBLE FUSED JUMPER CABLE MAY HAVE BEEN INSTALLED IN VEHICLES AND IF THE PROPER FUSED JUMPER CABLE WAS NOT AVAILABLE, A NEW MATING ELECTRICAL SWITCH WOULD BE ITS REPLACEMENT.
NHTSA complaint #10224012 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
East Greenwich, RI
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
1996 FORD MOTORHOME WITH SPEED CONTROL RECALL. CONSUMER STATES THAT DEALER DID NOT HAVE THE PARTS TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. HE STATES THAT HE HAS CALLED SINCE THEN TO GET THE REPAIR DONE AND THEY STILL DO NOT HAVE THE PARTS.
NHTSA complaint #10220587 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Vincennes, IN
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
1996 MOTORHOME WITH RECALL FOR SPEED CONTROL SWITCH. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE DEALER TOLD HIM THAT THE PARTS WERE ON BACK ORDER AND TO CALL BACK IN 30 DAYS. CONSUMER STATES EVERY MONTH HE IS TOLD THAT THE PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10219447 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Vidor, TX
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:FLASHER UNIT
GULF STREAM RV MANIFACTORYING. BUILT THE CLASS C RV ON FORD E-350 CUT A WAY CHASSIS. THE FORD CHASSIS MANUAL STATES THAT IT IS SUPPLIED W/ 2 HAZARD AND TURN LIGHTS ON FRONT AND 2 ON THE BACK (TOTAL OF 4 LIGHTS) AND A FLASHER FOR 2 BULB AND 4 BULB MAX FLASHER #SF-602 THIS IS THE ONLY FLASHER THAT FORD HAS. GULF STREAM ADDED ANOTHER TURN/ HAZARD BULB ON EACH SIDE ON REAR. PLUS TWO TRAILOR LIGHTS. THE FORD REFERENCE MANUEL PAGE 19 TABLE H STATES THAT IF MORE LIGHTS ARE ADDED THEY ARE TO CHANGE THE TURN SIGNAL FLASHER. WITH ONE HAVING THE CORRECT LAMP RAREING. GULF STREAM DIDN'T DO THIS THEY LEFT THE ONE THAT FORD PUT ON AT THE FACTORY. WHEN YOU TURN THE HAZARD FLASHER LIGHT ON IT OVER LOADS THE FLASHER OUT ($38.00 EA) THEN YOU DON'T HAVE FLASHERS. I HAVE BURNT OUT 2 SO FAR. I HAVE CONTACTED GULF STREAM RV ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND THEY GIVE ME THE RUN AROUND ON THIS. THEY SAID I AM THE ONLY ONE THAT HAS THIS PROBLEM. ONLY THE 1996 FORD E-350 USES THIS FLASHER. I CAN'T FIND ANOTHER ONE ANY WHERE THAT WILL WORK IN THE E-350. FORD TOLD ME THAT IS THE ONLY FLASHER THAT WILL WORK AND THAT IT IS A GULF STREAM PROBLEM AND THEY DENY THE PROBLEM. THIS AFFECTS ALL 1996 FORD E350 VANS. DT
NHTSA complaint #770404 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Pinksburgh, MD
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE REAR RIGHT TIRE TREAD SEPERARATED WHILE DRIVING AND 500 MILES LATER THE TIRE ON THE LEFT SIDE HAD TREAD SEPERATION. ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT, 25K MILES, MOUNTED ON A MOTOR HOME FORD CHASIS. 225/75R16. *JB *SCC
NHTSA complaint #8014704 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Salt Lake City, UT
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
FIRESTONE STEELTEX RADIAL R4S TIRES (P225 75 R16) EXPERIENCED 4 TREAD SEPARATIONS, WHICH ALSO CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE, THE CONSUMER IS REQUESTING THAT THE REMAINING TIRES BE REPLACED AND THAT THE DAMAGE TO THE MOTORHOME BE FIXED. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #556761 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
BIG Bend, WI
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP
THE RUBBER GASOLINE FILL HOSE CRACKED BECAUSE OF AN IMPROPER INSTALLATION OF A DRAIN PIPE WHICH RESTS ON IT, THIS CRACK RESULTED IN A VERY SERIOUS GAS SPILL. NLM
NHTSA complaint #556634 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MC Pherson, KS
TIRES
FIRESTONE STEEL TEX LT22575R16. CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCED THREE STEEL BELT SEPARATIONS, AND BLOWOUTS WITHIN 29,000 MILES. THEY EQUIPPED A MOTORHOME. FIRESTONE WAS CONTACTED.*AK LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT TIRES BLEW OUT. ALSO ONE RIGHT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT. THESE TIRES SHOULD BE DEFECTIVE ACCORDING TO THE CUSTOMER.
NHTSA complaint #871940 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Boise, ID
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER
BRAKE CALIPER CONTINUALLY LOCKING UP AND CAUSING OVERHEATING/BURNING ODOR, REPLACED CALIPER HOWEVER CONTINUED LOCK UP. MJS
NHTSA complaint #549550 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Boise, ID
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:DISC:CALIPER
BRAKE CALIPER CONTINUALLY LOCKING UP AND CAUSING OVERHEATING/BURNING ODOR, REPLACED CALIPER HOWEVER CONTINUED LOCK UP. MJS
NHTSA complaint #549550 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Boise, ID
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:DISC:CALIPER
BRAKE CALIPER CONTINUALLY LOCKING UP AND CAUSING OVERHEATING/BURNING ODOR, REPLACED CALIPER HOWEVER CONTINUED LOCK UP. MJS
NHTSA complaint #549550 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.