1996 Ford E-250 Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1996 Ford E-250, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Tires & wheels521.7%
- Engine417.4%
- Brakes417.4%
- Driver assistance28.7%
- Powertrain (other)28.7%
- Fuel system28.7%
- Transmission14.3%
- Interior & seats14.3%
- Other / unspecified14.3%
- Body & structure14.3%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
RADIAL R4S, LT 225/75R16, DOT VD1L1XD418338, REPLACEMENT TIRES, 1 BLOWOUT PASSENGER REAR AT 2000 MILES ON TIRE, 2 TREAD SEPARATION ON PASSENGER REAR TIRE. BEFORE 8000 MILES ON TIRES, AND AT ABOUT 65 MPH. *AK *SLC
TWO FIRESTONE STEELTEX RADIAL R4S TIRES EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION, CONSUMER REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT. NLM
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE WAITING AT STOP LIGHT OR SIGN VEHICLE WOULD IDLE ROUGHLY. WOULD JERK FORWARD WITH FOOT ON BRAKE. SOMETIMES WOULD ALMOST STALL OUT WHEN AT A STOP. BEEN TO DEALER, AND NOTHING COULD BE FOUND. IT WAS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM.*AK
.ENGINE OIL PAN LEAKED ALL OVER DRIVEWAY. WARRANTY WAS UP IN JANUARY OF 2001. OIL PAN WAS RUSTED. *AK *SLC
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
THERE IS A PRESSURE SWITCH ON MY MASTER CYLINDER OF THE BRAKING SYSTEM. THERE IS O LISTED RECALL FOR MY PICKUP TRUCK HOW EVER AFTER ABOUT $900.00 AND 2 DIFFERENT AUTO SHOPS I FOUND THIS SWITCH TO BE THE DEFECTIVE PART AND WHEN I WENT TO THE DEALER JIM CLICK OF TUSCON AZ AND THE PARTS GUY GAVE ME THE PART I REQUESTED I QUESTIONED THE WIRING HARNESS ADAPTOR AND WHY THE SWITCH WAS NOT THE SAME AS I BROUGHT HIM. HE STATED WELL THERE WAS A LOT OF FAILURES WITH THE OLD DESIGN AND IT WAS A RECALL I STATED WELL SHOULDN'T THE PART BE FREE NO RESPONSE - - THE DEFECT IN THE PART WAS AN AIR LEAK CAUSING ME TO CHASE IT FOR A YEAR ON AND OFF CONSTANTLY BLEEDING LITTLE AIR BUBBLES OUT WITH OVER A GALLON OF FLUID. I NOTICED IT WITH JUST THE EVER SO SLIGHT OF DIRT STICKING TO THE LEAK ON THE UNDER SIDE OF SWITCH WHICH COULD NOT BE SEEN. THIS LEAK RESULTED IN A CONSTANTLY SOFT PEDAL WITH A ABOUT A 1-2 SECOND BRAKING DELAY. I CHECKED TO FORD SITE AND THE ONLY EXISTING RECALL IS A SPEED SENSOR. NOT FOR THIS PART. *TR
REAR AXLE SEAL IS LEAKING BRAKE FLUID, AND CAUSING BRAKES TO WEAR OUT FASTER. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
VEHICLE LUNGES FORWARD WITH THE FOOT APPLIED TO THE BRAKE. VEHICLE IDLES REAL ROUGH BEFORE ACCELERATING. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT, AND COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED BY THE DEALER.*AK
WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES IN A PANIC STOP, CONSUMER'S FOOT HIT THE BRAKE PEDAL AND ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAUSE THE BRAKE PEDAL AND ACCELERATOR PEDAL ARE TOO CLOSE TOGETHER, CAUSING THE VEHICLE NOT TO STOP, ONCE RESULTING IN A COLLISION. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
REAR AXLE SEAL IS LEAKING BRAKE FLUID, AND CAUSING BRAKES TO WEAR OUT FASTER. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, VEHICLE EXPERIENCES VIBRATION IN DRIVESHAFT. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
I HAVE 2 1996 FORD E250 VANS. THEY BOTH LEAK GAS OUT THE FILL TUBE IF I FILL THEM ALL THE WAY UP. ESPECIALLY IF I PARK ON A SLOPE. I ASKED THE FORD DEALER IF THIS WAS A RECALL ITEM AND THEY TOLD ME NO. IT SHOULD BE.
AFTER FILLING FUEL TANK WITH GAS THE GAS WILL LEAK AROUND THE SEAM OF THE TANK. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THEIR WAS A LEAK IN THE FUEL TANK WHICH WAS CAUSED BY THE FRAME RUBBING AGAINST THE TANK. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS PART BUT IT FOR THE 1995 VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. TS
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
I WAS STOPPED AT AN INTERSECTION WITH TRUCK IN GEAR AND CLUTCH PEDAL DOWN, ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CLUTCH RELEASED WITH THE PEDAL STILL DOWN CAUSING THE TRUCK TO LURCH INTO THE STREET ABOUT 15 FT BEFORE I COULD STOP WITH THE BRAKES. THE CARS IN THE STREET WERE ABLE TO AVOID ME BUT I WAS VERY SHAKEN. I FOUND THE PROBLEM WAS THE "CLUTCH ROD END PLASTIC BUSHING AND RETAINER" HAD FAILED ALLOWING THE CLUTCH TO RELEASE WITHOUT THE PEDAL. THIS WAS REPLACED BUT FAILED AGAIN 6 MONTHS LATER. FORTUNATELY I ALWAYS KEEP THE TRUCK IN NEUTRAL WHEN STOPPED NOW SO IT WAS ONLY AN INCONVENIENCE. CHECKING THE INTERNET FOR A FIX I FOUND SEVERAL COMPANIES THAT MAKE A REPLACEMENT ASSEMBLY FOR THIS BECAUSE OF ALL THE FAILURES. I HAVE BEEN KEEPING THE "ROD END" IN PLACE WITH WIRE AND ALWAYS KEEP IN NEUTRAL TO PREVENT ANOTHER FAILURE BUT HAVE ORDERED A REPLACEMENT ASSEMBLY AN EBAY COMPANY TO PREVENT THIS VERY DANGEROUS FAILURE FROM HAPPENING AGAIN. WHY HASN'T FORD NOTIFIED ANYONE ABOUT THIS POSSIBLE CATASTROPHIC AND LIFE THREATENING FAILURE AND AT LEAST SUPPLIED PARTS TO FIX THIS CORRECTLY. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
MY DRIVERS SIDE DOOR HANDLE WAS HANGING UP. 4 YRS AGO IT BROKE, REPLACED IT 3 TIMES OVER THE NEXT YEAR. GAVE UP AND JUST ROLL MY WINDOW DOWN AND OPEN IT FROM THE OUTSIDE. NOW MY PASSENGER DOOR IS DOING IT. LAST WEEK RAN INTO SOMEBODY AT THE GAS STATION WHO WATCHED ME ROLL MY WINDOW DOWN TO GET OUT AND WAS LAUGHING, SAID HIS FORD VAN SAME YEAR DOES NOT WORK ON PASSENGER SIDE. MET A MAN ALMOST 3 YRS AGO AT FORD DEALERSHIP WALKING WITH DOOR HANDLE IN HAND, SAME THING. I HAVE MET AT LEAST 6 OR 7 PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM IN THIS YEAR OF FORD TRUCK. IF YOU HAVE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE IN A HURRY OR THE POWER SYSTEM FAILS YOU ARE OUT OF LUCK FOR YOU ARE STUCK IN IT. I HAVE MET TO MANY PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED. VERY FRUSTRATED. I FOUND ON THE FORD POWERSTROKE FORUM THAT MANY OTHER PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM AND THEY SAY IT IS HANGING UP ON A PIECE OF METAL INSIDE. NOW I HAVE NO DOORS THAT OPEN FROM INSIDE.*AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE RIGHT WHEEL BOLTS AND NUTS SHEARED OFF, CAUSING THE RIGHT WHEEL TO FALL, AND ALMOST CAUSED A CRASH. CURRENTLY, LEFT WHEEL BOLTS AND NUTS ALSO SHEARED OFF. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION AND VIN#. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
IS THERE ANY RECOMMENDED PRINTED REPAIR FOR DAMAGED SECTIONS OF THE FRAME OF THIS VEHICLE. THERE IS A TEAR IN THE METAL OF THE COMPRESSED AREA OF THE ASORBING PART OF THE CRUMPLE ZONE OF THE FRAME. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .