1998 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 1998 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
- Brakes518.5%
- Steering414.8%
- Engine414.8%
- Transmission311.1%
- Seat belts27.4%
- Suspension27.4%
- Airbags13.7%
- Visibility13.7%
- Driver assistance13.7%
- Electrical13.7%
- Interior & seats13.7%
- Exterior lighting13.7%
- Tires & wheels13.7%
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
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
1998 FORD ECONOLINE VAN 5.4L ENG. ABS BRAKES: WHILE APPLYING BRAKES, THE BRAKE PEDAL RESPONDS WITH FORCEFUL BACK PRESSURE TO PROHIBIT BRAKES FROM OPERATING. OPERATOR THEN EXERTS EXCESSIVE PRESSURE TO FORCE BRAKING, STILL YET VEHICLE BRAKES VERY SLUGGISHLY. OPERATOR NOTES THAT WHEN THE CONDITION OCCURS, IF HE RELEASES THEN RE-APPLIES BRAKE PEDAL PRESSURE THE BRAKES TEND TO GRAB AND TRY TO LOCK UP. OPERATOR HAS TAKEN THE VAN IN FOR SERVICE, REPLACED THE SPEED SENSOR ON REAR DIFF, PROBLEM WENT AWAY FOR 2 DAYS RECURRING THERE AFTER. SHOP MGR STATES THAT THE PROBLEM COULD BE A DUMP VALVE CAUSING MALFUNCTION. STILL INVESTIGATING PROBLEM. VEHICLE MFR HAS RECENTLY SENT A RECALL NOTICE IDENTIFYING DESC # 09S09, SPEED CONTROL SYSTEM MODIFICATION. OPERATOR WILL BE SCHEDULING THE SERVICE. MORE TO FOLLOW ON THIS SUBJECT. PROBLEM HAS BEEN NOTED AND CONTINUES TO THIS DAY, DEC 28 2010
I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE TO INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS FOR MY BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER IN AUGUST AND HAD THE WORK DONE. NOW I HAVE RECEIVED ANOTHER RECALL NOTICE WHICH STATES THAT FOMOCO "HAS DECIDED THAT A DEFECT WHICH RELATES TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY EXISTS IN A FUSED JUMPER HARNESS THE WAS INSTALLED IN YOUR VEHICLE WHEN IT WAS SERVICED." THIS APPEARS TO BE A RECALL OF THE HARNESS THAT WAS INSTALLED AS PART OF THE FIRST RECALL. I CALLED THE LOCAL FORD DEALER AND THEY WERE UNAWARE OF A SECOND RECALL AND SAID THEY HAD BEEN WAITING FOR MONTHS FOR THE HARNESSES REQUIRED FOR THE FIRST RECALL. SINCE I STILL DIDN'T KNOW IF THERE WAS A SECOND RECALL I CALLED FORDS TOLL FREE NUMBER AND EXPLAINED THE SITUATION. I WAS TOLD TO CALL THE LOCAL DEALER AND GIVE THEM MY VIN NUMBER. I HAVE NOT DONE THIS YET SINCE I ALREADY CALLED THEM AND DIDN'T GET AN ANSWER. THIS SOUNDS LIKE A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM AND I WOULD LIKE A CORRECT ANSWER. THANKS. IF THEY DON'T HAVE THE HARNESSES HOW CAN THEY DO THE REPAIRS? WHY ARE THEY NOT AWARE OF THE SECOND RECALL? WHY ARE THE RECALLS NOT FOUND ON YOUR NHTSA WEBSITE? *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
POWER STEERING UNITS MAY BE CAUSE OF VEHICLE ROLL OVER PROBLEM.*MR *TS
WHILE TRYING TO SWITCH LANE STEERING WENT OUT.*AK
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
SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF HEAD WITH THREADS IN MY 98 E250 WITH 92,000 WELL MAINTAINED MILES ON IT. THE COST IS YET TO BE DETERMINED. *TR
EXHAUST IS SMOKING BAD, SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT HAS ILLUMINATED, DEALER STATES ENGINE NEEDS REPLACED, CONSUMER STATES THERE IS A TSB REGARDING THIS, TSB 99-20-7. *SLC
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
FORD ECONOLINE E250 HD - 1998 EXTENDED MODEL; COLUMN GEAR SHIFT WILL SHIFT FROM PARK TO GEAR WITHOUT IT GOING INTO GEAR AND FROM GEAR TO PARK WITHOUT VEHICLE GOING INTO PARK BUT STAYING IN GEAR. *JB
SEAT BELT STRAP IS NOT WORKING. YH
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
SEAT BELT STRAP IS NOT WORKING. YH
PINION SEALS LEAKING (ATTORNEY FOR CLIENT). NLM
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
SEAT BELT STRAP IS NOT WORKING. YH
PINION SEALS LEAKING (ATTORNEY FOR CLIENT). NLM
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 55MPH ON HIGHWAY AND ANOTHER VEHICLE VEERED INTO HIM. DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY.*AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *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
I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE TO INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS FOR MY BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER IN AUGUST AND HAD THE WORK DONE. NOW I HAVE RECEIVED ANOTHER RECALL NOTICE WHICH STATES THAT FOMOCO "HAS DECIDED THAT A DEFECT WHICH RELATES TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY EXISTS IN A FUSED JUMPER HARNESS THE WAS INSTALLED IN YOUR VEHICLE WHEN IT WAS SERVICED." THIS APPEARS TO BE A RECALL OF THE HARNESS THAT WAS INSTALLED AS PART OF THE FIRST RECALL. I CALLED THE LOCAL FORD DEALER AND THEY WERE UNAWARE OF A SECOND RECALL AND SAID THEY HAD BEEN WAITING FOR MONTHS FOR THE HARNESSES REQUIRED FOR THE FIRST RECALL. SINCE I STILL DIDN'T KNOW IF THERE WAS A SECOND RECALL I CALLED FORDS TOLL FREE NUMBER AND EXPLAINED THE SITUATION. I WAS TOLD TO CALL THE LOCAL DEALER AND GIVE THEM MY VIN NUMBER. I HAVE NOT DONE THIS YET SINCE I ALREADY CALLED THEM AND DIDN'T GET AN ANSWER. THIS SOUNDS LIKE A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM AND I WOULD LIKE A CORRECT ANSWER. THANKS. IF THEY DON'T HAVE THE HARNESSES HOW CAN THEY DO THE REPAIRS? WHY ARE THEY NOT AWARE OF THE SECOND RECALL? WHY ARE THE RECALLS NOT FOUND ON YOUR NHTSA WEBSITE? *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER, AND PROBLEM WAS REPAIRED. *AK
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
REAR DOOR WAS NOT INSTALLED PROPERLY ON MY 1998 CHINOOK MOTOR HOME. THIS IMPROPER INSTALLATION HAS RESULTED IN EXTENSIVE INTERNAL DAMAGE AND LEFT ME WITHOUT A SAFE CLOSURE FOR THE VEHICLE. IT WAS PRESENTED FOR REPAIR AND THE DEALER FAILED TO MAKE PROPER REPAIRS TO REPAIR THIS POOR FACTORY INSTALLATION. BOTH THE MANUFATURER AND DEALER ARE NOT ACCEPTING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS STRUCTURAL FAILURE THAT COULD RESULT IN PEOPLE BEING EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE. TS
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
EXHAUST IS SMOKING BAD, SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT HAS ILLUMINATED, DEALER STATES ENGINE NEEDS REPLACED, CONSUMER STATES THERE IS A TSB REGARDING THIS, TSB 99-20-7. *SLC
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
PE00040; TIRE TREAD SEPARATION; WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 65 MPHTREAD ON REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE CAME OFF. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF VEHICLE. TIRE EQUIPMENT ON A 1998, FORD, E250. TIRE MILEAGE ABOUT 50,000, TIRE SZIE LT22575R16, AND DOT # VD1L1XD377. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK *SLC
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 .