EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY
2008 Ford E-250
Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Overview
Our database contains 6 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2008 Ford E-250, most frequently naming the engine, tires & wheels and driver assistance categories. 22 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 1 NHTSA investigation names it; and 16 manufacturer communications are on file.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Complaint activity over time
When owners filed reports about this model year
View as table
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Mar 2010 | 1 | 1 |
| Jan 2012 | 1 | 2 |
| Jul 2013 | 1 | 3 |
| Mar 2017 | 1 | 4 |
| Jan 2021 | 1 | 5 |
| Jul 2024 | 1 | 6 |
What owners report
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
- Engine220.0%
- Tires & wheels220.0%
- Driver assistance110.0%
- Airbags110.0%
- Other / unspecified110.0%
- Powertrain (other)110.0%
- Fuel system110.0%
- Body & structure110.0%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Safety recalls
22 campaigns cover this model year
Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.
Check a VIN on NHTSA.govEQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY
EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY
Safety investigations
NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.
HVAC Switch Failures
This investigation was opened based on one complaint and reports from four transportation fleets alleging 182 blower motor control switch failures.ODI was concerned that these melting and burning switches could lead to an open flame that could spread throughout the vehicle.After a comprehensive review of all data related to overheating blower motor control switches in the subject vehicles, ODI did not identify the existence of a safety defect trend.ODI reviewed 1,036 complaints, claims, and field reports of failed blower motor control switches and determined that only two fires were likely to have been caused by a failing subject blower motor control switch.This represents a failure rate of 0.2 R/100K on a population of 1,076,975 vehicles that have been in service for up to 14 years.ODI has found that when the subject switches do fail and begin to melt, they are constructed in a manner that typically prevents the failing switch from igniting and developing into an open flame.Ford Motor Company has agreed to take two actions to further reduce the likelihood an overheated blower motor switch in the subject vehicles.Ford informed ODI that it has implemented a series of design changes to the subject switch that will help prevent it from developing internal high resistance short circuits.Ford has also informed ODI that it would release a Technical Service Bulletin (TSB-11-11-21) instructing subject vehicle owners to replace the electrical connector at the same time a failed switch is replaced.In light of the low rate of failure resulting in open flame and fire spread on the subject vehicles, and Ford's actions to reduce the likelihood of a switch failure through switch design changes and a TSB, further use of agency resources does not appear to be warranted.The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that no safety-related defect exists.The agency reserves the right to take further action if warranted by the circumstances.The ODI complaints cited above can be reviewed at www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID under the following (ODI) numbers: 10427875, 10114393, 10257890For additional information, see the attached closing report.
Recent owner complaints
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
I purchased DORMAN Replacement TPMS Sensors 974-050 from ROCKAUTO for my van. Installed less than 2 years and all are bad. ROCKAUTO stated they were wholesale closeout on only offer a 30 day warranty. Contact DORMAN and they stated LIFETIME and that ROCKAUTO should not have sold out of date sensors and to contact ROCKAUTO. After several emails to ROCKAUTO they basically say sorry out of warranty. The date code on the sensors are 11326-385 they were built in 2011. They should have some kind of law for selling outdated safety equipment. I have my Shipping Packing List , one sensor that I never installed and 4 of the 5 boxes.
- NHTSA ID
- 11601030
- Incident
- Jul 8, 2024
THANKFULLY I WAS DRIVING SLOWLY BETWEEN CURVES ON A STRETCH OF ROADWAY WITH A 30MPH SPEED LIMIT (ONE LANE EACH DIRECTION) WHEN I 'BLEW A SPARK PLUG'. THE COIL WAS ALSO DAMAGED I WAS TOLD. I WAS ALSO TOLD THERE'S NO GUARANTEE THAT IT WOULD NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN, AND I HAVE 7 OTHER SPARK PLUGS AND COILS IN THE ENGINE, SO EXPECT IT. ALLEGEDLY 3 WERE REPLACED JUST BEFORE WE BOUGHT THIS USED IN 2016. I TRIED TO GET RECEIPTS FOR VEHICLE MAINTENANCE RECORDS, BUT THE SHOP REFUSED AND THE PRIVATE OWNER HAD MOVED AND THROWN HER PAPERWORK AWAY. THIS WAS IN MASSACHUSETTS. I HAD NO WARNING, THAT I KNOW OF. SUDDENLY THERE WAS A LOUD BANG AND A REPEATED BANG, BANG, BANG! I PULLED OVER IMMEDIATELY. (THANKFULLY IT WASN'T A 3 OR MORE LANE HIGHWAY WITH MY MOTHER IN HER WHEELCHAIR!) THE BANGING ONLY STOPPED WHEN THE ENGINE WAS OFF. I WAS UNABLE TO LOOK AT THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WITH THE VAN ON BECAUSE I WAS AFRAID OF MORE DAMAGE! IT WAS PUT ON A FLATBED AND TOWED BY AAA, TO A SHOP A FEW MILES AWAY. UNFORTUNATELY, THIS SHOP COULDN'T GET IT INSIDE TO WORK ON. A FRIEND OF MINE DID THE REPAIR IN THE PARKING LOT. ***APPARENTLY THIS IS A VERY FREQUENT PROBLEM WITH THESE FORD E250 ENGINES. THERE IS A LOT OF PEOPLE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAD NO IDEA! IT COULD BE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS ON A MULTI LANE HIGHWAY, TRAVELING AT HIGH SPEEDS, GOING UP AND DOWN THE MOUNTAINS (I TRAVEL BETWEEN NYS & MASSACHUSETTS), IN SUBZERO TEMPERATURES ESPECIALLY WITH SOMEONE IN A WHEELCHAIR ONBOARD!*** I HAVE NO RECEIPTS. AAA OF CENTRAL NY SHOULD HAVE A RECORD OF THE TOW.
- NHTSA ID
- 11387290
- Incident
- Dec 28, 2020
- Mileage
- 162,400 mi
MY TRANSMISSION WENT ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO. I WAS TOLD THAT FORD HAD BAD TRANSMISSIONS IN THE YEARS OF MY VAN, BY THE MECHANIC. THEN FRIDAY NIGHT I WAS DRIVING ALONG AND THE VAN STARTED ACTING FUNNY, NOT ACCELERATING AND A WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON. THEN A LITTLE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND MY CAR DIED. I GOT IT TO GO ABOUT 30MPH ON THE EXPRESSWAY AND GOT IT TO THE GARAGE. :[ I LOOKED UP WHAT HAPPENED AND FOUND OUT THAT THE THROTTLE BODY PROBLEM IS COMMON IN THE FORD, JUST NOT THE E250. BUT IT IS THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE ESCAPE, SO OBVIOUSLY A FORD PROBLEM!! I HAVE ALREADY PUT IN A NEW TRANSMISSION AND NOW THIS. I FEEL THAT THESE THINGS SHOULD NOT GO AFTER ONLY 9 YEARS. THIS VEHICLE IS FOR TRANSPORTING MY TWO BOYS IN WHEELCHAIRS WITH A MUSCLE DISEASE. I NEED MY CAR!!! BUT I AM GOING BROKE! IF THESE PROBLEMS ARE FORD AND YOU ARE FIXING THEM FOR FREE WITHIN TEN YEARS, THEN THAT IS WHAT YOU SHOULD DO! [XXX]. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10960296
- Incident
- Mar 1, 2017
- Mileage
- 76,000 mi
I WAS DRIVING IN THE RAIN GOING 45 AND AS I WAS HEADING DOWNHILL I ATTEMPTED TO SLOW DOWN. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO HYDROPLANE AND I COULD NOT CONTROL THE DIRECTION I WAS GOING. I RAN FRONT FIRST INTO A GUARDRAIL AND MY VAN FLIPPED OVER AND ROLLED. THE AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10526188
- Incident
- Jul 18, 2013
- Mileage
- 195,000 mi
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD E-250 WITH HANKOOK DYNAPRO AS TIRES, SIZE LT245/75/R16, DOT NUMBER: T7XD5JNH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THERE WAS A SEVERE THUMP FELT FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. AFTER TAKING THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE SEPARATED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CERTIFIED DEALER WHERE THE TIRE WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED WITHIN A FEW MONTHS. THE TIRE WAS REPLACED A SECOND TIME. LATER, THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE FAILURE COULD HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY A DEFECT IN THE VEHICLE ITSELF. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 4,000. THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 3,500.
- NHTSA ID
- 10442163
- Incident
- Apr 1, 2011
- Mileage
- 4,000 mi
WHEN THE ENGINE ON THE 2008 E250 FORD CARGO VAN WAS STARTED AND THE TRUCK PUT INTO THE DRIVE GEAR, THE ENGINE RACED AT A HIGH RPM RATE SUFFICIENT TO SPIN THE REAR WHEELS, LUNGE FORWARD UNDER WHAT FELT LIKE FULL POWER, SLAMMED THROUGH A FENCE AND DOWN INTO A RAVINE. THE VAN WAS A RENTAL FROM ENTERPRISE LEASING CO. THE PASSENGER'S RIGHT RING FINGER WAS SEVERED IN THE CRASH. NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND APPARENTLY NEVER INSTALLED IN THE 2008 VAN. THE ACCELERATOR APPEARED TO BE STUCK IN THE OUT-OF-CONTROL RUN-AWAY. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10315281
- Incident
- Jul 25, 2009
- Mileage
- 42,250 mi
Manufacturer communications
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; STRUCTURE:BODY
Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with wired keyless entry keypad systems and accessory wireless keyless entry keypad systems may or may not come with a wallet card containing the master code. Unlike the integrated wired keypad, the accessory wireless keypad master code cannot be retrieved from the vehicle using a diagnostic scan tool or from the label printed on the body control module (BCM). The Factory Keyless Entry Code application within the diagnostic scan tool will not provide an applicable master code for the accessory wireless keypad. If the wallet card for an accessory keypad is not available, the "Wireless RF Keypad Diagnosis Guide" can be referenced and provides direction on how to retrieve the master code. This guide is located under the Workshop Manual tab > Accessories > Installation > Wireless RF Keypad Diagnosis Guide > PPT C > Step C2.<br /><br /> Note: The only available keypad for some vehicles from the assembly plant is the accessory wireless keyless entry keypad. The integrated wired keypad cannot be installed on vehicles not equipped from the factory with a wired keyless entry k
EQUIPMENT
All accessory stick-on keyless entry keypads come with a wallet card containing the master code. If the accessory keypad was factory installed, this card will be placed in the glove box and should be handed to the vehicles owner during initial delivery. Unlike the integrated (wired) factory keypad, the accessory keypad master code cannot be retrieved from the vehicle using a diagnostic scan tool. If the wallet card for an accessory keypad is lost, follow these steps to recover the code. Dealer Key Code access is granted through the Dealer Program Enrollment System (DPES); dealership management can authorize users. The authorized user must go to FMCDealer.com > Parts and Service > Parts Product Line Information > Keys/Entry Devices > Aftermarket Keyless Entry Keypad Code Access. Follow the instructions on the screen to obtain the master code for the accessory keypad.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
When performing any transmission fluid changes or topoffs involving MERCON SP, MERCON LV has replaced all versions of MERCON SP and can be used going forward. Mixing MERCON LV and MERCON SP in the same transmission is acceptable. After 30-Jun-2023, MERCON SP ATF will no longer be manufactured and will only be available until inventory depletes.
EQUIPMENT
Replacing the original equipment SYNC/Navigation system with either an aftermarket SYNC/Navigation kit or modifying original SYNC/Navigation parts to provide additional features is not recommended nor supported on any Ford, Mercury or Lincoln vehicle. Only approved Genuine Ford accessories or originally installed systems are supported and certified to function correctly with other vehicle systems. If you suspect a system has been modified, the following resources can be used to verify original equipment: Monroney Label (Window Sticker), Professional Technician Society (PTS) OASIS tab select SYNC or HVBOM. For Genuine Ford accessories use: PTS Workshop Tab select Dealer Installed Accessory or Accessory Installation.
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL
The Accessory (Wireless) Keyless Entry Keypad can only be used with vehicles that are factory built with Remote Keyless Entry (RKE). The master code for the Accessory (Wireless) Keyless Entry Keypad can be retrieved from FMCDealer - Parts and Service - Parts Product Line Information - Keys/Entry Devices - Aftermarket Keyless Entry Keypad Code Access. Access to this site is granted through Dealer Program Enrollment System (DPES) and Dealer Principal, General Manager or Parts and Service Director can authorize users. Once authorized the retrieval process for master code can be obtained. The master code for the Accessory Keyless Entry Keypad cannot be retrieved from the body control module(BCM) with a diagnostic tool.
POWER TRAIN
4R75E Transmission - Grinding/Whine/Vibration/Gear Slippage - Serrvice Kit available
Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.
Compare model years
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Investigations | Issue Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2022 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2021 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2020 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2019 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2018 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2017 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2016 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2014 | 7 | 11 | 0 | — |
| 2013 | 11 | 11 | 0 | 49.1 |
| 2012 | 8 | 12 | 0 | — |
| 2011 | 6 | 18 | 0 | — |
| 2010 | 9 | 13 | 0 | — |
| 2009 | 2 | 19 | 0 | — |
| 2008Viewing | 6 | 22 | 1 | — |
| 2007 | 6 | 27 | 1 | — |
| 2006 | 12 | 31 | 1 | 60.4 |
| 2005 | 11 | 11 | 1 | 61.1 |
| 2004 | 8 | 18 | 2 | — |
| 2003 | 17 | 8 | 2 | 65.8 |
| 2002 | 17 | 5 | 2 | 61.4 |
| 2001 | 18 | 3 | 2 | 62.3 |
| 2000 | 18 | 5 | 2 | 63.2 |
| 1999 | 31 | 6 | 2 | 58.8 |
| 1998 | 16 | 5 | 2 | 53.0 |
| 1997 | 24 | 4 | 3 | 62.4 |
| 1996 | 20 | 3 | 0 | 48.6 |
| 1995 | 15 | 3 | 0 | 55.1 |
| 1994 | 11 | 3 | 1 | 51.4 |
| 1993 | 7 | 3 | 1 | — |
| 1992 | 14 | 3 | 3 | 61.2 |
| 1991 | 8 | 1 | 5 | — |
| 1990 | 4 | 2 | 6 | — |
| 1989 | 7 | 2 | 5 | — |
| 1988 | 2 | 0 | 4 | — |
| 1987 | 0 | 2 | 3 | — |
| 1986 | 0 | 3 | 4 | — |
| 1985 | 2 | 5 | 4 | — |
| 1984 | 2 | 6 | 3 | — |
| 1983 | 0 | 6 | 1 | — |
| 1982 | 0 | 3 | 1 | — |
| 1981 | 0 | 1 | 1 | — |
| 1980 | 1 | 2 | 1 | — |
| 1979 | 1 | 4 | 1 | — |
| 1978 | 1 | 6 | 1 | — |
| 1977 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 1976 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 1975 | 0 | 5 | 0 | — |
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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.