2008 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 2008 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
- 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.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
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
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
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.
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.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 .