2011 Ford E-450 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 2011 Ford E-450, 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
- Fuel system333.3%
- Electrical222.2%
- Driver assistance111.1%
- Engine111.1%
- Other / unspecified111.1%
- Tires & wheels111.1%
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
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT ON A CITY STREET AND AGAIN ON AN INTERSTATE, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. A DIAGNOSTIC REPORT DETERMINED THAT THE FUEL PUMP CIRCUIT WIRING HARNESS WAS BAD. THE VEHICLE HAS 23,000.
THIS VEHICLE WAS CONVERTED TO AN AMBULANCE BY WHEELD COACH. THE AMBULANCE CAUGHT FIRE AND SPREAD TO THE BUILDING IN WHICH IT WAS PARKED AND UNOCCUPIED. A PARAMEDIC SMELLED SOMETHING COMING FROM THE BAY, AND, WHEN HE WENT TO INVESTIGATE, HE SAW SMOKE AND FIRE DRIPPING FROM UNDERNEATH THE AMBULANCE. AN INVESTIGATOR DETERMINED THAT THE LUG CONNECTION AT THE ALTERNATOR WAS IMPROPERLY INSTALLED BY WHEELED COACH. THE CONNECTION PRODUCED A HIGH RESISTANCE CONNECTION, PRODUCING TEMPERATURES SUFFICIENT TO IGNITE A COMPETENT FUEL SOURCE AND/OR CAUSED THE BATTERY CABLE INSULATION TO FAIL, PRODUCING ELECTRICAL ARCING THAT PROVIDED A COMPETENT IGNITION SOURCE TO CAUSE THE FIRE. *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 STRAIGHT ON A CITY STREET AND AGAIN ON AN INTERSTATE, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. A DIAGNOSTIC REPORT DETERMINED THAT THE FUEL PUMP CIRCUIT WIRING HARNESS WAS BAD. THE VEHICLE HAS 23,000.
THIS VEHICLE WAS CONVERTED TO AN AMBULANCE BY WHEELD COACH. THE AMBULANCE CAUGHT FIRE AND SPREAD TO THE BUILDING IN WHICH IT WAS PARKED AND UNOCCUPIED. A PARAMEDIC SMELLED SOMETHING COMING FROM THE BAY, AND, WHEN HE WENT TO INVESTIGATE, HE SAW SMOKE AND FIRE DRIPPING FROM UNDERNEATH THE AMBULANCE. AN INVESTIGATOR DETERMINED THAT THE LUG CONNECTION AT THE ALTERNATOR WAS IMPROPERLY INSTALLED BY WHEELED COACH. THE CONNECTION PRODUCED A HIGH RESISTANCE CONNECTION, PRODUCING TEMPERATURES SUFFICIENT TO IGNITE A COMPETENT FUEL SOURCE AND/OR CAUSED THE BATTERY CABLE INSULATION TO FAIL, PRODUCING ELECTRICAL ARCING THAT PROVIDED A COMPETENT IGNITION SOURCE TO CAUSE THE FIRE. *TR
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
ON TWO OCCASIONS, OVER THE PAST 2 YEARS, WHILE DRIVING ON AN INTERSTATE, I HAVE HAD THE "WRENCH" LIGHT COME ON, ON THE DASH DISPLAY. THIS IS CAUSED BY ME USING THE CRUISE CONTROL, BUT WHEN I HIT THE BRAKE TO RELEASE THE CRUISE CONTROL, THEN STEP ON THE GAS PEDAL TO BRING IT BACK UP TO SPEED, THE LIGHT APPEARS AND I GO INTO "LIMP MODE". ONCE I PULL OVER AND STOP THE ENGINE, APPARENTLY THIS RE-SETS THE SYSTEM, AND THE VEHICLE DRIVES OKAY. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY A FORD TECH THAT THIS IS THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL AND THAT IT MAY BE NORMAL, BUT I FEEL IT IS TOO SENSITIVE. I AM WONDERING IF IT SHOULD HAVE A RECALL ON IT.
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
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD E-450. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR FILTER FAILED TO FUNCTION PROPERLY. THE PLASTIC CAP BECAME UNGLUED AND WAS SUCKED INTO THE INTAKE, PREVENTING AIR FROM ENTERING THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED BY A DEALER. THE CONTACT, AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, REMOVED THE FRAM AIR FILTER TO DIAGNOSE AND REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE AIR FILTER MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.
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
AS INSTRUCTED BY NHTSA 13T-012 TIRE RE CALL MICHELIN HAS FAILED TO PROVIDED REPLACEMENT TIRES THRU ITS FORD AND DEALER NETWORK TO ME. *TT
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
SIDEWALL CRACKING. *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 .