RoadVitals

1989 Ford E350 Owner Complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full

Data refreshed

Complaints on fileComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
26
Latest Apr 4, 2014
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
2
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
0
Reports on file since May 3, 1995

What this page shows

Our database holds 26 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1989 Ford E350. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Complaints, most recent first

Showing 1–25 of 26 · page 1 of 2

Fuel systemPowertrain (other)
Filed Apr 4, 2014
Crash reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1989 FORD E-350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE EXITING FROM THE WHEEL CHAIR RAMP THAT WAS ATTACHED TO THE VEHICLE IN A WHEEL CHAIR, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY ROLLED AWAY AND CRASHED INTO A GATE. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED. ADDITIONALLY, THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 70 MPH AND SMELLED AN ABNORMAL AND PERSISTENT GASOLINE ODOR. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SEE GASOLINE SPEWING FROM THE VEHICLE IN THE REAR-VIEW MIRROR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT INQUIRED WITH THE MANUFACTURER OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 90V101000 (POWER TRAIN) AND 91V146000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN EITHER RECALL. THE MANUFACTURE WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DECLINED TO PROVIDE A REMEDY TO REPAIR THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HAD EXPERIENCED BOTH FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,000.

NHTSA ID
10577404
Incident
Jul 4, 2013
Mileage
103,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jun 21, 2004

INTERMITTENTLY VEHICLE LOSES BRAKE POWER WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED, BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR AND FAILS TO STOP THE TRUCK. THE EMERGENCY BRAKES HAD TO BE ENGAGED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER WAS REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITH IN 400 MILES. DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE MASTER CYLINDER AGAIN, AND BLEED THE BRAKES. HOWEVER, FAILURE RECURRED WITHIN 1500 MILES. THEN, DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THIS FAILURE OCCURRED BECAUSE THE BRAKE LINE WAS ROUTED BEHIND THE ENGINE , WHICH GET HOT AND BOILED THE FLUID.*AK

NHTSA ID
10079553
Incident
May 21, 2004
Mileage
25,000 mi
BrakesTransmission
Filed Jan 26, 2002

BRAKE CALIPER FAILED TO RELEASE, BOILING THE BRAKE FLUID (UNBEKNOWNST TO ME UNTIL IT CAME TIME TO APPLY THE BRAKES). THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. I LET IT UP COMPLETELY AND WHEN DEPRESSED, IT WENT TO THE FLOOR ONCE AGAIN. I USED THE TRANSMISSION (GEARING DOWN) AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO BRING VEHICLE TO A STOP. THE MASTER CYLINDER BRAKE INDICATOR LIGHT NEVER ILLUMINATED. WHEN REPAIRS WERE COMPLETED, THE PRIMARY FAULT WAS IDENTIFIED AS EXTREMELY RUSTY FRONT BRAKE CALIPERS. ONE DID NOT RELEASE COMPLETELY AFTER A BRAKE APPLICATION, CAUSING SUFFICIENT HEAT BUILDUP TO BOIL THE BRAKE FLUID. MECHANIC SAID THE REAR BRAKES WERE BADLY OUT OF ADJUSTMENT, GIVING THE OPINION THAT WAS THE REASON THE MASTER CYLINDER INDICATOR LIGHT DID NOT ILLUMINATE. UNTIL THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED, I DID NOT KNOW THAT IT WAS INCUMBENT ON THE VEHICLE OPERATOR TO OCCASIONALLY MAKE REVERSE MOVES WITH AGGRESSIVE BRAKE APPLICATIONS (DONE SEVERAL TIMES) TO CINCH UP THE REAR BRAKE ADJUSTMENT. THUS, OVER TIME, THE FRONT BRAKES WERE BASICALLY DOING ALMOST ALL THE BRAKING EFFORT. IF I HAD HAD THE PRESENCE OF MIND TO PUMP THE BRAKE PEDAL REPEATEDLY, I PERHAPS COULD HAVE CAUSED THE REAR BRAKES TO ENGAGE, AND BRING THE VEHICLE TO A STOP WITHOUT DOWNGEARING AND USING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE.*AK

NHTSA ID
757383
Incident
Jun 24, 2001
Fuel system
Filed Mar 12, 2001

WHILE DRIVING FUEL WILL SPILL OUT FROM TANK ONTO GROUND, RECALL #93S68. *AK THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL EVENTHOUGH THE PROBLELM IS IDENTICAL TO THAT STATED IN RECALL # 93S68. *YH

NHTSA ID
882770
Incident
Aug 1, 2000
Fuel system
Filed Feb 12, 2001

THE ORIGIONAL FUEL SPILL OCCURRED WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE DOWN LAS VEGAS BLVD S. I NOTICED THAT MY FUEL GAUGE WAS SHOWING ONLY HALF FULL ON THE REAR TANK WHEN I HAD JUST FILLED THE VAN. I THEN NOTICED I WAS TRAILING FUEL DOWN THE STREET. I STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED IT WAS POURING FUEL FROM THE FILL CAP FOR THE FRONT TANK. I SWITCHED TO THE FRONT TANK AND THE FUEL SPILL STOPPED. I CALLED THE LOCAL FORD DEALER AND THE SAID IT WOULD COST OVER ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS TO REPLACE THE PART TO FIX THIS PROBLEM AND WOULD TAKE A WEEK TO GET THE PART. I WENT BACK TO SAN DIEGO AND WENT TO PEARSON FORD AND WAS TOLD I WOULD HAVE TO SPEND UPWARDS OF $1000.00 AND THEY WOULD HAVE TO ORDER PARTS. I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO RECALL ON MY VEHICLE. I HAVE SINCE AAQUIRED THE "91S39 SAFETY RECALL" AND CALLED FORD FACTORY. THEY SAID MY VAN WASN'T RECALLED. I THEN AQUIRED YOUR NHTSA CAMPAICN ID NUMBER: 91V146000 AND CALLED THE FORD NUMBER --IT IS NO LONGER IN SERVICE. I CALLED FORD WITH THE INFORMATION AGAIN AND AGAIN WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO RECALL ON BY VAN. I HAVE HAD SIX INSTANCES OF FUEL SPILLING FROM THE VAN AND FEEL FORD SHOULD REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE FUEL TANK SELECTOR . PLEAQS HELP. *AK

NHTSA ID
740788
Incident
Jan 1, 1996
ElectricalEngine
Filed Dec 28, 2000

WHILE CLIMBING HILLS ON VERY WARM DAYS, THE VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED STALLING, ON ONE OCCASION, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THERE WAS A LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKES, THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE TFI IGNITION MODULE AND DISTRIBUTOR. *SLC

NHTSA ID
558383
Incident
Jun 1, 1998
Brakes
Filed Jul 28, 2000

WROTE AN EXPLANATION OF WHOLE PROBLEM BUT WON'T FIT HERE. PLANNING TRIP TO MOUNTAINS, BUT SCARED TO GO WITHOUT RESOLUTION TO PROBLEM. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED WITHIN SUMMARY. *AK

NHTSA ID
726170
Incident
Oct 6, 1995
Filed May 2, 1999

NO SUMMARY

NHTSA ID
706165
Incident
Aug 18, 1990
Engine
Filed Sep 3, 1998

CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILED.

NHTSA ID
540731
Incident
May 1, 1998
Brakes
Filed Jul 27, 1997

BRAKE FAILURE.

NHTSA ID
521934
Incident
Mar 1, 1990
Brakes
Filed Apr 1, 1997

LOST BRAKING POWER WHILE DRIVING DOWN STEEP GRADE, NO PRESSURE IN PEDAL. WAS TOLD BY A DEALER THAT CALIPERS/PADS OVERHEATED. *AK

NHTSA ID
809883
Incident
Sep 15, 1996
BrakesInterior & seatsTires & wheels
Filed Dec 16, 1996

BRAKES FAILED.

NHTSA ID
512637
Brakes
Filed Oct 9, 1996

BRAKES EXPERIENCING OVERHEATING, REPLACEMENT OF THE DEFECTIVE REAR BRAKE CYLINDERS DID NOT RECTIFY OVERHEATING.

NHTSA ID
509676
Incident
Sep 18, 1996
Brakes
Filed Sep 4, 1996

COMING TO A STOP WHILE GOING DOWN HILL THE BRAKES FAILED/REPLACED FRONT BRAKE PADS, ROTORS AND BRAKE HOSES. *AK

NHTSA ID
801807
Incident
Jun 21, 1996
Brakes
Filed Aug 20, 1996

BRAKE FAILURE.

NHTSA ID
507732
Incident
Aug 6, 1996
Brakes
Filed Jun 26, 1996

BRAKE FLUID OVERHEATED, CAUSING BRAKE FAILURE. *DH

NHTSA ID
505852
Incident
Apr 15, 1996
Body & structure
Filed Apr 1, 1996

HAND RAIL FAILED ON BUS NUMBER 142. (NINTH VEHICLE ON 503019) *DSH

NHTSA ID
601364
Incident
Apr 1, 1996
Body & structure
Filed Apr 1, 1996

HAND RAIL FAILED ON BUS NUMBER 141. (EIGHTH VEHICLE ON 503019) *DSH

NHTSA ID
601363
Incident
Apr 1, 1996
Body & structure
Filed Apr 1, 1996

HAND RAIL FAILED ON BUS NUMBER 140. (SEVENTH VEHICLE ON 503019) *DSH

NHTSA ID
601362
Incident
Apr 1, 1996
Body & structure
Filed Apr 1, 1996

HAND RAIL FAILED ON BUS NUMBER 139. (SIXTH VEHICLE ON 503019) *DSH

NHTSA ID
601361
Incident
Apr 1, 1996
Body & structure
Filed Apr 1, 1996

HAND RAIL FAILED ON BUS NUMBER 138. (FIFTH VEHICLE ON 503019) *DSH

NHTSA ID
601360
Incident
Apr 1, 1996
Engine
Filed Jan 2, 1996

CATALYTIC CONVERTER PLUGGED UP,CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL. *SD

NHTSA ID
500059
Incident
Jun 1, 1992
Engine
Filed Sep 22, 1995

EXHAUST MANIFOLD CRACKED ON THE LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE OF VEHICLE. TT

NHTSA ID
972332
Incident
Jul 1, 1995
Brakes
Filed Jun 16, 1995
Fire reported

THE FRONT BRAKE FAILURE(CALIPER OVER HEAT) THE BRAKE FLUID CAUGHT ON FIRE. TT

NHTSA ID
967139
Incident
Jun 1, 1992
Brakes
Filed Jun 14, 1995

AFTER SUSTAINED AND FREQUENT USE OF BRAKES THEY APPARENTLY OVERHEAT AND PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR. *AK

NHTSA ID
966891
Incident
May 29, 1995

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.

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