1997 Ford E350 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 1997 Ford E350, 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
- Tires & wheels2526.9%
- Brakes1819.4%
- Engine1516.1%
- Suspension66.5%
- Fuel system55.4%
- Electrical44.3%
- Driver assistance44.3%
- Airbags33.2%
- Body & structure33.2%
- Visibility22.2%
- Powertrain (other)22.2%
- Seat belts22.2%
- Transmission22.2%
- Other / unspecified11.1%
- Steering11.1%
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
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD E-350 EQUIPPED WITH COOPER ADVENTURE HT TIRES (N/A), SIZE 265/75/16R. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE TIRE TREAD SEPARATED ON THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE. THE FAILURE HAD OCCURRED PREVIOUSLY WITH FOUR OTHER TIRES, WHICH HAD BEEN REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 15,000. THE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE TIRE #8 WENT BAD. THE CONSUMER STATED THE TIRE REPLACEMENT ALSO WENT BAD.
WHILE DRIVING AT 52 MPH (PULLING A SMALL U-HAUL TRAILER) THE LEFT REAR TIRE ON MY VAN SUFFERED COMPLETE TREAD SEPARATION. THE TREAD SUBSEQUENTLY WRAPPED AROUND THE AXLE AND HAD TO BE PRIED LOOSE. THE TREAD WAS WHOLE AND INTACT (A COMPLETE CIRCLE), BUT THE CARCASS OF THE TIRE SHREDDED. THE TIRE IS (WAS( A UNIROYAL LT 245/75 R16 APPROXIMATELY 4 YEARS OLD. I MANAGED TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY ON MY RIM. THIS OCCURRED ON SATURDAY, AUGUST 25. *TR
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON
ABS FAILURE WHEN DRIVEN FOR MORE THAN 15 MILES. *TR
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
MY V10 FORD E-350 MOTOR HAD A HEAD FAILURE AND A SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT WHILE DRIVING. A FIRE STARTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND THE EXPLOSION SOUND CREATED A PANIC AND STARTLED RESPONSE THAT ALMOST LEAD TO A VEHICLE CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR FACILITY AND THEY WERE FAMILIAR WITH THE PROBLEM. THEY WORK ON FLEET VEHICLES REGULARLY AND THEY STATED THEY HAVE SEEN THIS PROBLEM MANY TIMES BEFORE. THE ALUMINUM HEAD OF THE ENGINE WAS TOO WEAK TO HOLD ON TO THE SPARK PLUG AND THAT LEAD TO THE EXPLOSION, FIRE, AND DAMAGE. THE SHOP INFORMED ME THAT THIS COULD VERY LIKELY HAPPEN AGAIN BECAUSE OF THE DEFECTIVE DESIGN OF THE ENGINE AND IF I AM TRAVELING WITH MY FAMILY I COULD BE LEFT STRANDED, POSSIBLE A VERY DANGEROUS PART OF THE HIGHWAY WHILE DRIVING STEEP OR DANGEROUS ROADS. IF THE VEHICLE CATCHES ON FIRE AGAIN IT COULD EXPLODE IF THE GAS LINE IGNITES. THIS ONE CYLINDER COST $800 TO FIX BUT NOW I HAVE 9 OTHER ONES TO WORRY ABOUT. I WAS NOT ABLE TO FIND A CURRENT RECALL BUT THERE WILL HAVE TO BE ONE ISSUED TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF ANY AMERICAN DRIVING A FORD VEHICLE WITH THIS ENGINE. AFTER RESEARCHING THE INTERNET I HAVE FOUND LITERALLY THOUSANDS OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE STATING SIMILAR SCENARIOS. *TR
MY 97 FORD CLUB WAGON HEATER LINES TO THE REAS HEATER DISINTEGRATED. I FOUND THE LEAK AND DISCONNECTED THE LINES TO FIND THEM DETERIORATED 3/4 THE LENGTH. I KEPT THE LINES FOR INSPECTION. CONTACTING FORD THEIR RESPONSE WAS THAT THEY HAD NO INFORMATION OR RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM WITH A VEHICLE THIS OLD. MY FRIEND [XXX] , PASTOR AT CHURCH OF[XXX] , FREEPORT, ILLINOIS WAS NOT AS FORTUNATE. THE 97 FORD VAN THE CHURCH USES HAD LEAKED ENOUGH COOLANT OUT UNNOTICED THAT THEY ALMOST RUINED THE ENGINE FROM OVER-HEATING. THERE SHOULD BE A WARNING TO ALL VAN OWNERS TO WATCH FOR CORROSION AND LEAKS SO THEY DO NOT RUIN ENGINES AND A SOLUTION SHOULD BE GIVEN BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
CRUISE CONTROL STUCK ON WHEN TURNED OFF, THEN WOULD WORK ONLY SOMETIMES & STEERING VIBRATED. *TR
CRASH RIGHT FRONT,WHEEL BEARING NUT SHEERED OFF, ROTOR BROKE, WHEEL, TIRE ,AND HUB ASSEMBLY CAME OFF VEHICLE. WHEEL AND TIRE UNDAMAGED. *NM. *AK UPDATED 06/22/06 *JB
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
I LOOKED OVER MY 1997 FORD E-350 CLUB WAGON BEFORE INSPECTION LAST YEAR AND NOTICED THE FUEL TANK STRAPS WERE INADEQUATE AND RUSTING HEAVILY. THESE VEHICLES SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED AND CITED FOR THE SAME RECALL THE FORD F150'S WERE THIS WEEK. THE TWO STRAPS ARE THIN AND OF POOR QUALITY -- MY TANK IS 35 GALLONS AND I AM AFRAID TO FILL IT MORE THAN HALF FULL UNTIL I GET NEW STRAPS INSTALLED OR REINFORCE THE EXISTING ONES. EVERY TRIP, I WORRY ABOUT IT FALLING OUT AND CATCHING FIRE OR CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. *TR
FUEL TANK LEAKED FUEL FROM THE TOP OF THE TANK ON BOTH SIDES. RECALL 01V114000 WAS ISSUED REGARDING THIS PROBLEM. *AK
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
THIS YEAR BOTH THE AIRBAGS IN MY 1997 FORD E350 VAN HAVE SPONTANEOUSLY DEPLOYED ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS--EACH OCCURRING WHILE THE VAN WAS IN 'PARK'. ON 1/31/18 THE DRIVER'S BAG DEPLOYED WHEN THE VAN WAS WARMING UP IN A PARKING LOT. MY ADULT DAUGHTER STARTED THE VAN, PLUGGED HER PHONE INTO THE TOP CAR ADAPTER, AND ABOUT A MINUTE LATER (THE VAN WAS STILL PARKED) THERE WAS A BIG 'BOOM' FROM UNDER HER SEAT AND HER SEATBELT TIGHTENED. WITH THE SEATBELT STILL ON, SHE LEANED TO HER RIGHT TO SEE WHAT WAS CAUSING THE SMOKE FROM UNDER HER SEAT WHEN SUDDENLY THE DRIVER'S STEERING WHEEL AIRBAG DEPLOYED. THANKFULLY SHE WAS SPARED ANY INJURY. SHE HAD THE VAN TOWED TO A FORD DEALERSHIP, BUT THEY COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM SO I DID NOT HAVE THEM DO ANY WORK ON IT [THEY WANTED TO REPLACE THE AIRBAG AND A FEW OTHER THINGS WHICH I FELT WAS A 'BAND-AID' SOLUTION SINCE THEY ADMITTED THEY WERE GUESSING]. WE DROVE THE CAR HOME. ON 4/13/18 MY ADULT DAUGHTER WAS SITTING IN THE FIRST BENCH ROW IN THE VAN TO HAVE A QUIET PLACE TO TALK ON THE PHONE. AFTER A WHILE ON THE PHONE, SHE PLUGGED HER PHONE INTO THE SAME CHARGER AND LESS THAN A MINUTE LATER THE PASSENGER AIRBAG EXPLODED. THIS OCCURRED IN MY DRIVEWAY WHEN THERE WAS NO KEY IN THE IGNITION AND NO ONE WAS SITTING IN EITHER FRONT SEAT! AGAIN, MY DAUGHTER ESCAPED INJURY, BUT NOW THE VAN WILL NOT EVEN START. AT THIS POINT, MY LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP (A DIFFERENT ONE) AND MY PERSONAL REPAIR SHOP ARE REFUSING TO TOUCH THE VAN BECAUSE OF POTENTIAL LIABILITY REGARDING THIS KIND OF MALFUNCTION. MY INSURANCE CAN'T HELP BECAUSE THE VAN WAS NOT IN AN ACCIDENT WHEN THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AND "ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS ARE EXCLUDED FROM COMPREHENSIVE COVERAGE." FORD CUSTOMER CARE SERVICE HAS TOLD ME REPEATEDLY THAT THEY DON'T HAVE A PROTOCOL FOR THIS AND THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO TO HELP ME.
WHILE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN SPARK PLUGS BLEWOUT ON ENGINE HEAD. ENGINE HEAD WAS REPLACED. *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
CRUISE CONTROL STUCK ON WHEN TURNED OFF, THEN WOULD WORK ONLY SOMETIMES & STEERING VIBRATED. *TR
FORD POWERED MOTORHOME WAS DESTROYED BY AN ENGINE FIRE MAY 24 2008 THERE WAS A RECALL IN SEPTEMBER 2007 STATING THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL COULD CAUSE A FIRE. DURING A PHONE CALL WITH A DEALER I WAS TOLD PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. FOUR DAYS AFTER THE FIRE MAY 24 2008 I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM FORD APOLOGIZING FOR THE LACK OF PARTS BUT THAT THEY WERE NOW AVAILABLE. *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
AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON
THIS YEAR BOTH THE AIRBAGS IN MY 1997 FORD E350 VAN HAVE SPONTANEOUSLY DEPLOYED ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS--EACH OCCURRING WHILE THE VAN WAS IN 'PARK'. ON 1/31/18 THE DRIVER'S BAG DEPLOYED WHEN THE VAN WAS WARMING UP IN A PARKING LOT. MY ADULT DAUGHTER STARTED THE VAN, PLUGGED HER PHONE INTO THE TOP CAR ADAPTER, AND ABOUT A MINUTE LATER (THE VAN WAS STILL PARKED) THERE WAS A BIG 'BOOM' FROM UNDER HER SEAT AND HER SEATBELT TIGHTENED. WITH THE SEATBELT STILL ON, SHE LEANED TO HER RIGHT TO SEE WHAT WAS CAUSING THE SMOKE FROM UNDER HER SEAT WHEN SUDDENLY THE DRIVER'S STEERING WHEEL AIRBAG DEPLOYED. THANKFULLY SHE WAS SPARED ANY INJURY. SHE HAD THE VAN TOWED TO A FORD DEALERSHIP, BUT THEY COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM SO I DID NOT HAVE THEM DO ANY WORK ON IT [THEY WANTED TO REPLACE THE AIRBAG AND A FEW OTHER THINGS WHICH I FELT WAS A 'BAND-AID' SOLUTION SINCE THEY ADMITTED THEY WERE GUESSING]. WE DROVE THE CAR HOME. ON 4/13/18 MY ADULT DAUGHTER WAS SITTING IN THE FIRST BENCH ROW IN THE VAN TO HAVE A QUIET PLACE TO TALK ON THE PHONE. AFTER A WHILE ON THE PHONE, SHE PLUGGED HER PHONE INTO THE SAME CHARGER AND LESS THAN A MINUTE LATER THE PASSENGER AIRBAG EXPLODED. THIS OCCURRED IN MY DRIVEWAY WHEN THERE WAS NO KEY IN THE IGNITION AND NO ONE WAS SITTING IN EITHER FRONT SEAT! AGAIN, MY DAUGHTER ESCAPED INJURY, BUT NOW THE VAN WILL NOT EVEN START. AT THIS POINT, MY LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP (A DIFFERENT ONE) AND MY PERSONAL REPAIR SHOP ARE REFUSING TO TOUCH THE VAN BECAUSE OF POTENTIAL LIABILITY REGARDING THIS KIND OF MALFUNCTION. MY INSURANCE CAN'T HELP BECAUSE THE VAN WAS NOT IN AN ACCIDENT WHEN THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AND "ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS ARE EXCLUDED FROM COMPREHENSIVE COVERAGE." FORD CUSTOMER CARE SERVICE HAS TOLD ME REPEATEDLY THAT THEY DON'T HAVE A PROTOCOL FOR THIS AND THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO TO HELP ME.
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
The rear passenger compartment outside and inside door handles broke such that rear seating passengers cannot exit the vehicle and are trapped inside. In case of an accident, the emergency responders will have to resort to drastic time consuming measures such as ripping the doors off to save the trapped passengers. Apparently all years of Ford Econoline vans have this dangerous problem because there are numerous fix it videos all over the internet showing how to replace the cheap handle-latch failure prone plastic parts with non-breakable METAL parts.
12/11/2019
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
SIDE MIRRORS FOLD INWARD AT LEGAL HIGHWAY SPEED MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE TO THE REAR. DRIVER IS DISTRACTED BY HAVING TO WIND DOWN WINDOW AND PUSH MIRROR BACK. I HAVE COMPLAINED MANY TIMES TO DEALER BUT THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO FIX AND SAY "ALL WINNEBAGO MIRRORS DO THAT". PROBLEM IS CONTINUING.
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
SUDDEN TIRE TREAD SEPARATION OF THREE TIRES IN THREE WEEKS. TWO IN LESS THEN 15 MILES. TIRES ARE ONLY FOUR YEARS OLD AND ONLY 6000 MILES ON THEM. THEY ARE THE CORRECT SIZE AND LOAD E RATING KUHMO VENTURE HT FOR THE MOTORHOME THAT THESE TIRES ARE MOUNTED ON. THE TREAD SEPARATION HAD NO WARNING. THE MANUFACTURE CALLED THE FIRST TIRE FAILURE AS A BLOW OUT AND DID NOT TRY TO REPLACE OR INSPECT THE TIRE FOR THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. I DO NOT LONGER HAVE THE FIRST FAILED TIRE. I DO HAVE THE OTHERS TWO REARS THAT FAILED IN THE 15 MILE SPAN AND THE REAR THAT HAS NOT FAILED. THEY WERE ALL REAR TIRES IN THERE ORIGINAL LOCATIONS IN THE TIME FRAME. I WOULD HAVE EXPECTED AT LEAST TWO MORE YEARS OUT OF THE TIRES BEFORE ANY FAILURE OF THIS TYPE WOULD HAVE HAPPENED. *TR
VEHICLE CONTINUES TO VIBRATE AND MAKE NOISE AFTER ENGINE REPLACEMENT.
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
THIS YEAR BOTH THE AIRBAGS IN MY 1997 FORD E350 VAN HAVE SPONTANEOUSLY DEPLOYED ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS--EACH OCCURRING WHILE THE VAN WAS IN 'PARK'. ON 1/31/18 THE DRIVER'S BAG DEPLOYED WHEN THE VAN WAS WARMING UP IN A PARKING LOT. MY ADULT DAUGHTER STARTED THE VAN, PLUGGED HER PHONE INTO THE TOP CAR ADAPTER, AND ABOUT A MINUTE LATER (THE VAN WAS STILL PARKED) THERE WAS A BIG 'BOOM' FROM UNDER HER SEAT AND HER SEATBELT TIGHTENED. WITH THE SEATBELT STILL ON, SHE LEANED TO HER RIGHT TO SEE WHAT WAS CAUSING THE SMOKE FROM UNDER HER SEAT WHEN SUDDENLY THE DRIVER'S STEERING WHEEL AIRBAG DEPLOYED. THANKFULLY SHE WAS SPARED ANY INJURY. SHE HAD THE VAN TOWED TO A FORD DEALERSHIP, BUT THEY COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM SO I DID NOT HAVE THEM DO ANY WORK ON IT [THEY WANTED TO REPLACE THE AIRBAG AND A FEW OTHER THINGS WHICH I FELT WAS A 'BAND-AID' SOLUTION SINCE THEY ADMITTED THEY WERE GUESSING]. WE DROVE THE CAR HOME. ON 4/13/18 MY ADULT DAUGHTER WAS SITTING IN THE FIRST BENCH ROW IN THE VAN TO HAVE A QUIET PLACE TO TALK ON THE PHONE. AFTER A WHILE ON THE PHONE, SHE PLUGGED HER PHONE INTO THE SAME CHARGER AND LESS THAN A MINUTE LATER THE PASSENGER AIRBAG EXPLODED. THIS OCCURRED IN MY DRIVEWAY WHEN THERE WAS NO KEY IN THE IGNITION AND NO ONE WAS SITTING IN EITHER FRONT SEAT! AGAIN, MY DAUGHTER ESCAPED INJURY, BUT NOW THE VAN WILL NOT EVEN START. AT THIS POINT, MY LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP (A DIFFERENT ONE) AND MY PERSONAL REPAIR SHOP ARE REFUSING TO TOUCH THE VAN BECAUSE OF POTENTIAL LIABILITY REGARDING THIS KIND OF MALFUNCTION. MY INSURANCE CAN'T HELP BECAUSE THE VAN WAS NOT IN AN ACCIDENT WHEN THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AND "ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS ARE EXCLUDED FROM COMPREHENSIVE COVERAGE." FORD CUSTOMER CARE SERVICE HAS TOLD ME REPEATEDLY THAT THEY DON'T HAVE A PROTOCOL FOR THIS AND THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO TO HELP ME.
MY VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED FOR ABOUT THREE OR FOUR WEEKS AND I WENT TO START IT UP TO RUN THE ENGINE AND CHARGE THE BATTERIES AS I DID NOT PLAN TO USE IT FOR ANOTHER FEW WEEKS. WHEN I TURNED THE KEY THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED AND HIT ME HARD. ALSO THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE PRETENSIONER FIRED OFF BREAKING THE HOUSING. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER THE INCIDENT. THERE HAS NEVER BEEN AN ACCIDENT AND I CAN SEE NO DAMAGE TO THE OUTSIDE AT ALL. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD AND THEY WILL NOT ASSIGN A CASE NUMBER UNTIL IT IS INSPECTED AND CHECKED BY A FORD DEALER. THE CLOSEST FORD DEALER THAT SAID THEY WERE CAPABLE OF DOING THIS IS BOOKED UP AND CAN NOT LOOK AT IT FOR TWO WEEKS AND THEY DID MAKE AN APPOINTMENT FOR 10/25/17. THE DEALERSHIP IS ABOUT 35 MILES AND I WILL HAVE TO DRIVE IT THERE WITH THE AIRBAG HANGING OUT OF THE STEERING WHEEL. I AM SO THANKFUL THIS HAPPENED WHILE PARKED IN STORAGE AND NOT ON THE HIGHWAY AS I THE RESULT MAY HAVE BEEN FATAL TO MY SELF AND/OR OTHERS. MY INJURIES ARE SOME BRUISING, HEADACHES, AND A SORE NECK. THE MILES I ENTERED ARE APPROXIMATE, I WILL VERIFY THE EXACT NUMBER LATER. *TT CONSUMER'S STATEMENT "MY UNDERSTANDING IS THE SENSORS CHECK GOOD WITH NO OPEN CIRCUITS. THE ONLY OPEN CIRCUITS ARE THE ITEMS THAT DEPLOYED, THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG AND THE PASSENGER SIDE BELT TENSIONER. UPDATED 7/25/18*JB
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
OUR VEHICLE QUIT WHILE WE WERE DRIVING ON A 2-LANE RURAL HWY. W/NO SHOULDER. IT ACTED LIKE IT WAS LOSING POWER. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STARTED FLUTTERING ON & OFF AND THEN THE OTHER ELECTRICAL FUNCTIONS STARTED TO FADE. THE ENGINE THEN QUIT TOTALLY. WE TRIED TO RESTART THE ENGINE; IT WOULD TURN OVER BUT NOT FIRE. AFTER APPROX. 10 MINUTES WE TRIED AGAIN AND IT STARTED AND RAN FINE THE REST OF THE WAY HOME. WE TOOK OUR VEHICLE TO THE GALLOWAY FORD DEALERSHIP ON 3/25/99, INV.#FDTS344292, AND THEY SAID THE FOLLOWING ON THE INVOICE: ROAD TESTED 48 MILES AT HWY SPEED AND STOP & GO SEED W/FIRM & SOFT ACCELERATION. 2 DIFFERENT EVENTS DID HAPPEN. AFTER SHORT DRIVE HEADING TOWARDS I-75, TRANSMISSION SEEMED TO NEUTRAL OUT, THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING. BROUGHT VEHICLE BACK TO SHOP, BUT DID NOT HAPPEN ON THE WAY BACK. TOOK TO TECH. THEY TRIED 1 MORE TIME TO RECORD ON GPS, NEGATIVE RECORDING/TOOK OUT 1 MORE TIME. BEFORE GETTING OFF LOT, THE ENGINE SEEMED LIKE IT WAS GOING TO SHIFT, BUT JUST DIED. STARTED BACK UP. TOOK OUT AGAIN WITH GPS, NEITHER EVEN OCCURRED. AT VERY LOW SPEEDS, TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO BE SLIPPING OR NOT UP SHIFTING. VERY VERY LOW SPEEDS . . . . BOB BROOKS. THE TECHNICIAN AND SERVICE ADVISER TOLD ME THAT THEY DID NOT KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS OR HOW TO CORRECT IT. I THINK THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IT MY FAMILY AND I WERE ON AN INTERSTATE AND THE ENGINE QUIT? WITH NO ENGINE POWER, DO WE HAVE STEERING AND BRAKE CONTROL? I AM AFRAID TO USE MY VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THIS. ANY HELP YOU CAN BE WITH THIS PROBLEM WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. *AK
TRANSMISSION SHIFTS INTO 2ND GEAR WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH AND OVER CAUSING ENGINE TO RACE EXCESSIVELY.
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
VEHICLE IS A FORD E-350 CHASSIS EQUIPPED WITH A UNICEL BOX BODY. THE FAILURE IS THE MOUNTING OF THE TRUCK BODY TO THE CHASSIS. THE DESIGN OF THE BOX ATTACHING MECHANISM IS INFERIOR RESULTING IN A SEPARATION OF THE BODY FROM THE CHASSIS. THE BODY IS ATTACHED ONLY TO THE PLYWOOD FLOOR OF THE BOX ONLY WITH NO OTHER STRUCTURAL COMPONENTS. THE ATTACHMENT POINTS ARE ALSO INACCESSIBLE FOR INSPECTION RESULTING IN THE INABILITY TO INSPECT THE CORROSION OF THE BOLTS AND THE ULTIMATE FAILURE OF THE MOUNTING TO THE CHASSIS. *NM
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
CRUISE CONTROL STUCK ON WHEN TURNED OFF, THEN WOULD WORK ONLY SOMETIMES & STEERING VIBRATED. *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 .