1998 Ford E350 Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD E-350 EQUIPPED WITH STARFIRE SF-510 TIRES, SIZE LT245-75-R16 (NA). WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR A STATE INSPECTION, THE SIDEWALL OF THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE WAS FOUND WITH INTERNAL INDENTATIONS. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE TIRE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE TIRE WAS NOT REPLACED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE DOT NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE TIRE AND VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

I PURCHASED A TOTAL OF 7 MICHELIN LTX M/S TIRES LT225/75R16 E FOR MY MINI MOTORHOME. THEY ARE DRY-ROTTING RIGHT OFF THE RIMS. THIS IS AN ESTABLISHED PROBLEM. WHEN I WAS DIRECTED TO A DEALER (FORREST TIRE OF ARTESIA, NM) I WAS OFFERED A DISCOUNT ON BUYING MORE TIRES. I WAS EXTREMELY DISMAYED THAT MICHELIN WAS QUERYING THE TIRE DEALER ABOUT THE MAKE, MODEL, YEAR AND MILEAGE OF MY MOTORHOME! WHAT HAS THAT GOT TO DO WITH DEFECTIVE/DANGEROUS TIRES? I SPOKE WITH A MAN WHO HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH LTX M/S TIRES THAT CAME ON HIS NEW PICKUP AND THEY WERE REPLACED FOR MOUNTING AND BALANCING ONLY. I PURCHASED TWO FOR THE FRONT, BUT SIMPLY CAN'T BUY ALL 7 ON SOCIAL SECURITY, THEN SUE MICHELIN. THESE ARE LOT NUMBERS B3JH FBXX 0905, 0205, AND 4204. I CAN SCRAPE DRIED RUBBER OFF THE SIDEWALL WITH MY FINGERNAIL! THIS IS DANGEROUS, AND I AM SITTING HERE AFRAID TO DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY, WAITING FOR SOMETHING TO HAPPEN. *TR

When braking hard, braking power declines after mid peddle range, resulting in crash. Had taken to dealer many years earlier for ABS recall fix.

BRAKE LINE CORROSION THAT LET FLUID DRAIN AND CAUSED BRAKE FAILURE. *TR

SPARK PLUGS POTENTIALLY EJECT FROM CYLINDER HEADS DUE TO BAD ENGINEERING DESIGN USING ALUMINUM HEADS WITH INSUFFICIENT AMOUNT OF THREADS TO HOLD SPARK PLUGS WHEN IN MOTION. NEWER VEHICLES WERE RE-ENGINEERED TO ELIMINATE THIS HAPPENING. REQUEST RECALL AND REPAIR.

POWERSTROKE 7.3 DIESEL. THE CAMSHAFT POSITIONING SENSOR (CPS) FAILURE IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT FORD WILL HAVE TO DEAL WITH. I HAVE HAD THREE INSTANCES OF THE UNIT FAILING ON ME SINCE THIS FIRST ONE ON DEC 13TH, 2007. IN THE FIRST CASE, I WAS TAKING MY SON TO SCHOOL. THE VAN WAS SPUTTERING THE WHOLE WAY AND I EVENTUALLY HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP AFTER A COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE. FORD HAD JUST ISSUED THE RECALL ON DEC 6TH, 2007, AND THEY HONORED THE REPAIR. THE SECOND CPS INCIDENT HAPPENED ON FEB 23RD, 2010. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START; I HAD IT TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP AFTER GETTING A PARKING TICKET. I CANNOT FIND PROOF THAT FORD HONORED THE REPAIR. THE 3RD CPS INCIDENT HAPPENED ON SUNDAY FEB 27TH, 2011, ONE YEAR AFTER THE 2ND INCIDENT. I WAS IN FLAGSTAFF, AZ DURING A SNOWSTORM, AND THE VEHICLE WAS FAILING ON ME ON ROUTE 66. IT STALLED TWICE ON THE MAIN HIGHWAY AS THE SNOWPLOWS WHIPPED AROUND ME. I GOT BACK TO WHERE I WAS STAYING, AND WAITED UNTIL MONDAY MORNING WHEN I HAD IT TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP AND HAD THE CPS UNIT REPLACED. THIS ENGINE IS UNSAFE AND UNRELIABLE. THE CPS UNIT CAN FAIL AT ANYTIME, ANYWHERE, AND MAYBE AT ANY SPEED, THOUGH MY ISSUES WERE AT LOW SPEED OR AT STARTUP. FORD WILL NOT HONOR THIS LATEST INCIDENT BECAUSE THEY SAY AFTER MY FIRST REPLACEMENT IN DEC 2007 THAT MY "CASE WAS CLOSED IN 2007".

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD E-350. WHILE DRIVING THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER AND THE ENGINE WOULD BEGAN TO MALFUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO CONFIRMED THAT THE FUEL SYSTEM WAS DELAMINATING. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 198,910 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 202,300.

FUEL TANK LINING DETERIORATING. I HAVE FOUND FLAKES IN MY LAST FOUR FUEL FILTERS. VEHICLE LOSS OF POWER, THEN ROUGH RUNNING. THE FLAKES ARE IN THE FILTER I HAVE ADDED BETWEEN TANK AND FUEL PUMP. THEY ARE SMALL PIECES OF GREY OR SILVER PAINT. I AM GOING TO HAVE TO REPLACE FUEL TANK IN ORDER TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM. I REPLACED THE FILTER THIS MORNING, PUT APPROX. 90 MILES ON VAN AND FOUND SEVERAL OUNCES IN THE FILTER THIS EVENING. *TR

1998 FORD E 350 POWERSTROKE 7.3 DIESEL. THE CAMSHAFT POSITIONING SENSOR (CPS) FAILURE IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT FORD WILL HAVE TO DEAL WITH. I HAVE HAD THREE INSTANCES OF THE UNIT FAILING ON ME SINCE THIS FIRST ONE ON DEC 13TH, 2007. IN THE FIRST CASE, I WAS TAKING MY SON TO SCHOOL. THE VAN WAS SPUTTERING THE WHOLE WAY AND I EVENTUALLY HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP AFTER A COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE. FORD HAD JUST ISSUED THE RECALL ON DEC 6TH, 2007, AND THEY HONORED THE REPAIR. THE SECOND CPS INCIDENT HAPPENED ON FEB 23RD, 2010. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START; I HAD IT TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP AFTER GETTING A PARKING TICKET. I CANNOT FIND PROOF THAT FORD HONORED THE REPAIR. THE 3RD CPS INCIDENT HAPPENED ON SUNDAY FEB 27TH, 2011, ONE YEAR AFTER THE 2ND INCIDENT. I WAS IN FLAGSTAFF, AZ DURING A SNOWSTORM, AND THE VEHICLE WAS FAILING ON ME ON ROUTE 66. IT STALLED TWICE ON THE MAIN HIGHWAY AS THE SNOWPLOWS WHIPPED AROUND ME. I GOT BACK TO WHERE I WAS STAYING, AND WAITED UNTIL MONDAY MORNING WHEN I HAD IT TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP AND HAD THE CPS UNIT REPLACED. THIS ENGINE IS UNSAFE AND UNRELIABLE. THE CPS UNIT CAN FAIL AT ANYTIME, ANYWHERE, AND MAYBE AT ANY SPEED, THOUGH MY ISSUES WERE AT LOW SPEED OR AT STARTUP. FORD WILL NOT HONOR THIS LATEST INCIDENT BECAUSE THEY SAY AFTER MY FIRST REPLACEMENT IN DEC 2007 THAT MY 'CASE WAS CLOSED'. *TR

I BELIEVE THE EVENTS LEADING TO THE FAILURE IN MY MOTOR HOME STARTED WITH THE FIRST RECALL (SEPT. 2007)THAT SAID THAT A FUSE-ABLE LINK HAD TO BE INSTALLED IN THE BRAKE SYSTEM TO PREVENT A POSSIBLE FIRE HAZARD. I COMPLIED. SHORTLY THERE AFTER MY ABS LIGHT STARTED BLINKING ON AND OFF IRREGULARLY. THEN AFTER A VERY FEW MILES IT STAYED ON ALL THE TIME THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING. I CALLED THE DEALER WHERE THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED AND THEY SAID THAT THE ABS HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE RECALL ISSUE . THAT MY BRAKES WOULD STILL WORK, THAT THE ABS JUST EFFECTS THE NONE SKID PREVENTION IN SLIPPERY CONDITIONS. WE TOOK THE MOTOR HOME ON A TRIP TO BIRMINGHAM, (ABOUT 100 MILES) DURING THE THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY. ON 11-24-07 WHILE LEAVING THE CAMPGROUNDS AT ABOUT 20 MPH THE ENGINE QUIT LIKE YOU TURNED OFF THE KEY. A MINOR INSPECTION INDICATED THE MAIN POWER FUSE TO THE COMPUTER HAD BLOWN. . I HAD A WRECKER TOW THE MOTOR HOME TO A DEALERSHIP. THE FOLLOWING MONDAY MORNING I CONTACTED THE SERVICE CENTER AND TOLD THEM WHAT HAD HAPPENED, THEY CHECKED IT OUT AND CALLED ME AND SAID THAT A VERY EXPENSIVE WIRING HARNESS HAD WAS SHORTED OUT BY A O2 SENSOR AND IT WOULD COST AROUND $1750.00 TO FIX IT. I SAID OK, FIX IT. AFTER THE REPAIRS WERE DONE I BROUGHT IT HOME AND HAVEN'T USED IT SENSE. IN FEBRUARY 2008 I GOT ANOTHER RECALL NOTICE THAT THE PART THEY PUT IN MY MOTOR HOME IN THE PREVIOUS RECALL WAS NOT COMPATIBLE WITH MY SYSTEM AND COULD CAUSE A FIRE AT ANY TIME AND IT WAS IMPORTANT THAT IT BE CHANGED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. I COMPLIED. MY QUESTION AND CONCERN IS CAN I TRUST THIS 1998 FORD F350 ON THE ROAD. ALSO I AM RETIRED ON A FIXED INCOME AND I DON'T THINK I SHOULDN'T BE EXPECTED TO BARE THE COST OF AN OBVIOUS AUTOMOBILE MANUFACTURE SCREW UP. MY MOTOR HOME HAD AROUND 25,000 MILES ON IT WHEN ALL THIS HAPPENED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FOR E-350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VAN WAS IDLE WHEN HE NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND VENTS. THE VEHICLE BECAME ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. A FIRE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.

VEHICLE STARTED TO ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN, ENGINE REVVED. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*AK

THIS VEHICLE STILL PULLS TO THE LEFT.

WHEN DRIVING AT 40 TO 50 MPH, IF THE CONSUMER HITS A BUMP OR ANYTHING IN THE ROAD THAT IS METAL OR HARD, THE STEERING WHEEL JERKS AND SHAKES, AND THE VEHICLE WILL GO FROM SIDE TO SIDE WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. *AK

BOLT BROKEN THAT HOLDS THE STEERING GEAR BOX AND THE SMELL FROM THE HEATER MAKES YOU SICK.*AK

THE STEERING GEAR BOX HAS A LOOSE SPOT IN IT. WHILE ON THE ROAD IF A BUMP OR HOLE IS HIT THE VEHICLE WILL JERK OUT OF CONTROL AND WANDER. THE STEERING GEAR BOX HAS BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES AND PROBLEM STILL EXIST. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED AND CLAIMS THEY CAN DO NOTHING MORE FOR IT. VEHICL WAS DELIVERED FROM THE FACTORY WITH THIS DEFECT. *AK

I RECENTLY HAD A PROBLEM AND STILL HAVE WITH THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR DOOR OF NOT BEING ABLE TO OPEN IT. I GOT OUT OF THE MY FORD VAN AND WENT AROUND TO THE SIDE DOOR TO OPEN IT UP TO GET MY DOGS OUT OF IT. I COULD NOT OPEN THE SIDE DOOR, I THOUGHT THE DOORS HAD SOMEHOW GOT LOCKED AND I WAS PANICING. IT WAS VERY HOT AND I KNEW I HAD TO GET MY DOGS OUT FAST. I WAS HUNTING FOR SOMETHING TO BREAK THE WINDOW OUT WITH BUT HAD NO LUCK FINDING ANYTHING. AFTER ABOUT 20 OR SO MINUTES I FINALLY NOTICED THAT THE FRONT DOOR LOCKS WERE IN THE UP POSITION INDICATING THAT THE DOORS WERE NOT LOCKED. I WAS ABLE TO OPEN THE FRONT DOOR SAVING ME FROM HAVING TOO BREAK OUT THE GLASS AND THEN I WAS ABLE TO GET INTO THE VAN AND OPEN THE REAR DOOR. I LOVE MY DOGS BUT WHAT IF THIS HAD BEEN A CHILD.AND COULDN'T OPEN THE DOORS IN TIME. LUCKLY I DISCOVERED THAT THE FRONT DOORS WERE NOT LOCKED AND THAT IT WAS A MALFUNCTION OF THE BACK DOOR MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO OPEN THAT DOOR. THE RESULTS COULD HAVE BEEN DISTRASTROUS AND NOT TO MENTION THE COST OF REPAIRING THE WINDOW HAD I BEEN ABLE TO BREAK IT, THINGS TURNED OUT WELL THANK GOODNESS BUT IF IT SHOULD HAPPEN TO SOMEONE ELSE THE RESULTS COULD BE VERY DIFFERENT. THIS IS SUNDAY AND I NOW HAVE TO GET MY VAN TO A FORD DEALER TO FIX THE REAR DOOR SO I CAN OPEN IT UP AS I STILL CAN'T OPEN IT UP FROM THE OUTSIDE.. I THINK THE IS A SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED. *TR

HELLO, I'VE BEEN READING ABOUT THE SAFETY ISSUE WITH THESE 15 PASSENGER VANS. HAS ANY ONE CONSIDERED THE ADDITION OF DUAL REAL TIRES ON THESE VEHICLES? IT HAS BEEN NOTED THAT THE LARGER MINI BUSES ARE SAFER, AND I NOTICED THAT THEY ALL HAVE DUAL REAR TIRES. AND THE E-350 VAN I KNOW IS BUILT ON THE SUPER DUTY FORD 250/350 CHASSIS WHICH CAN BE ORDERED WITH DUAL REAR TIRES? WOULDN'T THESE MAKE THE CHANCE OF ROLLOVERS LESS? THANKS TOM. *NLM

BOLT BROKEN THAT HOLDS THE STEERING GEAR BOX AND THE SMELL FROM THE HEATER MAKES YOU SICK.*AK

I AM A TRANSPORTATION OFFICER FOR THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTION. I WAS JUST ISSUED A NEW VAN AND THE SAFETY PARTITION BETWEEN THE DRIVERS SECTION AND THE PRISONER SECTION PREVENTS THE SEATS FROM MOVING BACK A SAFE DISTANCE FROM THE DRIVERS AIR BAG (APPROXIMATELY 7'' MAX). THERE ARE OVER 25 VANS TO BE ISSUED THAT ARE CONFIGURED THE SAME WAY. THE DEPT. OF CORRECTION DOES NOT WANT TO MOVE THE PARTITIONS BACK, AS THIS WOULD REDUCE THE INMATE CAPACITY. I DON'T KNOW IF THE PARTITIONS WERE INSTALLED BY THE FACTORY, THE DEALER OR THE DEPARTMENT. ANY HELP YOU COULD PROVIDE WOULD BE APPRECIATED. THANKS

VEHICLE SOLD AND FACTORY EQUIPPED WITH TRAILERING PACKAGE WHICH INCLUDES FACTORY TRAILER WIRING. TURN SIGNALS & HAZARD FLASHERS DO NOT FLASH IN ACCORDANCE W/ 49CFR, 571.108 WHEN TRAILER ATTACHED TO FACTORY WIRING. DEALER HAS FOUND ELECTRONIC FLASHER FROM FORD IS NOT SUFFICIENT TO OPERATE WITH TRAILER. FLASHER IS RATED AS "2/4 FLASHER" (2 TURN/4 HAZARD LAMPS). FORD DOES NOT OFFER HEAVY DUTY FLASHER SUFFICIENT TO OPERATE VEHICLE & TRAILER TURN / FLASHER LAMPS. NO AFTERMARKET MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN FOUND THAT MAKES A FLASHER UNIT THAT WILL OPERATE IN THIS VEHICLE. STANDARD "HEAVY DUTY" FLASHERS BLOW ALL TURN / FLASHER / BRAKE LIGHT FUSES. CREATES EXTREME DANGER AS TURN SIGNALS AND HAZARD FLASHERS FAIL OR ARE INSUFFICIENT TO OPERATE IN TRAFFIC WITH TRAILER ATTACHED. ONLY REMEDY IS TO CONVERT TRAILER LAMPS TO LED LAMPS. COST $150.00 - $250.00 PER TRAILER.

WHILE TRAVELING 65MPH HEARD A LOUD BANG. DISCOVERED NO BRAKES AFTER BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR. ALSO, DRIVER'S SIDE BRAKE ROTORS BROKE, CAUSING THE SPINDLE TO BURN OUT. ALSO, WHEEL BEARINGS HAD TO BE REPLACED. HAS HAPPENED BEFORE. EACH TIME WAS TAKEN TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS. *AK

WHILE PARKED IN DRIVEWAY AND I WAS LOADING MY KIDS IN THE VAN, MY 2 YEAR OLD CHILD JUMPED INTO FRONT SEAT, AND SHIFTED THE AUTMATIC TRANSMISSION INTO REVERSE OR NEUTRAL (NOT SURE), ALLOWING VAN TO START ROLLING FORWARD (IT WAS BACKED INTO DRIVEWAY, SO THE FRONT OF THE VAN WAS DOWNHILL) I WAS STANDING IN FRONT OF THE VAN, AND IT WAS JUST STARTING TO ROLL SO IT WAS GOING SLOWING SO I AND A COUPLE OF OTHER GUYS WHO WERE STANDING THERE WITH ME WERE ABLE TO JUMP IN FRONT OF THE FAN AND STOP IT, I THEN JUMPED IN AND APPLIED THE PARKING BRAKE AND SHIFTED IT BACK INTO PARK. THERE WAS NO WAY THE BRAKE COULD HAVE BEEN PUSHED WHILE THE VAN WAS SHIFTED, AS THE 2 YEAR OLD COULD NOT REACH THE BRAKE.*AK

REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE AT 25 TO 30MPH AND BOTH DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER HAS SEEN. *AK