RoadVitals

2002 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.
53
Latest Sep 6, 2018
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.
3
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 15, 2002

What this page shows

Our database holds 53 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2002 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 53 · page 1 of 3

Engine
Filed Sep 6, 2018

HEAD ON VEHICLE STRIPPED BECAUSE OF THE WAY IT IS MADE. THERE WAS A RECALL ON REGULAR E350 BUT MINE IS AN RV. IT WAS IN MOTION WHEN THE SPARK PLUG POPPED OUT WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY ON I-65 IN BIRMINGHAM ALABAMA.

NHTSA ID
11127910
Incident
Jul 17, 2018
Mileage
114,000 mi
EngineSuspension
Filed Sep 26, 2017

THIS 350 ECONOLINE, 8CYL., EXTENDED BODY VAN WAS PURCHASED NEW, AND I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER. THE VEHICLE HAS ONLY 120K MILES ON IT SINCE 2002. BEGINNING SEVERAL YEARS AGO, MY MECHANIC COMPLAINED OF SEVERE FRAME EROSION, HAVING HAD TO REINFORCE AND RE-WELD SEVERAL PARTS BACK ONTO THE FRAME, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE BRACKETS WHICH SUPPORT THE REAR LEAF SPRINGS. (TWO OCURRANCES-- LEFT AND RIGHT SIDES). LAST WEEK, MY EMPLOYEE COMPLAINED OF SOME REAR END SWAYING AT MODERATE SPEED CORNERING. WE DISCOVERED A CROSS-TIE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE SIDE RAILS AT THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE'S FRAME HAD ROTTED AWAY, THUS CAUSING SOME UNWANTED FRAME MOVEMENT. IF IT WEREN'T FOR A HEAVY-DUTY TOWING PACKAGE I HAD PURCHASED WITH THE VEHICLE IN 2002, I BELIEVE THE LEFT AND RIGHT SIDES OF THE VEHICLE'S UNDER-FRAMING WOULD HAVE TWISTED AND SEPARATED FROM THE BODY YEARS AGO ! ALSO BEGINNING A FEW YEARS AGO, WAS THE DECAY OF THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE BLOCK, AS THREE SEPARATELY TIMED SPARK PLUGS HAD LITERATELY 'BLOWN' OUT OF THE THREADED WELLS OF THE ENGINE BLOCK. MY MECHANIC HAD TO ADAPT HELI-COIL KITS INTO RE-BORED HOLES IN THE VEHICLE'S SPARK PLUG WELLS. IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THESE KITS COME LOOSE, AND BLOW -OUT AGAIN. I'M ALREADY EXPERIENCING A PAINFULLY OMINOUS COMPRESSION LOSS IN ONE (OR MORE) OF THE CYLINDERS. COULD FORD HAVE PURCHASED SOME INFERIOR METALS, THUS PRODUCING A LINE OF JUNK VEHICLES?

NHTSA ID
11029878
Incident
Feb 1, 2010
Fuel system
Filed Feb 27, 2017

BLOWING OUT SPARK PLUGES.

NHTSA ID
10957162
Incident
Jan 18, 2017
Mileage
120,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Aug 31, 2015

WHILE TRAVELING ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY, THE VAN STARTED SHOWING SYMPTOMS OF FUEL STARVATION AND WITH THE FAMILY AND A SEMI ON MY BUMPER THINGS GOT QUITE HAIRY AND STARTED AND ARGUMENT WITH MY WIFE! I EXITED THE HIGHWAY AND PUT CLEAN DIESEL FUEL AND FUEL ADDITIVE TO GET ME BACK HOME; THIS DID NOT WORK AS THE VAN ACTED UP AGAIN SEVERAL MILES DOWN THE ROAD. AFTER STOPPING AND STARTING NUMEROUS TIMES ON A SIDE STREET, I GOT TO A PLACE WHERE I COULD CHANGE THE FUEL FILTER; I NOTICED THAT IT WAS FULL OF RUST AND ALUMINUM FLAKES. THE VAN WOULD NOT MOVE ANY FURTHER, I HAD TO TRAILER IT HOME, THE NEXT DAY. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, I DISCOVERED THAT THE ALUMINUM COATING THE FUEL TAKE HAD COME OFF AND WAS PLUGGING UP THE FUEL PICKUP, EMERGENCY VALVE AND THE FILTER. YOU CAN DO AN INTERNET SEARCH AND FIND WERE THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH FORDS. IF I WOULD HAVE KNOWN ABOUT IT I WOULD HAVE PERFORMED PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE ON THE FUEL TANK AND FILTERS. VERY DANGEROUS AND EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR WHEN IT IS TO LATE.....

NHTSA ID
10760571
Incident
Aug 1, 2015
Mileage
240,000 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Jul 15, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD E-350 EQUIPPED WITH MICHELIN LT24575R16 TIRES, SIZE: 245/756/16 (NA). WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE CONTACT FELT VIBRATIONS FROM THE FRONT TIRES. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE TREAD FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE WAS SEPARATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE TIRE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13T012000 (TIRES). THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,362 AND THE APPROXIMATE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.

NHTSA ID
10734284
Incident
Jul 14, 2015
Mileage
108,362 mi
Engine
Filed Feb 23, 2015

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD E-350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ABLE TO RESTART. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

NHTSA ID
10690135
Incident
Jun 23, 2014
Mileage
60,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jan 16, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD E-350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE TIMES OVER A PERIOD OF FOUR YEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

NHTSA ID
10560256
Incident
Feb 17, 2011
Mileage
110,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Jan 16, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD E-350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TURN SIGNALS AND HAZARD LIGHTS WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

NHTSA ID
10493230
Incident
Jan 16, 2013
Mileage
150,000 mi
BrakesSteeringSuspension
Filed Sep 20, 2012

TRUCK WOBBLING TO THE POINT OF ALMOST WRECKING...WAS TOLD IT WAS WHEELBEARING,ROTORS,TIEROD ECT. I NOW REALIZE FORD HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE TRUCKS REGARDING UNCONTROLLABLE SHAKING , IT IS VERY SCARY WHEN THIS HAPPENS. I ALSO OWNED A 2003 AND 2004 HAD TO SELL THEM BECAUSE THE TURBO KEPT BLOWING OFF AND FUEL INJECTORS WERE CLOGGED. I AM SO DISAPPOINTED. I HOPE IF THERE IS A PROBLEM YOU WILL DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID
10476526
Incident
Sep 5, 2008
Mileage
80,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Dec 29, 2011
Crash reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD E350 SUPER DUTY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE FRONT END OF THE FRAME FRACTURED INTO TWO PIECES, CAUSING THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO A BARRIER ON THE INTERSTATE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO CONFIRMED THAT THE A FRAME WAS FRACTURED AND CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.

NHTSA ID
10441658
Incident
Nov 1, 2011
Mileage
65,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Sep 13, 2011

2002 FORD E-350. S10 DIRECT REPLY-REQUEST FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE RELATED TO THE REPAIRS OF HIS TRUCK DUE TO THE FEDERAL GRANT MANDATED CHEMICAL ADDITIVES TO DIESEL FUEL, CHEMICAL ADDITIVES HAVE CAUSED THE DE-LAMINATION OF THE FUEL TANK *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE LOOSE LAMINATE MATERIAL DAMAGED THE FUEL PUMP, FUEL FILTER AND FUEL LINES AND PREVENTED THE OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE REPLACEMENT OF HIS FUEL TANK, PUMP, FILTER AND LINES WOULD COST $4,000.00 . THE CONSUMER IS SEEKING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE BECAUSE THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE SITUATION STEMMED FROM A GOVERNMENT MANDATE. *JB UPDATED 10/18/11. *JB THE CONSUMER STATED THE ENGINE STOPPED, WITH NO WARNING, ON A BUSY HIGHWAY. UPDATED 11/10/11. *JB

NHTSA ID
10425008
Incident
Aug 1, 2011
Engine
Filed Jun 7, 2011

STARTED MY 2001 FORD E-350. AFTER 10-15 SECONDS, LARGE POP AND ENGINE DIED. OPENED HOOD AND FOUND RIGHT REAR SPARK PLUG HAD BLOWN OUT OF ENGINE. I'M AN ENGINEER AND I'VE BEEN WORKING ON ENGINES OF ALL DESCRIPTIONS FOR 35 YEARS. THIS IS AN OBVIOUS ENGINEERING DEFECT. FORD SHOULD REPLACE THE PARTS. WE HAVE A FLEET OF FORDS. I NOW WISH IT WAS A FLEET OF CHEVY'S. *TR

NHTSA ID
10405384
Incident
May 7, 2011
Mileage
137,152 mi
Engine
Filed Nov 25, 2010

2002 FORD ECONOLINE 350 EQUIPPED WITH V8 TRITAN ENGINE. SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT. HAVE TAPPED WITH HELI-COIL REPAIR KIT, BUT HIS REPAIR HAS FAILED. NOW FACED WITH CYLINDER HAD BEEN REMOVAL AND REPLACEMENT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10367850
Incident
Nov 20, 2010
Mileage
102,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Nov 10, 2010

I HAVE HAD 3 SPARK PLUG THIS YEAR COME SHOOTING OUT OF EY 2002 FORD E350 V10. *TR

NHTSA ID
10365324
Incident
Nov 9, 2010
Mileage
143,000 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Nov 10, 2010

SPARK PLUG EJECTED 2002 FORD VAN. *TR

NHTSA ID
10365302
Incident
Nov 9, 2010
Fuel system
Filed May 10, 2010

DELAMINATION OF FORD FUEL TANKS CAUSING DECREASE SPEED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10329791
Incident
May 10, 2010
Mileage
53,000 mi
Engine
Filed Aug 10, 2009

DRIVING DOWN A STREET AT APPROX. 40MPH I HEARD A BANG AND THEN A BUNCH OF AIR ESCAPING. SOUNDED LIKE AN EXHAUST LEAK. SPARK PLUG WAS BLOWN OUT OF NUMBER 2 CYLINDER. HAD REPAIRED AT LOCAL REPAIR SHOP, PUT IN A NEW HELI COIL. SINCE 7-6-09 HAS HAPPENED AGAIN. THIS TIME NUMBER 8 CYLINDER. THESE FORD ENGINES DON'T HAVE ENOUGH THREAD ON THE ENGINE HEADS TO HOLD THE SPARK PLUGS IN. IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO KEEP HAPPENING UNTIL ALL OF THE THREADS ARE REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10279946
Incident
Jul 6, 2009
Mileage
106,114 mi
Engine
Filed Jul 24, 2009

MY 2002 FORD E-350 HAS BEEN FOUND TO HAVE A SPARK PLUG BLOW OUT. THIS HAPENED WITHOUT NOTICE. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT I NEED A TUNE-UP. I HAVE RESEARCHED ONLINE AND FOUND MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT FORD TRUCK ENGINES EJECTING SPARK PLUGS. I'M CONCERNED THAT IF ALL THE PLUGS ARE REPLACED, THAT THE PROBLEM MAY NOT FULLER BE SOLVED WITHOUT SOME VERY EXPENSIVE WORK. *TR

NHTSA ID
10278188
Incident
Jul 21, 2009
Mileage
151,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed May 14, 2009

2002 FORD E350 DIESEL VAN. WE BOUGHT THE VAN WITH 32K MILES ON IT. WE REPLACED THE FIRST GAS TANK WITH 65K MILES IN PA AFTER IT BROKE DOWN ON I-81. WE REPLACED THE SECOND GAS TANK AT 80K MILES AT OTIS FORD IN QUOGUE, NY. WE ARE NOW GOING TO REPLACE THE TANK AGAIN, TANK #3, BECAUSE THE SAME ISSUE IS HAPPENING AGAIN. THE INSIDE OF THE FUEL TANK HAS BEEN DELAMINATING AND CAUSING THE FUEL FILTER TO BECOME CLOGGED. THE VAN WILL LOSE POWER AND CHUG ALONG SPEWING OUT BLACK SMOKE. IT HAS BEEN A KNOWN PROBLEM BY FORD YET THEY CLAIM IT IS NOT THEIR FAULT. THIS HAS BECOME A VERY EXPENSIVE PROBLEM AND UNDER THE RIGHT CONDITIONS WITH THE LACK OF POWER HAS THE POTENTIAL TO CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10268717
Incident
May 12, 2009
Mileage
65,000 mi
Engine
Filed May 13, 2009

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD E350. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE THAT SOUNDED LIKE AN EXPLOSION. THE VEHICLE PROCEEDED TO A STOP SIGN AND RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY STATED THAT THE SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT IN THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON A SEPARATE OCCASION FOR AN IDENTICAL FAILURE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE SPARK PLUGS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 72,000.

NHTSA ID
10268610
Incident
Mar 8, 2008
Mileage
60,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Apr 17, 2009
Fire reported

2002 FORD E350 AMBULANCE VAN. PERSON PLACED THE KEY IN IGNITION. SWITCHED TO ON POSITION (NOT TURN THE ENGINE ON). WHITE SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE STEERING WHEEL AREA. SMOKE GOT THICKER THEN GREY. FLAMES STARTED COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE STEERING WHEEL AREA. UNABLE TO SAVE THE VEHICLE. COMPLETELY BURNED IN HOSPITAL PARKING LOT. NO INJURIES. HTTP://WWW.OCREGISTER.COM/ARTICLES/REPORTED-FIRE-VALLEY-2363353-CALL-FOUNTAIN. *TR

NHTSA ID
10265869
Incident
Apr 14, 2009
Mileage
200,000 mi
Engine
Filed Feb 17, 2009

FORD 2002 E-350 5.4L TRITON. TWO SPARK PLUGS HAVE BLOWN OUT SO FAR. ORIGINAL PLUGS APPX 95,000 MILES. FORD SAYS THE PLUGS SHOULD NOT BE CHANGED UNTIL 100,000 MILES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10258908
Incident
Jan 10, 2009
Mileage
95,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jan 30, 2009

AFTER TRAVELING 10 MILES DURING MY MORNING COMMUTE, WHILE AT 40 MPH, A SPARK PLUG EJECTED FROM MY FORD TRITON V8 ENGINE CAUSING RAW FUEL FUMES TO ENTER THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND PASSENGER CABIN. THIS HAS RESULTED IN AN ESTIMATED $1900 REPAIR BILL FROM MY LOCAL FORD DEALER TO REMOVE AND REPAIR THE PLUG THREADS FOR THE EJECTED PLUG. *TR

NHTSA ID
10256974
Incident
Jan 28, 2009
Mileage
23,500 mi
Fuel system
Filed Jul 25, 2008

DELAMINATING FUEL TANKS ON FORD E-350 AMBULANCES. CAUSES DAMAGE TO THE FUEL PUMP THEN STALLING WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE TOWED. THIS SITUATION IS WITH PATIENTS ON BOARD. THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE CHECKED OUT AND RECALLS DONE. THE COST TO REPAIR IS $1,370.46 PER TRUCK. WE OWN 8 OF THEM ALL WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID
10235746
Incident
Jul 21, 2008
Mileage
84,940 mi
Engine
Filed May 3, 2008

2002 FORD E350 5.4L SPARK PLUG #7 BLOW OUT. THE AVERAGE CONSUMER WOULD THINK THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH THE EXHAUST SYSTEM BEFORE EVER KNOWING OR EXPECTING THAT COMPRESSED FUEL WAS BEING PUMPED INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT FROM THE EXPOSED SPARK PLUG ORIFICE. AT THE SAME TIME, THE SPARKED PLUG COIL WIRE IS STILL ACTIVE, COMBINING A NON-CONTAINED FUEL / SPARK CONDITION, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN FIRE OR EXPLOSION. *TR

NHTSA ID
10226562
Incident
May 2, 2008
Mileage
118,000 mi

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