2003 Ford E350 Problems

THE FORD E-350 VAN BEGAN TO LOOSE POWER THEN STALLED ON MD ROUTE 43. THERE WAS NO POSSIBILITY TO PULL OF THE ROAD WAY. THE VEHICLE STARTED AFTER WAITING 15 MINUTES THEN DROVE ANOTHER 2 MILES UNTIL IT STALLED AGAIN. AAA TOWED THE VEHICLE AND THE FUEL TANK WAS REMOVED. THE FUEL TANK WAS FOUND TO BE DELAMINATING AND CLOGGING THE FUEL LINES WITH SILVER STRANDS OF COATING FROM INSIDE THE TANK. A NEW TANK IS BEING ORDERED AND INSTALLED ALONG WITH CLEANING THE FUEL SYSTEM. VERY DANGEROUS AS THERE IS NO WARNING. THIS 15 PASSENGER VEHICLE IS USED TO TRANSPORT CHILDREN. FORD SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO RECALL THIS PROBLEM TO PREVENT A DISASTER. MANY OF THESE VEHICLES ARE USED AS SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION WHICH WOULD MULTIPLY THE TRAGEDY IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. *TR

LOST POWER. FILTER HEAVILY PLUGGED PARTICULATE. DROPPED TANK. BOTTOM OF TANK HAS 1/2" SILVERY FLAKES. FUEL PICK-UP SCREEN PLUGGED. BOILED AND REINSTALLED TANK. FUEL PUMP FAILURE ABOUT 2 MONTHS LATER. NEW PUMP. AT 149000 MILE, NEW TANK AND MAY NEED NEW PUMP. TANK WAS DELAMINATING. *TR

SPARK PLUG BLOWN OUT OF HEAD. *TR

SPARK PLUG BLOWN OUT OF HEAD. *TR

SPARK PLUG BLOWN OUT OF HEAD. *TR

SPARK PLUG BLOWN OUT OF HEAD. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD E-350 PULLING A 24-FOOTER AUTO TRAILER. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO REDUCE SPEED, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE CONTACT USED THE TRAILER BRAKES TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED PER AN UNKNOWN RECALL FOR THE BRAKES IN 2004. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DETERMINED THAT THE AIR BOOSTER, MASTER CYLINDER, AND PRESSURE PUMP NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS STILL SOFT AND STILL ALMOST TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 173,000.

COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE DUE TO DEFECTIVE VACUUM CYLINDER THAT PROVIDES POWER TO BRAKING SYSTEM. *NM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD E-350. WHILE DRIVING HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE CONTACT STATED A BOLT SEPARATED FROM THE ENGINE BLOCK. THIS DEFECT ALSO CAUSED THE SERPENTINE BELT TO FAIL, WHICH CAUSED THE STEERING WHEEL AND POWER STEERING TO FAIL. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,895 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 40,395.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD E-350. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH OR GREATER, THE VEHICLE WOULD SWAY FROM SIDE TO SIDE. THE DEALER HAS INSPECTED THE VEHICLE ON TWO OCCASIONS AND STATED THAT THIS IS A NORMAL OCCURRENCE. HOWEVER, THE SERVICE ADVISOR AT THE DEALER DISAGREED WITH THE DIAGNOSIS. HE FELT THAT THERE WAS TOO MUCH LEVERAGE IN THE STEERING COLUMN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 34,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000. THE CONSUMER STATED THE STEERING IS TOO LOOSE TO SAFELY PULL A TRAILER. UPDATED 09/05/07. *JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD E-350 EQUIPPED WITH BF GOODRICH ALL TERRAIN KO TIRES, SIZE LT285-75R16, DOT PFYUUJ11. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH, THE DRIVER REAR TIRE BLEW OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 23,000 AND THE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53, 8000.

DT: THE VEHICLE JERKED VIOLENTLY TO THE LEFT WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AT ANY SPEED. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO 3 DIFFERENT FORD DEALERS 16 TIMES. THEY DID NOT KNOW HOW TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. NO EXPLANATION WAS GIVEN AS TO WHY THIS HAPPENED. CONTACTED FORD, AND FORD OFFERED NO EXPLANATION. THERE HAS BEEN NUMEROUS REPAIRS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE, INCLUDING THE ABS CONTROLLER, ROTORS, CALIPERS, BRAKE PADS, WHEEL BEARINGS, WHEELS, AND THE TIRES. ALL OF THESE THINGS HAVE NOT CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. *AK

I WAS STOPPED AT A STOPLIGHT ON A HIGHWAY RAMP IN TOWN BEHIND ANOTHER VEHICLE WAITING FOR THE LIGHT TO TURN GREEN. AS I SAT WAITING, THE VAN SUDDENLY ACCELERATED INTO THE VEHICLE AHEAD OF ME WHILE THE BRAKES WERE STILL FULLY APPLIED! I DID NOT HAVE MY FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL, JUST ON THE BRAKE. THE ACCELERATION WAS SO SUDDEN AND FAST THAT MY FRONT TIRES LEFT SKID MARKS BECAUSE THE BRAKES WERE FULLY APPLIED. I HAD BEEN USING THE CRUISE CONTROL EARLIER ON THE HIGHWAY, BUT HAD DISENGAGED IT BEFORE GETTING INTO TOWN, WELL BEFORE THE RAMP TO THE STOPLIGHT. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THIS HAS HAPPEND WITH THIS VAN; HOWEVER, I ALSO OWN A 2001 FORD E350 VAN, AND BEFORE I STOPPED USING IT, I HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGING WHILE I WAS DRIVING, AND REFUSING TO DISENGAGE. I HAVE REPORTED THESE INCIDENTS WITH BOTH OF MY VANS TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP, BUT THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE.

FORD E-350 BASED RV RECALLED IN SEPTEMBER TO CORRECT PROBLEM WITH SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH (RECALL 05S28). VEHICLE'S CRUISE CONTROL DISCONNECTED AT THAT TIME. DEALER REPORTS THAT PARTS ARE STILL NOT AVAILABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. CAN'T RECALLS BE COMPLETED IN A TIMELY MANNER? *TR

DT: THE VEHICLE JERKED VIOLENTLY TO THE LEFT WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AT ANY SPEED. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO 3 DIFFERENT FORD DEALERS 16 TIMES. THEY DID NOT KNOW HOW TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. NO EXPLANATION WAS GIVEN AS TO WHY THIS HAPPENED. CONTACTED FORD, AND FORD OFFERED NO EXPLANATION. THERE HAS BEEN NUMEROUS REPAIRS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE, INCLUDING THE ABS CONTROLLER, ROTORS, CALIPERS, BRAKE PADS, WHEEL BEARINGS, WHEELS, AND THE TIRES. ALL OF THESE THINGS HAVE NOT CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. *AK

AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS DELIVERED, AND WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS VEHICLE SHOOK OUT OF CONTROL. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND STEERING WHEEL WERE SHAKING. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND DEALER COULD NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

A PATIENT, 21 YEAR OLD AMBULANCE DRIVER, HAS BEEN TREATED HERE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI FROM 10/27/14 FOR INJURIES FROM AN AUTO ACCIDENT, SUSTAINED WHEN A VEHICLE PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF THE AMBULANCE SHE WAS DRIVING. HER AIR BAG DEPLOYED, PROTECTING HER APPROPRIATELY. HOWEVER, THERE IS A METAL DISC BENEATH THE AIRBAG ON THE STEERING COLUMN, WHICH WAS QUITE HOT, AND AS SHE WAS TRAPPED IN THE VEHICLE, SHE SUSTAINED BURNS TO HER CHEST AND TO HER CLOTHING. THE BURNS WERE THIRD DEGREE BURNS REQUIRING SURGERY, SMALL AREA, BUT WERE SIGNIFICANT BURNS. I AM UNCERTAIN WHETHER THE HOT DISC AT THE BASE OF THE AIRBAG IS THE RESULT OF A DEFECT, OR IF IT IS PART OF THE DESIGN. I AM NOTIFYING YOU SO YOU WILL BE AWARE OF THIS POTENTIAL HAZARD, AND TO TRACK THE FREQUENCY OF THIS TYPE OF INJURY. ALTHOUGH THERE WAS A DEATH AND ANOTHER INJURY IN THIS ACCIDENT, THEY WERE NOT RELATED IN ANY WAY TO THE HOT DISC ON THE AIRBAG MECHANISM. THE AMBULANCE IS A 2003 FORD E-350. THIS WAS THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG. *TR

THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED RANDOM AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT WITHOUT HITTING OR RUNNING OVER ANY DEBRIS. VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND UNATTENDED WHEN THE DEPLOYMENT OCCURRED. OWNER CONTACTED THE COMMERCIAL DIVISION OF FORD, AND WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THERE WAS NOTHING ELSE THEY WILL DO. *AK THE VEHICLE IS AN AMBULANCE TRUCK. THE RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE HAD FAILED. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD E-350. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V069000, SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND HE WAS INFORMED THE PARTS NEEDED WERE ON BACK ORDER. THIS PROCESS HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR APPROXIMATELY 9 MONTHS WITH NO RESOLUTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,079.

DT: FORD 14 PASSENGER VAN HAD PROBLEMS WITH SEAT BELTS. THE COMPANY USED THE VAN FOR OCCUPANTS THAT HAD MENTAL AND PHYSICAL DISABILITIES. THE PASSENGERS WERE LOCKED IN THE SEAT BELTS AND HAD TO BE PHYSICALLY CUT OUT OF THE SEAT BELTS. THIS OCCURRED 2 OF THE 5 TIMES. ACTUALLY, HAD TO DRIVE VAN TO DEALER WITH PASSENGERS LOCKED IN SEAT BELTS THE FIRST TIME THIS OCCURRED. THIS CAUSED FEAR AMONG PASSENGERS AND OWNERS. TOOK VAN TO DEALER EACH TIME TO HAVE SEAT BELTS REPLACED. THE PROBLEM WITH THE SEAT BELTS HAD BEEN SO SEVERE IT RESULTED SEVERAL TRIPS TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS. DEALER DID NOT KNOW WHY THIS WAS HAPPENING AND COULD NOT OFFER ANY EXPLANATION. *AK

TRAVELING EAST ON I20 OUTSIDE OF COLUMBIA, SC APROX. 3:30AM STRUCK A DEER AND PULL OVER ON EMERGENCY LANE ON AND OFF RAMP. PARK VEHICLE AND GOT OUT TO EXAMINE THE DAMAGE. WALKED AROUND VEHICLE LOOKING AT DAMAGE AND AS I OPENED DRIVER DOOR TO GET FALSH LIGHT TO LOOK UNDERNEATH VAN FOR DAMAGE USED FLASH LIGHT TO LOOK AT DAMAGE AND AS I GOT BACK UP TO GET IN VAN I STEPED UP ON RUNNING BOARD ON DRIVER SIDE TO GET BACK IN VEHICLE AND VEHICLE LUNGED BACKWARDS THROWING ME TO GROUND.DRAGING ME APROX. 20 FEET.I LET GO OF VAN TO ROLL AWAY FROM VEHICLE. VAN STRUCK RETAINER WALL AND STOPED.*AK

I HAVE A VEHICLE THAT I FEEL SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN FORD'S RECALL 03S06 AND WAS NOT. I HAVE INSPECTED MY VEHICLE FOR THE EQUIPMENT AND FOUND IT IS NOT THERE. WITHOUT IT, THERE IS A DANGER OF FUEL TANK RUPTURE IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION. I'VE SPOKEN WITH FORD AND THEIR POSITION IS THE EQUIPMENT IS NOT REQUIRED UNLESS THE VEHICLE HAS THE "SCHOOL BUS OPTION". FORD WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ALLOWED TO ONLY RETROFIT POLICE DEPARTMENT CROWN VICTORIAS. THEY HAD TO RECALL ALL AFFECTED CROWN VICTORIAS (JUST AS AN EXAMPLE). WHY ISN'T MY SAFETY IMPORTANT, AS WELL? I DON'T HAVE THE "SCHOOL BUS OPTION", BUT MY VEHICLE IS PRONE TO THE SAME DANGER. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. *TR