RoadVitals

1996 Ford F-250 Sd

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints 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.
11
Latest Jul 9, 2014
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
1
Latest Oct 13, 2009
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
1
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

Overview

Our database contains 11 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1996 Ford F-250 Sd, most frequently naming the engine, driver assistance and tires & wheels categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; 1 NHTSA investigation names it; and 33 manufacturer communications are on file.

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

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Engine436.4%
  • Driver assistance218.2%
  • Tires & wheels218.2%
  • Brakes19.1%
  • Electrical19.1%
  • Fuel system19.1%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

1 campaign cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
09V399000

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

Oct 13, 2009
4,500,000 units potentially affected
The defect: FORD IS RECALLING MODEL YEARS 1995-2003 WINDSTAR, 2000-2003 EXCURSION DIESEL, 1993-1997 AND 1999-2003 F-250 SD THROUGH F-550 SD DIESEL, 1992-2003 E-150 THROUGH E-550, 1995-2002 EXPLORER, 1997 AND 2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER, 1995-1997 AND 2001-2003 RANGER, AND 1994 F53 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE TEXAS INSTRUMENTS SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH (SCDS). THE SCDS MAY LEAK INTERNALLY AND THEN OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.
The risk: A VEHICLE FIRE COULD OCCUR WITH OR WITHOUT THE ENGINE RUNNING.
The remedy: FORD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS THAT DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS IN LINE WITH THE SCDS. ON 1999-2003 WINDSTAR VEHICLES WITH A LEAKING SCDS, DEALERS WILL ALSO INSPECT THE ABS CONTROL MODULE CONNECTOR AND REPAIR AS NECESSARY. REPAIRS WILL BE COMPLETED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 27, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-888-222-2751.
FORD MOTOR COMPANYManufacturer number 09S09View on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

EA05005ClosedEngineering Analysis

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES

Opened Mar 22, 2005
Closed Aug 2, 2006

EA05-005 IS CLOSED WITH FORD?S ACTIONS IN RECALLS 05V-017, 05V-388, AND 06V-286, RECALLING APPROXIMATELY 6.7 MILLION VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH TEXAS INSTRUMENTS SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCHES (SCDS).THE BRAKE SYSTEMS IN THESE RECALLED VEHICLES GENERATE A VACUUM THAT CAN POTENTIALLY CAUSE THE SCDS TO FAIL AND, IN CERTAIN SWITCH INSTALLATION ORIENTATIONS, CATCH FIRE.FORD IS ALSO INCLUDING THE ENTIRE POPULATION OF 1998 EXPLORERS.FORD HAS INFORMED ODI THAT TESTING TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURES IN THE 1998 EXPLORERS WILL CONTINUE AFTER THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.ODI BELIEVES THAT THE VEHICLES EXHIBITING THE FACTORS CAUSING SCDS FAILURE DESCRIBED IN THIS REPORT CORRELATE WELL WITH THE OBSERVED FAILURE RATES ON THESE VEHICLES BY MODEL AND MODEL YEAR.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST IN THE NON-RECALLED VEHICLES MANUFACTURED WITH SCDS THAT ARE NOT INCLUDED IN FORD?S RECALLS.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE NON-RECALLED POPULATION FOR INCIDENCE OF ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.SEE ATTACHED CLOSING REPORT FOR DETAILS.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEMLed to recall 05V388000

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

View all 11
Tires & wheels
Filed Jul 9, 2014

KUMHO KL78 245/75R16 LOAD RANGE E TIRE. PURCHASED A SET OF KL78 TIRES IN NOVEMBER 2011 FOR MY 3/4 TRUCK. SINCE THE TIME OF PURCHASE I HAVE PUT LESS THAN 20,000 MILES ON THE TRUCK / TIRES. THREE OF THE TIRES HAVE DEVELOPED LARGE DEFORMATION ACROSS THE TREAD CAP, LIKE A BULGE. THIS IS A MANUFACTURING SAFETY DEFECT CAUSED BY THE SEPARATION OF STEEL BELTS OF THE TIRE ALLOWING THE RUBBER TO DEFORM. *TR

NHTSA ID
10609228
Incident
Jul 6, 2014
Mileage
145,782 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Jan 16, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD F-250 SUPER DUTY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH BECAME OILY AND STARTED LEAKING BRAKE FLUID. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED OF A RECALL FOR THE FAILURE UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 09V399000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AND OFFERED NO OTHER ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 131,000. UPDATED 02/12/13*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE SPEED CONTROL ACTIVATION SWITCH FAILED. HE NOTICED THE CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING EIGHT MONTHS PRIOR. HE THEN NOTICED A WIRING HARNESS/CONNECTOR NEAR THE BAKE FLUID RESERVOIR WAS OILY AND THAT THE RESERVOIR WAS LOW. THE DEALER REPLACED THE SWITCH. UPDATED 02/13/13

NHTSA ID
10493207
Incident
Sep 12, 2012
Mileage
131,000 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Mar 2, 2012

PLY SEPARATION. TIRE STORE CONFIRMED THEY WERE AWARE OF OTHER OCCURRENCES. THERE'S NO SECTION TO REPORT TYPE IN FORM SO I WILL HERE. TYPE APT. M&S LT235/85/R16. OTHER I.D. INFO.120/116Q. *TR

NHTSA ID
10450086
Incident
Feb 14, 2012
Fuel system
Filed Jun 5, 2009

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD F250. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FILTER HOUSING CRACKED AND LEAKED DIESEL FLUID FROM THE TOP OF THE ENGINE DOWN INTO THE VEHICLE. HE WAS CONCERNED THAT THE LEAK COULD CAUSE A FIRE. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC ASSUMED THAT THE FUEL PUMP WAS CAUSING THE LEAK. AFTER THE REPAIRS WERE COMPLETED, THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FUEL HOUSING CRACKED AND CAUSED THE LEAK. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 230,000.

NHTSA ID
10272941
Incident
May 10, 2009
Mileage
230,000 mi
Engine
Filed Sep 4, 2008

WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC MY CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR FAILED WITHOUT WARNING CAUSING MY DIESEL ENGINE TO SHUT OFF, LEAVING ME WITH NO STEERING AND BRAKING ABILITY. THIS ACTION ALMOST CAUSED A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT. MY TRUCK WAS TOWED TO MY LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND THE CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR WAS REPLACED. I RETAINED THE SENSOR THAT WAS REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10240855
Incident
Aug 28, 2008
Mileage
90,848 mi
Engine
Filed Dec 18, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD F250 HD. THE CAM SENSOR WAS REPLACED ON OCTOBER 28, 2003. THE CONTACT BELIEVES THAT THE REPLACEMENT PART IS FAULTY AND WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. THERE IS A SAFETY RECALL ON THE CAM SENSOR, BUT IT DOES NOT APPLY TO HIS VEHICLE YEAR. THERE HAS BEEN NO RECENT FAILURE TO DATE. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 113,800 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE IN 2003 WAS 96,228. UPDATED 01/17/08 *BF UPDATED 01/17/08 *TR

NHTSA ID
10212199
Incident
Dec 18, 2007
Mileage
96,228 mi
Brakes
Filed Sep 11, 2007

I HAVE A 1996 FORD F-250 HEAVY DUTY PICKUP WHICH I PURCHASED NEW AND ALL THE BRAKE LINES ARE COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH. I WAS TESTING THE BRAKES AFTER ADJUSTING THEM IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE WHEN THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. ALL THE FLUID WAS BLOWN OUT OF THE RUSTED LINE ON THE FRONT BRAKES, AFTER I REPAIRED THEM AND WAS BLEEDING THE AIR FROM THEM, WHILE HOLDING DOWN ON THE PEDAL ANOTHER LINE ON THE REAR BRAKES BLEW OUT. IN SHORT, I SPENT 10 HRS. REPLACING ALL THE BRAKE LINES THAT WERE RUSTED OUT. I HAVE OLDER CARS AND TRUCKS AND HAVE NEVER HAD THIS ISSUE BEFORE. IF I HAD BEEN HAULING A LOAD THAT THIS TRUCK IS RATED TO PULL (14,000LBS.) TOWING CAPACITY,I COULD HAVE RUN RIGHT OVER SOMEONE. I WONDER HOW MANY OTHER TRUCKS ARE OUT THERE ON OUR ROADS WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM? I CONTACTED FORD MOTOR CO. FOR WHICH THEIR RESPONSE WAS TO CONTACT THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS THAT I TOLD THEM I HAVE ALREADY COMPLETED. I HOPE THIS IS AN ISOLATED INCIDENT BUT I HAVE MY DOUBTS. *TR UPDATED 01-15-08. *KB THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKE LINES RUSTED THROUGH. UPDATED *JB

NHTSA ID
10202582
Incident
Sep 7, 2007
Mileage
100,700 mi
Engine
Filed Jan 27, 2007

TRUCK STALLED OR QUIT FOR NO APPARENT REASON WHILE DRIVING. *JB

NHTSA ID
10180898
Incident
Jan 24, 2007
Mileage
180,000 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

032131

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

ROUGH IDLE AND ENGINE MISS DUE TO INJECTOR BORE SCUFFING AT GREEN ENGINE BREAK-IN. *TT

032126

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

MOANING NOISE DURING 1500-2000 RPM ON NEUTRAL ENGINE RUN-UP, OR WHILE DRIVING UNDER LOAD. *TT

03211

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

LOSS OF POWER AND MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP MAY ALSO ILLUMINATE WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES 128 AND 845 OR P0236 AND P0238 STORED IN MEMORY. *TT

03148

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES

NEW TRANSMISSION COOLER FLUSHER - SERVICE TIPS. 2003 ESCORT AND SUPER DUTY F SERIES INCLUDED. *TT

01157

INFORMATION REGARDING TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE CHARTS. *SLC

01156

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE

SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT HEATER CORE LEAKS. *SLC

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Ford F-250 Sd by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2026750—
2025157062.4
2024374059.5
20234316061.0
202211917059.8
202116213159.8
202026015364.7
20191,16012359.6
201839710358.4
20171,15515359.2
20162874156.6
20152963254.4
2014261146.2
2013211139.5
2012571138.2
20111221144.4
2010321038.1
2009231039.7
20081412150.3
2007543252.3
20062743253.8
20052955255.6
20042544360.9
20031786561.4
20022455463.5
20012884862.9
20002334564.9
19992495563.4
1998113—
1997392360.7
1996Viewing111149.5
1995911—
1994211—
1993410—
1992300—
1991100—

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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.