RoadVitals

1996 Ford F-250

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.
176
Latest Sep 9, 2023
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.
5
Latest Aug 1, 2006
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.
2
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.
35
3 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 176 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1996 Ford F-250, most frequently naming the tires & wheels, engine and steering categories. 5 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 2 NHTSA investigations name it; and 179 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

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

5 campaigns cover this model year

View all 5

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
06V286000

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

Aug 1, 2006
1,200,000 units potentially affected
The defect: ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH SPEED CONTROL, GASOLINE OR NATURAL GAS ENGINES, THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH MAY OVERHEAT.
The risk: OVERHEATING COULD RESULT IN SMOKE OR BURN AND AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS INTO THE SPEED CONTROL SYSTEM FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 7, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-866-436-7332. (NOTE: ALSO SEE RECALLS 05V017 AND 05V388)
FORD MOTOR COMPANYManufacturer number 05S28View on NHTSA.gov
06E049000

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

May 24, 2006
27,176 units potentially affected
The defect: CERTAIN CK MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION HEADLIGHTS, CLEAR CORNER, BUMPER, AND SIDE MARKER LIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
The risk: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
The remedy: CK MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE NONCOMPLIANT LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CK MOTORSPORT AT 1-909-610-7211.
CK MOTORSPORT, INC.View on NHTSA.gov
05V388000

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

Sep 7, 2005
4,500,000 units potentially affected
The defect: ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH SPEED CONTROL, THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH MAY OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.
The risk: A FIRE AT THE SWITCH COULD OCCUR.
The remedy: BY LETTER DATED SEPTEMBER 12, 2005, OWNERS WERE INSTRUCTED TO RETURN THEIR VEHICLES TO THEIR DEALERS TO HAVE THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH DISCONNECTED. OWNERS WHO HAVE HAD THEIR SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATED ARE BEING NOTIFIED THAT PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE AND ADVISED TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TO RECONNECT THE SPEED CONTROL BEGINNING IN FEBRUARY 2006. OWNERS WHO DID NOT HAVE THEIR SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATED ARE BEING NOTIFIED TO HAVE THEIR SYSTEM REMEDIED BEGINNING IN FEBRUARY 2006. OWNERS ARE URGED TO AVAIL THEMSELVES OF THE FREE DISCONNECT SERVICE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE BECAUSE OF THE SIGNIFICANT RISK OF FIRE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673. (NOTE: ALSO SEE RECALLS 05V017 AND 06V286)
FORD MOTOR COMPANYManufacturer number 05S28View 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
PE96052ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

SEPARATED FRONT SUSPENSION

Opened Aug 23, 1996
Closed Jan 27, 1997

CONSUMER COMPLAINTS REPORT THAT BOLTS WHICH RETAIN THE AXLE PIVOT BRACKET TO THE FRAME CROSS MEMBER CAN LOOSEN OR FAIL, CAUSING THE INBOARD END OR THE AXLE TO BECOME DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE.OWNERS ALLEGE THAT THIS COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL, HOWEVER THE COMPLAINT DATA SHOWS ONLY ONE INCIDENT WHERE THE VEHICLE LEFT THE ROADWAY FOLLOWING AXLE SEPARATION, WITH NO DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE.IN ADDITION TO THE 225 CONSUMER COMPLAINTS, THERE WERE 4,315 WARRANTY CLAIMS RELATED TO THE FRONT SUSPENSION AND MEMBERS, AND 22 VEHICLES WERE REPLACED FOR GOODWILL.DOCUMENTS SUBMITTED BY FORD, UNDER REQUEST FOR CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT INDICATE THAT THE BOLTS WERE INADEQUATE FOR THE DURABILITY REQUIREMENTS OF THE VEHICLE.ALSO, BOLTS WERE FOUND TO HAVE BEEN INADEQUATELY TORQUED AT ONE OR MORE ASSEMBLY PLANTS.OTHER FACTORS, SUCH AS WAX TREATMENT OF THE FRAME, CONTRIBUTED TO THE PROBLEM.INCREASED BOLT DIAMETER AND INCREASED TORQUE APPARENTLY CORRECTED THE PROBLEM.A SERVICE BULLETIN, 96-20-13, WAS ISSUED TO ADVISE DEALERS OF THIS CORRECTIVE ACTION.IN THESE DOCUMENTS, FORD ALSO REPORTED THAT A VEHICLE, EQUIPPED FOR SIMULTANEOUS CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF ALL PIVOT BRACKET FASTENERS, WAS EVALUATED RESULTING IN A SLIGHT VEHICLE PULL TO ONE SIDE WITH NO LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.ODI HAS NOT REPLICATED FORD'S VEHICLE TESTING, HOWEVER ANALYSIS OF THE DESIGN OF THE FRONT SUSPENSION INDICATES THAT EVEN IF THE INBOARD END OF THEAXLE BECAME DISCONNECTED FROM THE FRAME, THE OUTBOARD END WOULD REMAIN FIRMLY ATTACHED TO THE LEAF SPRING WITH TWO U-BOLTS.THIS WOULD RETAIN THE WHEEL IN ITS APPROXIMATE POSITION, ALTHOUGH THE WHEEL ALIGNMENT WOULD BE GREATLY IN ERROR.THEREFORE IT IS UNLIKELY THAT CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WOULD BE LOST.OWNERS REPROT MANY SIGNIFICANT NOISES IN THE SUSPENSION, SUCH AS CREAKING, GROANING, CLUNKING, AND SQUEAKING, PRIOR TO NOTICING ANY SEPARATION OF THE AXLE.THIS PROVIDES WARNING OF THE LOOSENING OF THE BOLTS TO THE DRIVER, AND SHOULD NOT BE IGNORED.FORD HAS STATED THAT REPAIRS WILL BE COVERED UNDER THE VEHICLE'S BUMPER WARRANTY.COMPLAINTS ABOUT WARRANTY COVERAGE BY A FORD DEALER SHOULD BE ADDRESSED TO FORD, OR TO APPROPRIATE STATE AND LOCAL AGENCIES.A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.

SUSPENSION

Recent owner complaints

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

View all 176
Driver assistance
Filed Sep 9, 2023
Fire reported

Cruise control switch began smoking, disconnected it and took it to Awesome Ford of Chehalis, WA for recall service sometime in June or July. Service tech found that brake fluid had wicked its way up electrical harness into cruise control servo, necessitating replacement in order to complete recall service. FoMoCo has been unable/unwilling to replace cruise control servo and is instead requiring that I pull one from a wrecking yard in order to complete recall service.

NHTSA ID
11543544
Incident
Sep 5, 2023
Fuel system
Filed Jun 16, 2022

A MALFUNCTIONING CHECK VALVE WITHIN THE FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY CAUSES A PORTION OF THE UNUSED FUEL FROM ONE TANK TO BE RETURNED TO THE SECOND TANK. WHEN THIS OCCURS, THE CAPACITY OF THE SECOND TANK CAN BE EXCEEDED, CAUSING FUEL SPILLAGE. ABOUT 5 GALLONS OF FUEL SPILLED OUT OF FILL TUBE.

NHTSA ID
11469663
Incident
May 30, 2022
Fuel system
Filed Apr 15, 2019

FUEL RUNNING OUT FOUNT TANK IN DRIVEWAY WITH SELECTOR ON REAR TANK

NHTSA ID
11196563
Incident
Apr 10, 2019
Mileage
17,068 mi
Fuel system
Filed Sep 21, 2017

EXCESS FUEL FROM REAR TANK IS RETURNED TO FRONT TANK CAUSING FUEL OVERFILL AND FUEL LEAK.

NHTSA ID
11024911
Incident
Sep 20, 2017
Mileage
125,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Feb 23, 2016

FRONT FUEL TANK STOPPED WORKING. VEHICLE RUNS USING REAR FUEL TANK. IF I TAKE OFF THE FRONT TANK FUEL CAP, GAS POURS OUT SOMETIMES SPRAYS ( ABOUT 8 OUNCES OR SO) . FRONT FUEL TANK SEEMS TO BECOME PRESSURIZED. THIS CAN HAPPEN EVERY TIME YOU DRIVE IT ( IF YOU REMOVE THE FRONT CAP). IN MY OPINION THIS IS A DEFINITE SAFETY HAZARD THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. I DID SOME SEARCHES ON THE INTERNET AND THIS PROBLEM IS QUITE COMMON. BIG FIRE HAZARD.

NHTSA ID
10837715
Incident
Jan 2, 2016
Mileage
231,000 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Nov 19, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD F-250 EQUIPPED WITH UNIROYAL LAREDO TIRES, SIZE: 265/75R16 (NA). WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE RUPTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE TREAD SEPARATED AND THE TIRE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE TIRE WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 185,000 AND THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000. THE DOT NUMBER WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
10794901
Incident
Jul 10, 2015
Mileage
185,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Sep 21, 2015

FUEL SPILLS FROM REAR TANK WHEN FUELING FRONT TANK. ENGINE SPUTTERS AND QUITS WHILE RUNNING DUE TO FUEL PRESSURE FAILURE..

NHTSA ID
10766371
Incident
Mar 25, 2015
Mileage
170,000 mi
Steering
Filed Dec 25, 2014

THIS IS NOT A COMPLAINT BUT TO LET EVERYONE KNOW WHAT I HAVE FOUND TO BE PART OF THE PROBLEM ON THE STEERING NOT RETURNING AFTER A TURN. THE STEERING COLUMN BEARING IN THE TOP OF THE COLUMN IS BAD. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE AT LEAST 20 OF THESE FOR THIS COMPLAINT AND FIXED THE PROBLEM. THE LOCKING OF THE STEERING WHEN BREAKING IS A HYDROBOOST PROBLEM NOT A STEERING PROBLEM. FORD NEED TO RESEARCH THIS AND CORRECT IT BEFORE THERE IS A DEATH BECAUSE OF IT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10668218
Incident
Dec 25, 2014
Mileage
300,000 mi

Manufacturer communications

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

17571

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP (MIL) ON WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES P0603 (POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE KEEP ALIVE MEMORY ERROR) OR P0605 ( POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE READ ONLY MEMORY ERROR). *TT

16515

STEERING

OIL LEAK AT HIGH PRESSURE PUMP FITTINGS AND/OR PLUG. THIS INCLUDES SUPER DUTY F-SERIES. OASIS. *TT

03218

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER

THE WATER-IN-FUEL LAMP MAY STAY ON AND THE FUEL MAY BE SLOW TO DRAIN OR NOT DRAIN AT ALL WHEN THE FUEL DRAIN VALVE IS OPENED. *TT

03219

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

AVAILABILITY OF NEW SEALANT FOR SERVICING 7.3L DI TURBO ENGINE. *TT

03213

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER

A NO-START OR REDUCED POWER CONDITION MAY OCCUR INTERMITTENTLY. *TT

032111

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

NO START/HARD START AND/OR LONG CRANK TIME FOR VEHICLES WITH 7.3L DI TURBO DIESEL. *TT

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 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2019001—
2018001—
2017001—
2015001—
20141420141.3
2013950142.7
20122661144.1
20112482149.2
2010730037.4
2009541035.9
20081958157.1
2007607253.9
20062217256.5
20051445254.1
20041537257.0
20031167261.8
20021567260.8
20012209465.4
200032610365.6
199958119463.9
1998569254.4
199730414363.2
1996Viewing1765262.9
19951844260.9
199412310566.9
19931309359.0
19921197962.4
199110771165.4
199011171167.5
19891126565.3
1988623665.0
1987382569.2
1986382470.8
1985212369.7
1984103371.8
1983163—
1982030—
1981150—
1980030—
1979290—
19782100—
1977260—
1976030—
1975060—
1974220—
1973050—
1972030—
1970100—
1969010—
1968110—
1967030—

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.