RoadVitals

1996 Ford F-250 Transmission Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the transmission system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Transmission reportsComplaints 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.
14
Latest Jun 5, 2002
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
8%
of 176 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
3
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1996 Ford F-250 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 14 reports on file name it.

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

Owner reports naming transmission

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Transmission
Filed Jun 5, 2002
Crash reported

UNIT WAS PARKED AND SHIFTER PLACED IN THE "PARK" POSITION. THE TRUCK ROLLED BACK ACROSS THE PARKING LOT AND CAME INTO CONTACT WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. WITNESSES ON THE SCENE VERIFIED THAT THE SHIFTER WAS IN PARK BUT THAT TRANSMISSION WAS NOT ENGAGED IN THAT POSITION. AFTER THIS INCIDENT, IT WAS DETERMINED, BY EXPERIMENT, THAT THE INDICATOR ON THE SHIFTER DID NOT SHOW THE ACTUAL GEAR. WHEN IN "PARK" THE TRUCK WAS ACTUALLY IN EITHER REVERSE OR NEUTRAL. ACCORDING TO OTHER SOURCES, THIS PROBLEM, OF EITHER JUMPING OUT OF PARK OR NOT BEING IN THE GEAR INDICATED, HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH FORD AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS IN THE PAST.

NHTSA ID
762674
Incident
Jun 4, 2002
Transmission
Filed Mar 20, 2002

THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT KEEPS FLASHING AND YOU CAN RESET THE COMPUTER AND THE TRANSMISSION WILL SHIFT FINE UNTIL THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT COMES ON. IT HAS BEEN TESTED AND IT SHOWS THERE IS NO REASON FOR IT TO BE FLASHING. HAVE HAD IT IN THE SHOP NOW 15 TIMES AND EVEN SPECIAL TECHNICIANS LOOKING AT IT AND CAN'T FIGURE IT OUT. I DON'T WANT TO LOOSE MY TRANSMISSION. *AK

NHTSA ID
759575
Incident
Nov 8, 2001
Transmission
Filed Jan 4, 2002
Crash reported

THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK AND IT WAS SITTING FOR 15 MINUTES. THE VEHICLE WENT FROM PARK TO DRIVE ALL BY IT'S SELF. I WAS TOLD BY MY MECHANIC THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS PARTICULAR TRANSMISSION, THE TRANSMISSION IS ELECTRONIC AND HE SUSPECTT A SELONIDE CAUSED THE PROBLEM. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A SAFTY ISSUE. *AK

NHTSA ID
756388
Incident
Dec 21, 2001
Transmission
Filed Apr 9, 2001

CONSUMER WAS PULLING A 5TH WHEEL CAMPER FOR 5,0000 MILES WHEN TRANSMISSION FAILED, DUE TO BURNT CLUTCHES. DEALER RECOMMEND WHEN BACKING OUT CAMPER CONSUMER SHOULD USE LOW RANGE IN 4 WHEEL DRIVE.*AK

NHTSA ID
885410
Incident
Mar 8, 2001
Powertrain (other)Transmission
Filed Apr 9, 2001

4 WHEEL LIGHT STATED THAT IT WAS IN 4- WHEEL DRIVE, IT WAS INFACT NOT, AND I ALMOST WENT OFF OF A CLIF. PUT NEW HUBS ON AND IT FAILED AGAIN IN JUST A LITTLE BIT OF MUD. 4 WHEEL LIGHT STATED THAT IT WAS IN 4 WHEEL AGAIN.*AK

NHTSA ID
743758
Incident
Feb 1, 2001
ElectricalTransmission
Filed Oct 27, 2000

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WOULD SHUT DOWN. HAPPENED AT STOP LIGHT OR SIGNS. CONTACTED FORD MANUFACTURER & INFORMED CONSUMER TO TAKE VEHICLE TO DEALER. AT DEALERSHIP, MECHANIC PLACED VEHICLE ON DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE & NO CODES APPEARED. TRANSMISSION COULD NOT SHIFT PROPERLY INTO EITHER 1ST OR 2ND GEARS WITHOUT MAKING GRINDING NOISES. MECHANIC REFUSED TO REPAIR VEHICLE DUE TO BEING OUT OF WARRANTY.*AK

NHTSA ID
874025
BrakesHeating & air conditioningElectrical+3 more
Filed Oct 18, 2000

VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. CONSUMER HAD CAR TOWED TO DEALER, AND THEY SAID VEHICLE NEEDED A TUNE UP AND COIL PACK REPLACE. DEALER SAID THAT PLUGS WOULD NOT COME OUT BECAUSE THEY WERE STUCK. SO CONSUMER WAS NOT ABLE TO DRIVE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE PLUGS WON'T COME OUT. DEALER CHARGED A $1000 TO TAKE THEM OUT.*AK THE LIGHT AT THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE FAILED. THE STARTER FAILED THREE TIMES. A/C FAILED. THE GEAR SHIFTER FAILED. THE EXHAUST SYSTEM FAILED. BRAKE CALIPER AND ROTOR FAILED. WIRES UNDERHOOD RUST OUT. POWER STEERING HOSE FAILED. *YH

NHTSA ID
873293
Incident
Oct 9, 2000
EngineFuel systemTransmission
Filed Oct 13, 2000

FUEL IS LEAKING CAUSING ENGINE TO SHUT OFF, DEALER HAS REPLACED THE FUEL FILTER HOUSING ASSEMBLY, RESEALED O-RINGS, REPLACED LOW PRESSURE FUEL SENSOR, REPLACED PRESSURE SWITCH, AND TIGHTENED FUEL LINES, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. TRANSMISSION BUCKS AT TAKE OFF. VEHICLE EXPERIENCED AN OIL LEAK. *SLC

NHTSA ID
872980
Incident
Oct 13, 1999
Transmission
Filed Jan 5, 2000
Crash reported

THE TRANSMISSION GEAR INDICATOR INDICATES THAT THE VEHICLE IS IN PARK WHEN IT IS ACTUALLY IN REVERSE OR NEUTRAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND IN PARK, AND IT ROLLED DOWN AN INCLINE AND STRUCK A POST. THIS IS THE THIRD 1996 FORD F250 IN OUR COMPANY THAT THE SHIFT INDICATOR LINKAGE HAD THE SCREWS BACK OUT, CAUSING THIS SAME THING TO HAPPEN.

NHTSA ID
716917
Incident
Jan 2, 2000
Body & structureBrakesDriver assistance+5 more
Filed Jul 14, 1999

VEHICLE HAS HAD CONTINUED PROBLEMS WITH SUSPENSION/ALIGNMENT, REPAIRS SEVERAL TIMES AND STILL EXPERIENCES PROBLEMS. MJS

NHTSA ID
547253
Incident
Aug 6, 1996
Transmission
Filed Dec 31, 1998

IN COLD WEATHER CONDITIONS THE VEHICLE DOES NOT ENGAGE INTO AUTOMATIC FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE. WHEN THE WHEEL BEARING GREASE HEATS UP, IT FLOW IN TO AUTOMATI LOCKING, CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK.ET.

NHTSA ID
832943
Incident
Nov 11, 1997
Transmission
Filed Oct 1, 1998

TRANSMISSION SLOW TO SHIFT INTO GEAR. WOULD SHAKE & SHIMMY WHEN SHIFTING INTO 3RD GEAR. FEELS LOOSE WHEN STOPPING & GOING AT LOW SPEED, CAN FEEL THE LOOSENESS. *AK

NHTSA ID
828450
Incident
Sep 19, 1997
Transmission
Filed Mar 28, 1998

TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE 1-2 SHIFT GETS TO BE VERY MUSHY, PROBLEM COULD HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY HEAT BUILDUP DURING TOWING DUE TO A TOO SMALL FACTORY TRANSMISSION COOLER. *AK

NHTSA ID
533377
Incident
Mar 1, 1998
Transmission
Filed Feb 11, 1998

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE LEAKS OIL AND IS HARD TO SHIFT. THE DEALER HAS REPLACED THE COMPUTER BOX, AND TOLD THE OWNER THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REBUILT. *AK

NHTSA ID
821437
Incident
Jan 31, 1998

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .