RoadVitals

1996 Ford F-350

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.
130
Latest Sep 25, 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.
4
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.
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.
24
5 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 130 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1996 Ford F-350, most frequently naming the tires & wheels, brakes and engine categories. 4 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 1 NHTSA investigation names it; and 171 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

4 campaigns cover this model year

View all 4

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
96V161000

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

Aug 29, 1996
134,770 units potentially affected
The defect: THE CERTIFICATION LABELS ON THE INVOLVED VEHICLES HAS INCORRECT REAR TIRE INFLATION PRESSURE DESIGNATIONS. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS NO. 120, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES OTHER THAN PASSENGER CARS."
The risk: INCORRECT INFLATION PRESSURES COULD CAUSE PREMATURE WEAR OF THE REAR TIRES. .
The remedy: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH CORRECT CERTIFICATION LABELS AND INSTRUCTIONS FOR INSTALLING THESE LABELS. DEALERS CAN INSTALL THIS LABEL IF THE OWNER SO DESIRES.
FORD MOTOR COMPANYView 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 130
Other / unspecified
Filed Sep 25, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD F-350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AIR WAS CONSTANTLY LEAKING FROM THE TIRES. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE RIMS WERE DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,000.

NHTSA ID
10638902
Incident
Aug 1, 2014
Mileage
97,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Jul 20, 2012

I HAVE A FORD F-350 7.3L TURBO DIESEL. WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT 70 MPH., THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE ENGINE POWER WAS REDUCED BY HALF. AFTER I PULLED OVER THE LIGHT WENT OUT AND THE ENGINE RETURNED TO NORMAL. TWO WEEKS LATER THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN. I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC WHO FOUND THE FUEL FILTER, THE FUEL PUMP, AND THE FUEL PICKUP SCREENS CLOGGED WITH RESIDUE FROM THE LINER OF THE FUEL TANKS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10466835
Incident
Jul 13, 2012
Mileage
157,000 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Oct 7, 2011

CRACKING SIDEWALLS CAUSING BLOWOUT WHILE DRIVING BOTH DRIVERS SIDE AND PASS. SIDE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10429131
Incident
Oct 3, 2011
Mileage
10,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Feb 27, 2010

1. BEGAN SMELLING DIESEL FUEL IN CAB. THEN NOTICED DRIPS ON DRIVEWAY. 2. WENT TO SAWGRASS FORD ON DATE BELOW WHERE I WAS TOLD THIS IS THE FUEL FILTER/WATER SEPARATOR DRAIN VALVE, AND IT IS HAPPENING FREQUENTLY AND PART IS ON BACK-ORDER. THEY SAW LEAK IS ALMOST A STREAM ESPECIALLY WITH ENGINE RUNNING. 3. TWO WEEKS AND NO CALL FROM DEALER. *TR

NHTSA ID
10314841
Incident
Feb 15, 2010
Mileage
47,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Feb 2, 2009
Fire reported1 injury reported

ON 1/30/09 I EXPERIENCED A FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT ON MY FORD F-350 DUE TO A FAULTY SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH. I JUST HAPPENED TO WALK OUT TO THE VEHICLE THAT WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY, NOT RUNNING, TO SEE A GLOW UNDERNEATH THE TRUCK. I OPENED THE HOOD AND REALIZED THAT THERE WAS A FIRE COMING FROM THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER. AFTER EXTINGUISHING THE FIRE, AND BURNING MY HANDS, I COULD SEE THAT THE RESERVOIR WAS MELTED AND THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH IS WHERE THE FIRE WAS COMING FROM. *TR

NHTSA ID
10257267
Incident
Jan 30, 2009
Mileage
202,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jul 12, 2008

I HAD THE CMP SENSOR (CAM POSITION SENSOR, F6TZ-12K073-A) REPLACED AT 83,733 MILES AND AGAIN AT 88,500 MILES. THE ENGINE RUNS ROUGH FOR 3 SECONDS AND DIES. IT WILL CRANK BUT NOT RESTART. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO MECHANIC AND CMP SENSOR WAS REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10234058
Incident
Jul 10, 2008
Mileage
88,500 mi
Engine
Filed Mar 7, 2008

THE EXISTING RECALL 07V-553 (CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR ON FORD 1997-2003 F-SUPER DUTY, E-SERIES, AND EXCURSION VEHICLES WITH 7.3L DIESEL ENGINES) SEEMS TO BE INCORRECTLY NARROW IN SCOPE. I HAVE A 1996 F-350 WITH THE SAME 7.3L DIESEL ENGINE NOTED IN THE RECALL, AND HAD THE EXACT FAILURE DESCRIBED IN THIS RECALL. I HAD IT REPAIRED AT A FORD DEALERSHIP ON SEPT 21, 2007, AND CAN PROVIDE COMPLETE DOCUMENTED INFORMATION FROM THAT REPAIR. WHY DID FORD NOT INCLUDE F-SERIES TRUCKS THAT USE THE 7.3L ENGINE (SUCH AS THE F-350) IN THIS RECALL? WHY IS IT LIMITED TO 1997 AND NEWER? THERE ARE OTHER VEHICLES OUT THERE ON THE ROAD (SUCH AS MINE) THAT HAVE A SIMILAR POTENTIAL TO FAIL. THIS IS A DIFFICULT PROBLEM TO DIAGNOSE; THE DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE THE PROBLEM THE FIRST TIME I BROUGHT IT IN (JANUARY 2007). MY PROBLEM WENT ON FOR MORE THAN A YEAR (WITH MOMENTARY POWER LOSSES AND ENGINE STALLS SHORTLY AFTER STARTUP) BEFORE IT PROGRESSED TO SERIOUS DRIVABLE ISSUES THAT WERE FREQUENT ENOUGH THEY COULD BE DIAGNOSED BY THE FORD DEALER. CAMSHAFT SENSOR FAILURE CAUSES THE ENGINE COMPUTER TO MAKE THE ENGINE STALL. UNFORTUNATELY, AT THAT STAGE THE DRIVABLE ISSUES ALSO BECOME DANGEROUS. I AM SEEKING AN EXPANSION OF THIS RECALL TO COVER ALL VEHICLES AFFECTED BY THE CAM SENSOR FAILURES, AND REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE REPAIR EXPENSES I PAID THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED BY THIS RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ID
10220361
Incident
Sep 21, 2007
Mileage
123,447 mi
Engine
Filed Feb 1, 2008

I HAVE A '96 FORD F350 WITH A 7.3L POWERSTROKE. MY TRUCK HAS BEEN STALLING INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. AND ON OCCASION, HAD CUT OUT COMPLETELY AND NOT COME RIGHT BACK WHICH LEAVES ME WITH NO POWER BRAKES, OR STEERING TO STOP THE VEHICLE, OR GET IT OFF THE ROAD. I STOPPED AT BANKSTON FORD IN FRISCO, TX TODAY TO ASK IF MY TRUCK WAS ON THE RECALL LIST, AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS NOT. THEY WOULD NOT FIX THE KNOWN PROBLEM, UNLESS I WAS WILLING TO PAY $380 FOR THE PART, AND ANOTHER 4HOURS OF LABOR. AS I UNDERSTAND IT, AND EVEN VERIFIED BY THEIR PARTS DEPARTMENT, THIS PART IS A $194 PART, OR A $36 PART. I WAS TOLD MY TRUCK IS THAT $194 SPECIAL ORDER PART. THERE WOULD BE NO REFUNDS IF I ORDERED IT WITH THEM. ALSO, WITH TALKING TO A FRIEND OF MINE THAT IS A MECHANIC AT FORD, THIS IS LESS THAN A 30 MINUTE JOB. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY MY TRUCK IS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST, WHEN THIS IS A KNOWN FORD PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID
10216739
Incident
Feb 1, 2008
Mileage
168,000 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

03219

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

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

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

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-350 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2019001—
2018001—
2017001—
2015001—
2014910140.2
2013761149.8
20121494153.0
20111364154.0
2010010—
2009283048.8
20081319161.1
2007365252.3
20061456260.4
20051145253.1
20041593258.5
2003903265.0
20021163261.1
20011606565.8
20003045465.1
199941313464.4
1998121249.9
19971554260.9
1996Viewing1304159.9
19951343159.1
1994957462.8
19931019360.6
1992527963.9
19913171166.8
19903971162.8
1989425766.4
1988294873.5
1987827—
1986142656.4
1985414—
1984234—
1983173—
1982021—
1981241—
1980051—
1979041—
1978091—
1977031—
1976011—
1975140—
1974010—
1973030—
1972030—
1969010—
1968020—
1967010—

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.