Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1996 Ford F-350 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 17 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.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
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
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
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
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD F350. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING AND HAD TO BE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE CAM POSITION SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 77,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,396. UPDATED 03/04/08.*LJ
INTERMITTENT SHUT DOWN OF THE ENGINE. NEARLY RE-ENDED WHEN VEHICLE JUST STOPPED WHILE GOING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION. THE CAMSHAFT POSOTION SENSOR (CPS) FAILED. THIS IS A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM THAT FORD HAS DONE NOTHING ABOUT. IT'S DANGEROUS. *JB
1996, F-350, CREW CAB, 4X4, WITH 35,000 ORIGINAL MILES WAS TOWING 5TH WHEEL TRAVEL TRAILER IN MOUNTAINOUS AREA. EXHAUST PIPES CAUSED THE SPARE TIRE TO CATCH ON FIRE. THE SPARE TIRE WAS NEW AND HAD NEVER BEEN REMOVED SINCE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN 1996 USED, WITH 3,000 MILES ON IT. THE SPARE TIRE WAS ABOUT 3-4 INCHES AWAY FROM THE EXHAUST PIPE HEAT SHIELD. ( NOT TOUCHING). REAR GAS TANK WAS NOT HARMED DUE TO QUICK ACTION ON FIRE EXTINGUISHING. DRIVER WAS UNAWARE OF FIRE UNTIL NOTIFIED BY PERSONS OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. SPARE TIRE BURNED CLEAR TO THE CORE PRIOR TO BEING REMOVED AFTER FLAMES WERE EXTINGUISHED. *NLM
VEHICLE STALLS AT VARIOUS SPEEDS WITHOUT WARNING. SOMETIMES VEHICLE WILL RESTART ON ITS OWN. DEALER AND MECHANIC CANNOT DETERMINE CAUSE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
VEHICLE STALLS AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, SOMETIMES VEHICLE WILL RESTART ON ITS OWN AND SOMETIMES IT WILL LIGHT THE "WAIT TO START" LIGHT AND YOU MUST WAIT TO MANUALLY RESTART. THIS LEAVES VEHICLE WITHOUT POWER STEERING OR POWER BRAKES. THIS HAS HAPPENED FOR THE LAST 1500 MILES OR SO. REPLACED THE CMP SENSOR TWICE AND NO TROUBLE CODES EXISTS IN COMPUTER.*AK
DELIVERED NEW 22 MAR. 1996. TAKEN IN AT 16768 MILES ON 10-DEC. 96 FOR HARD SHIFTING OF AUTO. TRANS. ANDOIL LEAK FROM FRONT MAIN ENGINE SEAL. WAAS RETURNED TWO WKS. LATER FOR REAR ENGINE SEAL LEAK. MECHANICS REPLACED PARTS AND ADJ. TRANS. ENGINE OIL LEAKS STOPPED, BUT STILL HAD TRANS. SHIFT PROBLEMS. FRONT WHEELS BEGIN TO PULL HARD TO LEFT AFTER BEING TAKEN IN TO DEALER TO HAVE TIRES ROTATED. THEY HAD TO BE FORCED OFF HUB BY TWO MEN. FRONT END ALIGNEMENTS WERE DONE BUT AT 65000 MILES WHEELS STILL PULL TO THE LEFT. FIRESTONE 235/85/16 TIRE WAS REPLACED BECAUSE OF CRACKS IN BELTS BETWEEN TREAD. COST WAS PRORATED. TAKEN IN 02 APR. 97. STILL HAVING SHIFT PROBLEMS WITH TRANS. OIL LEAK FROM ENGINE OIL PAN AND PUMP GASKET. 30MAY 97 TAKEN IN FOR BOTH HEADLIGHT FAILURE. TRANS STILL HARD TO SHIFT. MECHANICS UNABLE TODETERMINE PROBLEM. IN AUG. 2000 TRUCK WAS IN AGAIN FOR SHIFT PROBLEMS AND TRANS SLIPPING. WE HAD BEEN DRIVING IN GEORGIA, PULLING A 36FT. FIFTHWHEEL WHEN TRANS. HAD A HARD TIME DOWNSHIFTING. THE TRANS. WAS LOCKED OUT OF OVERDRIVE WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 65 MPH. AND STARTED UP A HILL WHEN THE TRANS. WOULDN'T DOWN SHIFT. THE TRUCK SLOWED DOWN TO 40 MPH. IN LESS THAN THAN 60 SECONDS, IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND HAD PROBLEMS PULLIN THE REST OF THE WAY TO MICHIGAN. THIS WAS LATE IN THE EVENING WHEN SHOPS ARE CLOSED. BY THIS TIME TRUCK IS OUT OF WARRENTY BUT FORD MTR. CO. AND THE DEALERSHIP AGREED TO PAY ALL BUT 75.00 OF THE REPAIRS. THE TRANS. SHFTS SMOOTHER NOW BUT IT'S UPSHIFT HARD ON TWO OCCASIONS FROM THIRD GEAR INTO OVERDRIVE. I'VE PULLED THE CAMPER APPROXIMATELY 600 MILES SINCE THE REPAIR AND THE TRANS. SHIFTED MUCH SMOTHER. MY PROBLEM NOW IS WITH MY AUTOMATIC LOCKING 4X4 HUBS. I'V USED THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE MAYBE 10 TIMES IN MUD AND SNOW, NEVER ON A HARD SURFACE AND ALWAYS RELEASED THE HUBS WHEN DISENGAGING THE DRIVE. THE HUBS WENT OUT ON 13JAN.2001 WHILE IN REVERSE AFTER TRAVELING THROUGH SNOW IN MY DRIVEWAY. HOPE OTHER OWNERS HAVE BETTER LUCK.
VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUTS DOWN COMPLETELY WHILE IN OPERATION. TOTALLY LOST POWER.*AK
FUEL LEAK, FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR HOUSING, FUEL HEATER THERMOSTAT REPLACED 6/12/00. NEEDS FUEL INJECTOR O-RINGS AND NEW FUEL FILTER. ESTIMATE $690.00 HOOKS FORD COMMENTED THIS IS A "COMMON" PROBLEM FOR THESE TRUCKS BECAUSE OF THE POLYURETHANE SEALS. FORD IS NO LONGER USING THE POLYURETHANE SEALS. THIS PROBLEM IS CAUSING OIL TO LEAK INTO THE GAS LINE. IS THIS A DRIVING OR EPA HAZARD?
THE EMISSIONS TUBES HAVE CONSTANTLY BURNED OUT OF THIS TRUCK. THEY HAVE BEEN REPLACED NUMEROUS TIMES! THE DEALER STATED THAT THESE PARTICULAR PARTS HAVE BEEN REDESIGNED BY FORD TWICE. THIS DEFECT HAS CAUSED TWO MINOR FIRES IN THE FIREWALL. WE HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO GET A FULL ACCOUNTING OF ALL WORK DONE AT ALL THE DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS IT HAS BEEN IN. I KNOW FORD CAN PULL UP ALL WARRANTED WORK DONE BY VIN HOWEVER THEY WILL NOT DO SO. I WAS TOLD BY A FOREMAN AT A FORD TRUCK SERVICE CENTER IN CULLMAN, ALABAMA THAT THESE PARTICULAR TRUCKS WERE PRONE TO THIS DEFECT AND MOST PEOPLE DID NOT REALIZE THIS WAS A FACROTY PROBLEM AND TRADED THEM OFF. WE CANNOT AFFORD TO "TRADE IT OFF" AND WOULD BE LIABLE IF WE DID NOT LET PROPLE KNOW OF THIS PROBLEM. CURRENTLY OUR EXTENDED WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED AND ALL 4 TUBES ARE BURNOUT.*AK
OIL PUMP FAILURE.
THE SERPENTINE BELT TENSIONER IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. FORD HAS PUT OUT A TSB FOR THE TENSIONER. THE FAILING PART NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. WHEN THE BELT COMES OFF THE TENSIONER, AND THE PULLEYS UP FRONT, THE TRUCK LOSES POWER STEERING CAPABILITY AS WELL AS POWER BRAKE CAPABILITY. IF FOR EXAMPLE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE TRUCK, SHE WOULD PROBABLY HAVE AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE SHE IS NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO TURN OR PRESS THE BRAKES WITH ENOUGH FORCE TO OPERATE THE TRUCK TO A SAFE STOP. SO FAR I HAVE GONE THROUGH FIVE BELTS SINCE OCT 1995. I JUST FOUND OUT ABOUT THE TSB THROUGH A FRIEND WHO ALSO OWNS A POWERSTROKE ENGINE. THE TSB IS NUMBERED 96-17-19.
FRONT BUMPER REPLACED DUE TO POOR METAL FINISHING
FRONT END STABILIZER BAR BENT, CAUSING VIBRATION.
AXEL SEALS FAILED.
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
Data on this page last refreshed .