1996 Ford Ford Truck Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1996 Ford Ford Truck, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Tires & wheels525.0%
- Engine420.0%
- Electrical315.0%
- Transmission210.0%
- Fuel system210.0%
- Body & structure15.0%
- Seat belts15.0%
- Brakes15.0%
- Driver assistance15.0%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
TRUCK DAMANGE DUE TO TIRE BLOW-OUT
WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH RIGHT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT DUE TO A SPLIT IN THE SIDEWALL, CAUSING DRIVER TO PULL OVER, OFF THE ROAD.*AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE HEAD GASKET OF MY 1996 FORD WINDSTAR VAN FAILED AT 79,900 MILES. THIS FAILURE IN 1995 FORD WINDSTAR VANS RESULTED IN A RECALL WHERE FORD MOTORS REPLACED THE ENGINES OF THOSE VEHICLES. I AM TOLD BY MY FORD PLATINUM MECHANIC THAT THE 1995 AND 1996 WINDSTAR ENGINES ARE THE SAME AND THAT THE GASKETS WERE SUPPLIED BY THE SAME SUPPLIER. MY VAN WAS MANUFACTURED IN OCTOBER, 1995. THIS FAILURE OCCURS IN OTHER FORD MOTORS 3.8 ENGINES, SPECIFICALLY THE CROWN VICTORIA, AND LINCOLN TOWNCAR. *AK
WHEN DRIVNG THOUGH A PUDDLE @ SLOW SPEEDS, BATTERY LIGHT BLINKED AND ENGINE SHUT OFF. BROUGHT CAR INTO SHOP, WAS TOLD LOOSE BATTERY CONNECTION. I READ ON YOUR WEB SITE THAT OTHER PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
RECEIVED A NOTICE, SEPTEMBER 2005, FROM FORD MOTOR COMPANY, THAT A DEFECTIVE SWITCH IN THE SPEED CONTROL SYSTEM EXIST ON CERTAIN MODEL VEHICLES, INCLUDING MINE. THE SWITCH CAN CAUSE A FIRE UNDER THE HOOD WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING OR OFF. SWITCHES WILL BE AVAILABLE IN NOVEMBER 2005. AS OF THIS DATE NO AVAILABLE SWITCHES AT ANY DEALER I'VE CALLED. THEY KEEP SAYING NEXT MONTH. CALLED FORD MOTOR CO. AND THEY ARE SAYING THE NEW SWITCHES WILL BE AVAILABLE IN JUNE 2008. *TR
WHEN DRIVNG THOUGH A PUDDLE @ SLOW SPEEDS, BATTERY LIGHT BLINKED AND ENGINE SHUT OFF. BROUGHT CAR INTO SHOP, WAS TOLD LOOSE BATTERY CONNECTION. I READ ON YOUR WEB SITE THAT OTHER PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
TRUCK WAS PURCHASED USED WITH 20,907 MILES. TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED AT 10,000 MILES. THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AGAIN AT 21, 828 ABOUT 11,000 MILES LATER.
THIS TRUCK IS EQUIPPED WITH E4 OD AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, WHILE STILL UNDER ORIGINAL WARRENTEE I COMPLAINED OF JERKY AND ROUGH SHIFTING AND WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE DEALER, THAT THIS WAS NORMAL, TO PROTECT MYSELF AT 32,000 MILES I HAD THE TRANSISSIOM SERVICED AND CHECKED AGAIN FOR DEFECTS, AND WAS TOLD EVERYTHING WAS A-OKAY. THE ROUGH AND JERKY SHIFTING STILL OCCURRED. AT 67,000 MILES THE E4 OD TRANSMISSION FAILED. A REPUTABLE TRANSMISSION AUTHORITY WAS CONTACTED, THE PROBLEM AND THIS IS KNOWN BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY, IS THE TRANSMISSION IN THE E4 OD WHICH WAS STANDARD AT THE TIME FOR THIS MODEL, WAS NOT STURDY ENOUGH TO GET THE PREPORTED 100,000 MILES THAT THE DEALERS BRAG ABOUT. THE TORQUE CONVERTER IS TOO LIGHT WEIGHT FOR THE 7.3 LTR ENGINE AND WAS COMPLETELY DIS INTERGRATED, BY THE POWER OF THE ENGINE. THIS HAD BEEN ON GOING EVEN TO THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY. FORD IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AS THIS E4 OD TRANSMISSION HAS HAD NUMEROUS RECALLS AND SEVICE BULLETINS SINCE IT'S CONCEPTION IN THE EARLY 1990'S.. FORD MOTOR COMPANY SENT ME A FREE 24 /24 EXTENDED WARRANTY DATED ACTIVE 4 DAYS AFTER I PAID $2500 FOR AN OVERHAUL OF THIS E4 OD TRANSMISSION. I HAVE 4 OTHER FORD PRODUCTS IN MY DRIVEWAY AND I'M SO UNHAPPY ABOUT THIS I FEEL LIKE MOVING OVER TO DODGE. MY FAMILY HAS ALWAYS USED FORD PRODUCTS, BUT THIS TIME WE ARE GETTING STUCK WITH A HUGE REPAIR BILL THAT THE FORD DEALER AND FORD MOTOR COMPANY SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
CORROSION IN FORD LCF COMMERCIAL TRUCK FUEL TANKS, TRUCK RUNNING AT 5 MILES PER HOUR AND CONTINUOUS STALLING OF VEHICLE. *TR
DEVELOPED LEAKS IN GAS TANK UNDER FRONT RESTRAINING STRAP .WAS REPAIRED AND ANOTHER LEAK DEVELOPED UNDER FRONT STRAP IN SAME AREA.COULD HAVE BEEN A VERY HAZERDOUS SITUATION.SEEMS THAT THERE IS A DEFECT IN THE TANK,SIMILAR TO THE 1995 FORD WINDSTAR RECALL
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
RIVETS AND BOLTS NEEDED REPLACEMENT IN THE CHASSIS, HOWEVER DEALERSHIP WELDED FRAME INSTEAD.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
SHOULDER BELTS MOUNTED TO WALL, CAUSING BELTS TO CROSS OVER THE AISLE OF VAN, BLOCKING AISLE.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHEN PULLING TRAILERS THE ABS, ON THESE VEHICLES, IS ACTIVE AND IT TAKES APPROXIMATELY 40% MORE BRAKING ROOM TO STOP. THIS HAS BEEN OBSERVED ON THE FORD AND DODGE ONE TON PICK-UP TRUCKS.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
RECEIVED A NOTICE, SEPTEMBER 2005, FROM FORD MOTOR COMPANY, THAT A DEFECTIVE SWITCH IN THE SPEED CONTROL SYSTEM EXIST ON CERTAIN MODEL VEHICLES, INCLUDING MINE. THE SWITCH CAN CAUSE A FIRE UNDER THE HOOD WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING OR OFF. SWITCHES WILL BE AVAILABLE IN NOVEMBER 2005. AS OF THIS DATE NO AVAILABLE SWITCHES AT ANY DEALER I'VE CALLED. THEY KEEP SAYING NEXT MONTH. CALLED FORD MOTOR CO. AND THEY ARE SAYING THE NEW SWITCHES WILL BE AVAILABLE IN JUNE 2008. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .