RoadVitals

1996 Ford Motor Home

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.
11
Latest Apr 25, 2016
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.
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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.
0
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.
1

Overview

Our database contains 11 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1996 Ford Motor Home, most frequently naming the driver assistance, fuel system and tires & wheels categories. 3 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

  • Driver assistance325.0%
  • Fuel system325.0%
  • Tires & wheels325.0%
  • Brakes18.3%
  • Exterior lighting18.3%
  • Suspension18.3%

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

No recalls in our database for this model year

That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.

Recent owner complaints

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

View all 11
Fuel system
Filed Apr 25, 2016
Fire reported

THIS MOTORHOME ONLY HAS 17,000 MILES ON IT AND IT HAS HAD 4 FUEL PUMPS ON IT AND IS GETTING READY TO HAVE THE 5TH ONE. THEY HAVE ALL BEEN ORIGINAL FORD PARTS COSTING $450 EACH. IT IS A FAULTY DESIGN AND FORD KNOWS IT! THIS IS A 36 FT CHASSIS AND THE STYLE OF TUBING AND PUMP CANNOT KEEP UP, THEY KEEP BURNING UP. FORD CHANGED THE STYLE OF FUEL PUMP THAT REQUIRES A JUMPER HARNESS KIT TO KEEP THIS FROM HAPPENING BUT DID NOT ISSUE A RECALL ON ANY OF THESE. NOW THAT I AM AGAIN HAVING ISSUES WITH THIS FUEL PUMP I FEEL IT IS ONLY FAIR THAT FORD FIX THIS ISSUE. I HAVE A MOTORHOME WITH ONLY 17,000 MILES ON IT THAT HAS $2000 JUST IN FUEL PUMPS ALONE NOT COUNTING ANY LABOR AND THEY WANT TO SAY IT'S NOT A DESIGN ISSUE WHEN ALL OVER THE INTERNET AND EVEN THEIR FORUMS' IT CLEARLY IS AND HAS BEEN A PROBLEM. LOOK AT ARTICLE NO. 97-23-9 THAT IS JUST ONE! I CAN'T EVEN TRAVEL OVER AN HOUR IN THIS MOTORHOME WITHOUT LETTING IT SIT FOR THIRTY MINUTES FOR THE GAS TO COOL BACK DOWN. FORD WANTS TO TELL ME IT'S BECAUSE IT ONLY HAS 17,000 MILES ON IT. BELIEVE ME IF I COULD DRIVE IT MORE I WOULD. YOU CAN'T TRUST THIS THING AND YOU NEVER HAVE BEEN ABLE TO. IT HAS BEEN KEPT IN A CLIMATE CONTROLLED GARAGE SO IT HAS NOT BE ABUSED IN ANY WAY. IT IS US, THE CONSUMER THAT HAS BEEN ABUSED BY FORD.

NHTSA ID
10861408
Incident
Apr 21, 2016
Mileage
17,000 mi
Fuel systemSuspension
Filed Dec 15, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD E-350 CALLISTA MOTOR HOME (NA). THE CONTACT NOTICED PROPANE LEAKING, A CRACKED FUEL LINE, AND THE CHASSIS WAS UNSTABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE PROPANE REGULATOR, TIE ROD, BALL JOINT, AND DRIVE LINES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

NHTSA ID
10810475
Incident
May 15, 2015
Mileage
110,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Apr 8, 2008

1996 FORD ECONOLINE MOTORHOME WITH A RECALL FOR FUSED JUMPER CABLE. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE DEALER TOLD HIM THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE REQUESTED REPAIR PART AND TO CALL BACK. HE STATES THAT THE RECALL STATES THAT THERE IS ANOTHER WAY TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM. *KB THE RECALL STATED AN INCOMPATIBLE FUSED JUMPER CABLE MAY HAVE BEEN INSTALLED IN VEHICLES AND IF THE PROPER FUSED JUMPER CABLE WAS NOT AVAILABLE, A NEW MATING ELECTRICAL SWITCH WOULD BE ITS REPLACEMENT. *JB

NHTSA ID
10224012
Incident
Jan 1, 1901
Driver assistance
Filed Mar 4, 2008

1996 FORD MOTORHOME WITH SPEED CONTROL RECALL. CONSUMER STATES THAT DEALER DID NOT HAVE THE PARTS TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. HE STATES THAT HE HAS CALLED SINCE THEN TO GET THE REPAIR DONE AND THEY STILL DO NOT HAVE THE PARTS. *KB

NHTSA ID
10220587
Incident
Jan 1, 1901
Driver assistance
Filed Feb 21, 2008

1996 MOTORHOME WITH RECALL FOR SPEED CONTROL SWITCH. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE DEALER TOLD HIM THAT THE PARTS WERE ON BACK ORDER AND TO CALL BACK IN 30 DAYS. CONSUMER STATES EVERY MONTH HE IS TOLD THAT THE PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE. *KB

NHTSA ID
10219447
Incident
Jan 1, 1901
Exterior lighting
Filed Dec 3, 2002

GULF STREAM RV MANIFACTORYING. BUILT THE CLASS C RV ON FORD E-350 CUT A WAY CHASSIS. THE FORD CHASSIS MANUAL STATES THAT IT IS SUPPLIED W/ 2 HAZARD AND TURN LIGHTS ON FRONT AND 2 ON THE BACK (TOTAL OF 4 LIGHTS) AND A FLASHER FOR 2 BULB AND 4 BULB MAX FLASHER #SF-602 THIS IS THE ONLY FLASHER THAT FORD HAS. GULF STREAM ADDED ANOTHER TURN/ HAZARD BULB ON EACH SIDE ON REAR. PLUS TWO TRAILOR LIGHTS. THE FORD REFERENCE MANUEL PAGE 19 TABLE H STATES THAT IF MORE LIGHTS ARE ADDED THEY ARE TO CHANGE THE TURN SIGNAL FLASHER. WITH ONE HAVING THE CORRECT LAMP RAREING. GULF STREAM DIDN'T DO THIS THEY LEFT THE ONE THAT FORD PUT ON AT THE FACTORY. WHEN YOU TURN THE HAZARD FLASHER LIGHT ON IT OVER LOADS THE FLASHER OUT ($38.00 EA) THEN YOU DON'T HAVE FLASHERS. I HAVE BURNT OUT 2 SO FAR. I HAVE CONTACTED GULF STREAM RV ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND THEY GIVE ME THE RUN AROUND ON THIS. THEY SAID I AM THE ONLY ONE THAT HAS THIS PROBLEM. ONLY THE 1996 FORD E-350 USES THIS FLASHER. I CAN'T FIND ANOTHER ONE ANY WHERE THAT WILL WORK IN THE E-350. FORD TOLD ME THAT IS THE ONLY FLASHER THAT WILL WORK AND THAT IT IS A GULF STREAM PROBLEM AND THEY DENY THE PROBLEM. THIS AFFECTS ALL 1996 FORD E350 VANS. DT

NHTSA ID
770404
Incident
Jul 20, 2000
Tires & wheels
Filed Jul 25, 2002

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE REAR RIGHT TIRE TREAD SEPERARATED WHILE DRIVING AND 500 MILES LATER THE TIRE ON THE LEFT SIDE HAD TREAD SEPERATION. ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT, 25K MILES, MOUNTED ON A MOTOR HOME FORD CHASIS. 225/75R16. *JB *SCC

NHTSA ID
8014704
Incident
Jul 21, 2002
Fuel system
Filed Oct 31, 2000

THE RUBBER GASOLINE FILL HOSE CRACKED BECAUSE OF AN IMPROPER INSTALLATION OF A DRAIN PIPE WHICH RESTS ON IT, THIS CRACK RESULTED IN A VERY SERIOUS GAS SPILL. NLM

NHTSA ID
556634

Manufacturer communications

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

000604013

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL

SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT THAT THEIR VEHICLE MAY RUN ROUGH WHEN IDLING WITH THE CLUTCH DEPRESSED AFTER A COLD START-UP, UNTIL THE COOLANT TEMPERATURE REACHES NORMAL OPERATING TEMPERATURE. *TT

000601006

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT ON A TICK TYPE NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE WHILE THE ENGINE IS RUNNING DURING COLD OR HOT OPERATION. *TT

000138002

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM

SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT THAT THE AIR CONDITIONING DOES NOT SEEM COLD ENOUGH OR IS INOPERATIVE. *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 Motor Home by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2003600—
2002100035.4
2001800—
2000260034.6
1999260032.0
1998700—
1997130033.7
1996Viewing110034.2
1995700—
1994900—
1993100—
1991100—
1988200—

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.