Total Complaints
81 filings
Ford E-150 · model year
1996 Ford E-150
81 NHTSA complaints, 11 crash reports. A VIN lookup is required to determine whether a specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
- Complaints
- 81
- Recalls
- 0
The verdict
The 1996 Ford E-150 posts above-average complaint volume among its own model-year siblings.
- 18th pctile
- complaint volume, own model years
- 0
- recall campaigns
The 1996FordE-150 carries 81 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 11 crashes, 9 fires, 3 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
The most frequently selected component label in reports for the 1996 E-150 is service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip with 7 filings, followed by engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline (5) and electrical system (4). Complaint categories reflect owner reports and intake categorization; they do not establish a defect pattern or cause.
NHTSA currently has 179 investigation files overlapping the 1996 E-150, and 6 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should read the complaint-by-year trend as report volume, not a causal diagnosis. Use the related-complaint feed and the official recall lookup when researching a specific vehicle.
81
Complaints
11
Crashes
9
Fires
3
Injuries
0
Deaths
F
PlainCars Safety Score
0/100
1996 Ford E-150
PlainCars' own composite of NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings and rollover-risk assessment, each dimension normalized against the federal scale or the full national model-year corpus. Not an official NHTSA figure, and not a substitute for a specific vehicle's VIN-level recall check.
NHTSA Overall Rating N/A
Not rated
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program overall crash-test rating.
Front Crash N/A
Not rated
Frontal barrier crash-test rating.
Side Crash N/A
Not rated
Side barrier and pole crash-test rating.
Rollover Resistance N/A
Not rated
Static stability factor + dynamic rollover test rating.
Rollover Risk N/A
Not reported
NHTSA single-vehicle rollover probability, dynamic test.
Crashes Reported
11 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 7 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 5 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 4 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 3 |
| STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION) | 3 |
| TIRES | 3 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL | 3 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH | 2 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS | 2 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC | 2 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP | 2 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 2 |
| EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER | 2 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY | 2 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP | 2 |
Recent Complaints
20140428SERVICE BRAKES
MY VEHICLE ACCORDING THE NHTSA HAS RECALL #09V399000 FOR THE BRAKE SYSTEM SPEED CONTROL WHICH CAN CATCH ON FIRE EVEN IN THE GARAGE WITH THE VEHICLE OFF. I ASKED FORD TO REPAIR THIS BECAUSE I JUST BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE AND THEY CLAIM THERE ARE NO RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE, AND I KNOW THERE IS AND I KNOW THE RECALL HASN'T BEEN INSTALLED ON MY VEHICLE. ARE THEY SAYING THIS BECAUSE TIME RAN OUT TO HAVE THIS DONE BECAUSE I JUST BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE OR DO THEY JUST NOT WANT TO? THANKS FOR YOUR HELP. *JS
Mileage: 81,555
20140428VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
MY VEHICLE ACCORDING THE NHTSA HAS RECALL #09V399000 FOR THE BRAKE SYSTEM SPEED CONTROL WHICH CAN CATCH ON FIRE EVEN IN THE GARAGE WITH THE VEHICLE OFF. I ASKED FORD TO REPAIR THIS BECAUSE I JUST BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE AND THEY CLAIM THERE ARE NO RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE, AND I KNOW THERE IS AND I KNOW THE RECALL HASN'T BEEN INSTALLED ON MY VEHICLE. ARE THEY SAYING THIS BECAUSE TIME RAN OUT TO HAVE THIS DONE BECAUSE I JUST BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE OR DO THEY JUST NOT WANT TO? THANKS FOR YOUR HELP. *JS
Mileage: 81,555
20140428ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY VEHICLE ACCORDING THE NHTSA HAS RECALL #09V399000 FOR THE BRAKE SYSTEM SPEED CONTROL WHICH CAN CATCH ON FIRE EVEN IN THE GARAGE WITH THE VEHICLE OFF. I ASKED FORD TO REPAIR THIS BECAUSE I JUST BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE AND THEY CLAIM THERE ARE NO RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE, AND I KNOW THERE IS AND I KNOW THE RECALL HASN'T BEEN INSTALLED ON MY VEHICLE. ARE THEY SAYING THIS BECAUSE TIME RAN OUT TO HAVE THIS DONE BECAUSE I JUST BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE OR DO THEY JUST NOT WANT TO? THANKS FOR YOUR HELP. *JS
Mileage: 81,555
20130421FireSERVICE BRAKES
VEHICLE WAS PARKED, AND UPON ENTERING NOTICED THE SMELL OF AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. STARTED THE VEHICLE, ODOMETER WAS INOPERABLE AND VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF PARK. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, FOUND A BLOWN 15 AMP FUSE IN THE FUSE PANEL. REPLACED FUSE, ODOMETER CAME BACK ON AND VEHICLE SHIFTED OUT OF PARK. APPROXIMATELY 10 SECONDS LATER, THE SMELL OF BURNING WIRING WAS EVIDENT, AS WAS SMOKE FROM UNDER THE HOOD. PULLED THE FUSE BACK OUT, OPENED THE HOOD TO FIND THE BRAKE PRESSURE SWITCH ON FIRE, WHICH MELTED THE BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR AS WELL AS THE BATTERY CASING ALSO. *TR
Mileage: 168,000
20130421FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM
VEHICLE WAS PARKED, AND UPON ENTERING NOTICED THE SMELL OF AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. STARTED THE VEHICLE, ODOMETER WAS INOPERABLE AND VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF PARK. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, FOUND A BLOWN 15 AMP FUSE IN THE FUSE PANEL. REPLACED FUSE, ODOMETER CAME BACK ON AND VEHICLE SHIFTED OUT OF PARK. APPROXIMATELY 10 SECONDS LATER, THE SMELL OF BURNING WIRING WAS EVIDENT, AS WAS SMOKE FROM UNDER THE HOOD. PULLED THE FUSE BACK OUT, OPENED THE HOOD TO FIND THE BRAKE PRESSURE SWITCH ON FIRE, WHICH MELTED THE BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR AS WELL AS THE BATTERY CASING ALSO. *TR
Mileage: 168,000
20091120STRUCTURE
A CHROME COLOR GRILLE ABOUT 2.5 FEET WIDE AND 6" TALL FLEW OFF THE FRONT OF OUR 1996 F150 FORD VAN WHILE WE WERE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED. I NOTICED OTHER SIMILAR FORD VANS THAT HAVE ALSO LOST THE SAME FRONT GRILL PART. WE WERE GOING 55 MPH DOWN A 2 LANE HIGHWAY AND A LARGE TRUCK WAS GOING THE OTHER WAY. THE GUST OF AIR FROM THE PASSING TRUCK WAS SUFFICIENT TO TEAR OFF THE GRILL PART AND CAUSE IT TO FLY OVER THE TOP OF OUR VAN. *TR
Mileage: 85,000
20090709CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD E-150. WHENEVER THE CONTACT STARTS THE ENGINE AND DEPRESSES THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE ENGINE BECOMES STUCK AT A HIGH RPM AND WILL NOT RETURN TO THE IDLE POSITION. THE FAILURE CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO EITHER SURGE FORWARD OR BACKWARDS DEPENDING ON WHAT GEAR IT IS IN AT THE TIME. THE ENGINE HAS TO BE TURNED OFF IN ORDER TO RESTORE THE VEHICLE TO A PROPER SPEED. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKES DO NOT HOLD OR STOP THE VEHICLE WHEN THEY ARE ENGAGED. THE FIRST TIME THIS FAILURE OCCURRED, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A TREE AT 10 MPH. THERE WERE NO INJURIES; HOWEVER, THE REAR WINDOW WAS DAMAGED. THROUGH RESEARCH, THE CONTACT FOUND NUMEROUS ISSUES WITH THIS DEFECT ON THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP TWICE. DURING THE FIRST VISIT, THE MECHANIC CLEANED OUT THE ENGINE, ENGINE THROTTLE, AND CABLES. THE FAILURE WAS CORRECTED FOR TWO MONTHS BEFORE IT RECURRED AGAIN. DURING THE SECOND VISIT, THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE SHOP AND THE
Mileage: 150,000
20090709CrashSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD E-150. WHENEVER THE CONTACT STARTS THE ENGINE AND DEPRESSES THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE ENGINE BECOMES STUCK AT A HIGH RPM AND WILL NOT RETURN TO THE IDLE POSITION. THE FAILURE CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO EITHER SURGE FORWARD OR BACKWARDS DEPENDING ON WHAT GEAR IT IS IN AT THE TIME. THE ENGINE HAS TO BE TURNED OFF IN ORDER TO RESTORE THE VEHICLE TO A PROPER SPEED. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKES DO NOT HOLD OR STOP THE VEHICLE WHEN THEY ARE ENGAGED. THE FIRST TIME THIS FAILURE OCCURRED, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A TREE AT 10 MPH. THERE WERE NO INJURIES; HOWEVER, THE REAR WINDOW WAS DAMAGED. THROUGH RESEARCH, THE CONTACT FOUND NUMEROUS ISSUES WITH THIS DEFECT ON THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP TWICE. DURING THE FIRST VISIT, THE MECHANIC CLEANED OUT THE ENGINE, ENGINE THROTTLE, AND CABLES. THE FAILURE WAS CORRECTED FOR TWO MONTHS BEFORE IT RECURRED AGAIN. DURING THE SECOND VISIT, THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE SHOP AND THE
Mileage: 150,000
20090709CrashENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD E-150. WHENEVER THE CONTACT STARTS THE ENGINE AND DEPRESSES THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE ENGINE BECOMES STUCK AT A HIGH RPM AND WILL NOT RETURN TO THE IDLE POSITION. THE FAILURE CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO EITHER SURGE FORWARD OR BACKWARDS DEPENDING ON WHAT GEAR IT IS IN AT THE TIME. THE ENGINE HAS TO BE TURNED OFF IN ORDER TO RESTORE THE VEHICLE TO A PROPER SPEED. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKES DO NOT HOLD OR STOP THE VEHICLE WHEN THEY ARE ENGAGED. THE FIRST TIME THIS FAILURE OCCURRED, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A TREE AT 10 MPH. THERE WERE NO INJURIES; HOWEVER, THE REAR WINDOW WAS DAMAGED. THROUGH RESEARCH, THE CONTACT FOUND NUMEROUS ISSUES WITH THIS DEFECT ON THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP TWICE. DURING THE FIRST VISIT, THE MECHANIC CLEANED OUT THE ENGINE, ENGINE THROTTLE, AND CABLES. THE FAILURE WAS CORRECTED FOR TWO MONTHS BEFORE IT RECURRED AGAIN. DURING THE SECOND VISIT, THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE SHOP AND THE
Mileage: 150,000
20061214ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
1996 FORD E-150 SERPENTINE BELT, AIR CONDITIONING COMPRESSOR. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, IGNITION MODULE REPLACED, ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED, TIE RODS REPLACED, FUEL PUMP REPLACED. *KB
20061214EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
1996 FORD E-150 SERPENTINE BELT, AIR CONDITIONING COMPRESSOR. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, IGNITION MODULE REPLACED, ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED, TIE RODS REPLACED, FUEL PUMP REPLACED. *KB
20061214ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
1996 FORD E-150 SERPENTINE BELT, AIR CONDITIONING COMPRESSOR. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, IGNITION MODULE REPLACED, ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED, TIE RODS REPLACED, FUEL PUMP REPLACED. *KB
20061214SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
1996 FORD E-150 SERPENTINE BELT, AIR CONDITIONING COMPRESSOR. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, IGNITION MODULE REPLACED, ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED, TIE RODS REPLACED, FUEL PUMP REPLACED. *KB
20061214STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
1996 FORD E-150 SERPENTINE BELT, AIR CONDITIONING COMPRESSOR. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, IGNITION MODULE REPLACED, ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED, TIE RODS REPLACED, FUEL PUMP REPLACED. *KB
20061214FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
1996 FORD E-150 SERPENTINE BELT, AIR CONDITIONING COMPRESSOR. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, IGNITION MODULE REPLACED, ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED, TIE RODS REPLACED, FUEL PUMP REPLACED. *KB
20060906SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
BROKEN FRONT SPRING ON 1996 ECONOLINE VAN APPARENTLY DUE TO CORROSION ISSUE. DEALER DIAGNOSED PROBLEM AND STATES THAT BROKEN SPRING MAY OR MAY NOT COME LOSE AND RESULT IN A SAFETY HAZARD. *NM
20060815FireVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE WHILE PARKED. THE FIRE WAS LOCALIZED UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN IN FOR SERVICE. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL # 06V286000 WHICH PERTAINED TO THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. *AK
Mileage: 130,000
20050810FireVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
DT: THE CALLER SAID THAT WHILE AT WORK HIS VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. IT WAS SITTING FOR 2 HOURS AND 15 MINUTES. VEHICLE WAS SITTING ACROSS THE STREET FROM WHERE THE CALLER WORKED, AND THE NEIGHBORS SAW THE FIRE AND HELPED PUT IT OUT ALONG WITH A PASSING POLICE OFFICER. FIRE WAS CAUGHT IN TIME, AND NO OTHER DAMAGE WAS CAUSED. DEALER /MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
Mileage: 115,000
20050520SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
1996 FORD E150 EXPERIENCED BRAKE FAILURE DUE TO CORRODED BRAKE LINES.*MR THE FAILED PART WERE AT THE ABS CONTROL VALVE AND EXTENDED TO THE FRONT BRAKES. FOUR MONTHS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH. *NM
20050413CrashSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
1. I WAS TRAVELING A 35 MPH ON A STRAIGHT ROAD DURING THE DAYLIGHT HOURS. THE ROAD WAS DRY. THE WEATHER WAS SUNNY, AND THERE WAS VERY LITTLE TRAFFIC IN A TWO LANE ROAD. AS I APPROACHED STANDING TRAFFIC AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT I BEGAN TO SLOW GRADUALLY WITH ENGINE BRAKING. AS I APPOACHED THE STOPPED CAR I BEGAN TO TOUCH THE BRAKE PEDAL, AND IMMEDIATELY NOTICED NO BRAKING EFFECT. I THAN PRESSED THE PEDAL A COUPLE MORE INCHES, AND STILL THERE WAS LITTLE BRAKING EFFECT. I THEN PRESSED AS HARD AS I COULD, AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SLOW GRADUALLY, BUT NOT IN TIME TO AVOID HITTING THE CAR STOPPED AT THE TRAFFIC LIGHT. THERE WAS MINOR DAMAGE DONE TO THE STANDING VEHICLE, BUT ONLY BECAUSE I WAS TRAVELING SO SLOWLY AND HAD BEGUN TO ANTICIPATE THE STOP IN PLENTY OF TIME. HAVING BEEN AN AUTOMOBILE MECHANIC IN YEARS PAST, I DETERMINED THAT THE FAULT WAS IN THE VACUUM BOOSTER OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED REPAIR SHOP AND HAD THE BRAKE SYSTEM EVALUATED. THEY EXAMINED TH
Mileage: 144,000
Compare 1996FordE-150 to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 6 Open
EA26004Engineering AnalysisOpen
Timing Belt Failure
DP26004Defect PetitionOpen
Anti-lock brake system (ABS) Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) illuminated
EA26001Engineering AnalysisOpen
Unintended Transmission Downshift and Rear Wheel Lock-up
PE25020Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Timing Belt Failure
DP25001Defect PetitionClosed
Underbody shields detachment
Vehicle Safety Guides
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1996 Ford E-150 have?▼
The 1996 Ford E-150 has 81 NHTSA complaints, 11 crashes, 9 fires, 3 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1996 Ford E-150?▼
The most-complained component for the 1996 Ford E-150 is SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP with 7 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE and ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.
Is the 1996 Ford E-150 safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Data vintage: August 2026. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Every figure on PlainCars is rendered directly from NHTSA complaint and safety data, no number is typed in by an editor. This year-specific record is rendered from NHTSA ODI, recall, and NCAP rows for the 1996 Ford E-150; no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.