FORD E-250 · model year

1996 FORD E-250

24 NHTSA complaints, 3 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1996FORDE-250 carries 24 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 3 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injury, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1996 E-250 is tires:tread/belt with 4 filings, followed by service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components (2) and engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline (2). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 177 investigation files overlapping the 1996 E-250, and 8 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page, a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

24
Complaints
3
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

24 filings

Crashes Reported

3 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
TIRES:TREAD/BELT4
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE2
TIRES2
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES1
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE (EGR VALVE)1
WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS1
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT:SEAL1
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE1
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL1
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY1
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH1

Recent Complaints

20080929POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY:PEDAL/HAND LEVER(MOTORCYCLE)

I WAS STOPPED AT AN INTERSECTION WITH TRUCK IN GEAR AND CLUTCH PEDAL DOWN, ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CLUTCH RELEASED WITH THE PEDAL STILL DOWN CAUSING THE TRUCK TO LURCH INTO THE STREET ABOUT 15 FT BEFORE I COULD STOP WITH THE BRAKES. THE CARS IN THE STREET WERE ABLE TO AVOID ME BUT I WAS VERY SHAKEN. I FOUND THE PROBLEM WAS THE "CLUTCH ROD END PLASTIC BUSHING AND RETAINER" HAD FAILED ALLOWING THE CLUTCH TO RELEASE WITHOUT THE PEDAL. THIS WAS REPLACED BUT FAILED AGAIN 6 MONTHS LATER. FORTUNATELY I ALWAYS KEEP THE TRUCK IN NEUTRAL WHEN STOPPED NOW SO IT WAS ONLY AN INCONVENIENCE. CHECKING THE INTERNET FOR A FIX I FOUND SEVERAL COMPANIES THAT MAKE A REPLACEMENT ASSEMBLY FOR THIS BECAUSE OF ALL THE FAILURES. I HAVE BEEN KEEPING THE "ROD END" IN PLACE WITH WIRE AND ALWAYS KEEP IN NEUTRAL TO PREVENT ANOTHER FAILURE BUT HAVE ORDERED A REPLACEMENT ASSEMBLY AN EBAY COMPANY TO PREVENT THIS VERY DANGEROUS FAILURE FROM HAPPENING AGAIN. WHY HASN'T FORD NOTIFIED ANYONE ABOUT THIS POSSIBLE CA

Mileage: 76,000

20080625SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

THERE IS A PRESSURE SWITCH ON MY MASTER CYLINDER OF THE BRAKING SYSTEM. THERE IS O LISTED RECALL FOR MY PICKUP TRUCK HOW EVER AFTER ABOUT $900.00 AND 2 DIFFERENT AUTO SHOPS I FOUND THIS SWITCH TO BE THE DEFECTIVE PART AND WHEN I WENT TO THE DEALER JIM CLICK OF TUSCON AZ AND THE PARTS GUY GAVE ME THE PART I REQUESTED I QUESTIONED THE WIRING HARNESS ADAPTOR AND WHY THE SWITCH WAS NOT THE SAME AS I BROUGHT HIM. HE STATED WELL THERE WAS A LOT OF FAILURES WITH THE OLD DESIGN AND IT WAS A RECALL I STATED WELL SHOULDN'T THE PART BE FREE NO RESPONSE - - THE DEFECT IN THE PART WAS AN AIR LEAK CAUSING ME TO CHASE IT FOR A YEAR ON AND OFF CONSTANTLY BLEEDING LITTLE AIR BUBBLES OUT WITH OVER A GALLON OF FLUID. I NOTICED IT WITH JUST THE EVER SO SLIGHT OF DIRT STICKING TO THE LEAK ON THE UNDER SIDE OF SWITCH WHICH COULD NOT BE SEEN. THIS LEAK RESULTED IN A CONSTANTLY SOFT PEDAL WITH A ABOUT A 1-2 SECOND BRAKING DELAY. I CHECKED TO FORD SITE AND THE ONLY EXISTING RECALL IS A SPEED SENSOR. NOT FOR T

Mileage: 151,000

20040414FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

I HAVE 2 1996 FORD E250 VANS. THEY BOTH LEAK GAS OUT THE FILL TUBE IF I FILL THEM ALL THE WAY UP. ESPECIALLY IF I PARK ON A SLOPE. I ASKED THE FORD DEALER IF THIS WAS A RECALL ITEM AND THEY TOLD ME NO. IT SHOULD BE.

Mileage: 89,000

20040322LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH

MY DRIVERS SIDE DOOR HANDLE WAS HANGING UP. 4 YRS AGO IT BROKE, REPLACED IT 3 TIMES OVER THE NEXT YEAR. GAVE UP AND JUST ROLL MY WINDOW DOWN AND OPEN IT FROM THE OUTSIDE. NOW MY PASSENGER DOOR IS DOING IT. LAST WEEK RAN INTO SOMEBODY AT THE GAS STATION WHO WATCHED ME ROLL MY WINDOW DOWN TO GET OUT AND WAS LAUGHING, SAID HIS FORD VAN SAME YEAR DOES NOT WORK ON PASSENGER SIDE. MET A MAN ALMOST 3 YRS AGO AT FORD DEALERSHIP WALKING WITH DOOR HANDLE IN HAND, SAME THING. I HAVE MET AT LEAST 6 OR 7 PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM IN THIS YEAR OF FORD TRUCK. IF YOU HAVE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE IN A HURRY OR THE POWER SYSTEM FAILS YOU ARE OUT OF LUCK FOR YOU ARE STUCK IN IT. I HAVE MET TO MANY PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED. VERY FRUSTRATED. I FOUND ON THE FORD POWERSTROKE FORUM THAT MANY OTHER PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM AND THEY SAY IT IS HANGING UP ON A PIECE OF METAL INSIDE. NOW I HAVE NO DOORS THAT OPEN FROM INSIDE.*AK

Mileage: 100,000

20021122FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

AFTER FILLING FUEL TANK WITH GAS THE GAS WILL LEAK AROUND THE SEAM OF THE TANK. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THEIR WAS A LEAK IN THE FUEL TANK WHICH WAS CAUSED BY THE FRAME RUBBING AGAINST THE TANK. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS PART BUT IT FOR THE 1995 VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. TS

20020506VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

VEHICLE LUNGES FORWARD WITH THE FOOT APPLIED TO THE BRAKE. VEHICLE IDLES REAL ROUGH BEFORE ACCELERATING. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT, AND COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED BY THE DEALER.*AK

20010831ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

WHILE WAITING AT STOP LIGHT OR SIGN VEHICLE WOULD IDLE ROUGHLY. WOULD JERK FORWARD WITH FOOT ON BRAKE. SOMETIMES WOULD ALMOST STALL OUT WHEN AT A STOP. BEEN TO DEALER, AND NOTHING COULD BE FOUND. IT WAS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM.*AK

20010307ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

.ENGINE OIL PAN LEAKED ALL OVER DRIVEWAY. WARRANTY WAS UP IN JANUARY OF 2001. OIL PAN WAS RUSTED. *AK *SLC

20010205TIRES

RADIAL R4S, LT 225/75R16, DOT VD1L1XD418338, REPLACEMENT TIRES, 1 BLOWOUT PASSENGER REAR AT 2000 MILES ON TIRE, 2 TREAD SEPARATION ON PASSENGER REAR TIRE. BEFORE 8000 MILES ON TIRES, AND AT ABOUT 65 MPH. *AK *SLC

20010129TIRES:TREAD/BELT

TWO FIRESTONE STEELTEX RADIAL R4S TIRES EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION, CONSUMER REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT. NLM

20010123TIRES:TREAD/BELT

TWO FIRESTONE STEELTEX RADIAL R4S TIRES EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION, CONSUMER REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT. NLM

20001219TIRES:TREAD/BELT

THE ORIGINAL FIRESTONE STEELTEX R4S LT 225/75R16 E TIRES WERE REPLACED AT 20000 MILES DUE TO SIDEWALL AND TREAD CRACKS, THE REPLACEMENT TIRES WERE REPLACED AT 30451 MILES DUE TO TREAD SEPARATION, DEALER CREDITED THE CONSUMER FOR SOME OF THE TIRE EXPENSE. *MJS

20001023TIRES

THE FIRST INCIDENT R-R TIRE BLEW OUT /REPLACED WITH SPARE TIRE. BOUGHT A NEW REPLACEMENT, AND ROTATED THE R-F TIRE TO THE R-R; STOWED THE (R-R) SPARE TIRE ; IN THE SECOND INCIDENT, THE R-R TIRE SEPARATED WHILE DRIVING ON I-10 FROM PHOENIX, AZ TO LA, CA (TIRESIZE: 225/75R16D)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 225/75R16D )

20000824TIRES:TREAD/BELT

DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED, THE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE AND COLLAPSED TUBING AND METAL WEATHER PROTECTION INSIDE THE TIRE WELL; THE TIRE REMAINED PRESSURIZED; I WAS GIVEN REMAINING TIRE CREDIT AT A FIRESONE TIRE DEALER.( DOT NUMBER: VNIL IKE TIRE SIZE: LT22575R16 )

20000221CrashSTRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

IS THERE ANY RECOMMENDED PRINTED REPAIR FOR DAMAGED SECTIONS OF THE FRAME OF THIS VEHICLE. THERE IS A TEAR IN THE METAL OF THE COMPRESSED AREA OF THE ASORBING PART OF THE CRUMPLE ZONE OF THE FRAME. *AK

19990603POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT:SEAL

REAR AXLE SEAL IS LEAKING BRAKE FLUID, AND CAUSING BRAKES TO WEAR OUT FASTER. *AK

19990603SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS

REAR AXLE SEAL IS LEAKING BRAKE FLUID, AND CAUSING BRAKES TO WEAR OUT FASTER. *AK

19990601WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS

THE RIGHT WHEEL BOLTS AND NUTS SHEARED OFF, CAUSING THE RIGHT WHEEL TO FALL, AND ALMOST CAUSED A CRASH. CURRENTLY, LEFT WHEEL BOLTS AND NUTS ALSO SHEARED OFF. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION AND VIN#. *AK

19990326ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK

19981118ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE (EGR VALVE)

EGR VALVE FAILED.

Compare 1996FORDE-250 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 8 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1996 FORD E-250 have?
The 1996 FORD E-250 has 24 NHTSA complaints, 3 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1996 FORD E-250?
The most-complained component for the 1996 FORD E-250 is TIRES:TREAD/BELT with 4 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS and ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE.
Is the 1996 FORD E-250 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.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. 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.