PlainCars

Ford · vehicle model

Ford E-350

1,478 NHTSA complaints and 270 safety recalls across model years 1983–2025.

Complaints
1,478
Recalls
270
Model years
43

The verdict

The Ford E-350 pairs above-average complaint volume with 270 recalls (heavily recalled).

8th pctile
complaint volume, US models
270
recall campaigns
Follow this model's NHTSA record changes

Ford E-350 vs. all tracked models

Total NHTSA ODI complaints across models with substantive safety data

1,478 Higher than most more complaints than 92% of 3,088 models

tracked vehicle models, bucketed by value

Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more models. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · August 2026

The Ford E-350 appears in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database with 1,478 consumer safety complaints and 270 recall campaigns across 43 model years (1983–2025). That averages roughly 34 complaints per model year. Report counts can differ between model years for many reasons; this dataset does not establish the cause of a difference.

Complaint volume on a nameplate alone is not a reliability verdict: a long-running bestseller can accumulate more filings than a low-volume niche model because more vehicles are on the road. The table below shows report counts and published NHTSA crash-test ratings side by side for each model year. The filing-year histogram shows the timing of submitted reports, not a causal trend.

NHTSA has 4 investigation files tied to this model. Investigation records, complaint reports, and recall campaigns each provide different context. Use the official NHTSA VIN lookup and the underlying notices to research a specific vehicle; PlainCars does not infer a vehicle-risk or pricing conclusion from these records.

Complaints by Year

Year Complaints
2025 1
2024 1
2023 2
2022 19
2021 30
2020 2
2019 4
2018 5
2017 15
2016 5
2015 10
2014 23
2013 32
2012 22
2011 20
2010 22
2009 12
2008 55
2007 23
2006 76
2005 80
2004 70
2003 59
2002 61
2001 59
2000 63
1999 77
1998 70
1997 96
1996 59
1995 93
1994 60
1993 53
1992 51
1991 22
1990 28
1989 38
1988 17
1987 15
1986 14
1985 3
1984 6
1983 5

Complaint Filing Trend

NHTSA complaint volume by year filed (not model year).

Filings moved from 112 in 2017-2021 to 75 in 2022-2026, a fall of 33% . That is the 50th percentile of change across the 763 nameplates with enough filings in both windows to compare, where 0 is the steepest fall and 100 the steepest rise.

Filing volume, not a reliability verdict: counts also move with how many vehicles are on the road, how old they are, and whether a recall drew attention. Computed from this portal's NHTSA filing-year records over the same two windows the trend rankings use.

46
’95
90
’96
48
’97
43
’98
66
’99
113
’00
84
’01
63
’02
48
’03
40
’04
67
’05
76
’06
47
’07
64
’08
46
’09
75
’10
52
’11
42
’12
48
’13
57
’14
55
’15
21
’16
32
’17
29
’18
25
’19
11
’20
15
’21
24
’22
14
’23
22
’24
14
’25
1
’26

Year filed (bar labels show the complaint count).

View all trending models →

Compare Ford E-350 to Similar Vehicles

Ford E-350 vs Ford Probe → Ford E-350 vs Pontiac Montana → Ford E-350 vs Mercury Mystique → Ford E-350 vs Mercedes-Benz E320 →

NHTSA Investigations

RQ24003 Recall Query Closed 2024-02-27

Loss of Power Brake/Steering Assist Post Recall 22V089 Inspection.
PE09055 Preliminary Evaluation Closed 2009-12-07

HVAC Switch Failures
DP87025 Defect Petition Closed 1987-07-17

FORD E350 EMS VEH. FIRES
DP87024 Defect Petition Closed 1987-07-17

FORD E-350 EMS VEHICLE FIRES

Frequently Asked Questions

How reliable is the Ford E-350?▼
The Ford E-350 has received 1,478 NHTSA complaints spanning model years 1983 to 2025, with 270 recalls. That averages about 34 complaints per model year.
What years of Ford E-350 are available?▼
PlainCars has complaint and recall data for the Ford E-350 from 1983 to 2025 (43 model years). Select any year to see component-level complaint breakdowns and safety ratings.
Does the Ford E-350 have safety ratings?▼
NHTSA safety ratings (NCAP 5-star program) are available for many Ford E-350 model years from 2011 onward. Select a specific year to see front crash, side crash, and rollover ratings where available.
What are the most common Ford E-350 complaints?▼
NHTSA complaints for the Ford E-350 are categorized by component, common areas include engine, transmission, electrical system, airbags, and brakes. Select a model year for a detailed component-by-component breakdown.
How do I check if my Ford E-350 has been recalled?▼
Visit the year-specific page on PlainCars to see all recalls for your model year, or enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov for official recall status and available remedies.
Data sources

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. Ford E-350 totals are aggregated from the linked NHTSA model-year rows; 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.