Ford E-350 · model year

1996 Ford E-350

59 NHTSA complaints. 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
59
Recalls
0

The verdict

The 1996 Ford E-350 posts above-average complaint volume among its own model-year siblings.

26th pctile
complaint volume, own model years
0
recall campaigns

The 1996FordE-350 carries 59 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 1 fire, 1 injury, 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-350 is service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip with 9 filings, followed by tires:tread/belt (9) and tires (9). Complaint categories reflect owner reports and intake categorization; they do not establish a defect pattern or cause.

NHTSA currently has 4 investigation files overlapping the 1996 E-350. 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.

59
Complaints
0
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Injuries
0
Deaths
F
PlainCars Safety Score
0/100
1996 Ford E-350

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.

Total Complaints

59 filings

Crashes Reported

0 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP9
TIRES:TREAD/BELT9
TIRES9
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR3
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS2
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC2
SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLY:LEAF1
STRUCTURE1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS1
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK1
UNKNOWN OR OTHER1
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL1
SUSPENSION:FRONT1

Recent Complaints

20170911FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

APPROXIMATELY 6 TIMES ON A 800 MILE ROAD TRIP WHEN IT WAS 90 DEGREES OR HOTTER IN THE AFTERNOON MY 1996 E350 MOTORHOME WOULD STOP RUNNING AT HIGHWAY SPEED STRANDING US IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION ON I40. AFTER SITTING IDLE FOR 30-60 MINUTES IT WOULD START AND RUN MAYBE 30 MILES AND STOP. IN THE COOL OF THE EVENING OR MORNING IT WOULD RUN AS LONG AS NEEDED. THE PROBLEM IS AN INADEQUATE FUEL PUMP WHICH IS WELL DOCUMENTED ON MANY INTERNET BLOGS. IN MID YEAR 1996 FORD UPGRADED TO A TURBINE FUEL PUMP WHICH I HAVE NOW PAID $450 TO INSTALL. THIS UPGRADE SOLVES THE PROBLEM. I WAS ALSO STRANDED AT MAJOR INTERSECTIONS ALSO. I READ THERE MIGHT HAVE BEEN A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM WHICH I CANNOT FIND. MY UNDERSTANDING OF THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE ORIGINAL FUEL PUMP WAS A GEROTOR WHICH CAUSED CAVITATION OF FUEL WHICH CAUSED AIR TO REACH THE FUEL RAIL CAUSING THE VAPOR LOCK LIKE PROBLEM.

Mileage: 33,500

20160823SERVICE BRAKES

ABS SPORADICALLY CAUSES DIFFICULTY IN PRESSING THE BREAK PEDAL WHILE RHYTHMICALLY PULLING HARD RIGHT. HIGHWAY OR SURFACE SPEEDS. GOOGLE HAS MANY WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND NO FIX. NO CODES ARE THROWN. DEALERS ARE NO HELP. MUST DISABLE THE ABS BY PULLING THE 60AMP FUSE.

Mileage: 345,000

20130618ENGINE

THIS ISSUE WAS ON A 1996 FORD F350 AMBULANCE ON ROUTE TO EMERGENCY CALL WHEN ENGINE SHUT DOWN AND LOST ALL POWER LIKE IT WAS OUT OF FUEL 7.3 LITER DIESEL AND TANK WAS FULL. HAD UNIT TOWED TO CROSS WOOD FORD IN KERNERSVILLE NC AND $2700.00 LATER AFTER NEW FUEL TANK FUEL PUMP 6 INJECTORS AND TURBO DUE TO LINER INSIDE OF TANK CAME OFF AND CLOGGED THE FUEL SYSTEM AND ENGINE FORD MOTOR COMPANY WAS NO HELP AND SAID SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY THEY WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING TO RESOLVE THE COST ISSUES. *TR

Mileage: 109,000

20130618FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL

THIS ISSUE WAS ON A 1996 FORD F350 AMBULANCE ON ROUTE TO EMERGENCY CALL WHEN ENGINE SHUT DOWN AND LOST ALL POWER LIKE IT WAS OUT OF FUEL 7.3 LITER DIESEL AND TANK WAS FULL. HAD UNIT TOWED TO CROSS WOOD FORD IN KERNERSVILLE NC AND $2700.00 LATER AFTER NEW FUEL TANK FUEL PUMP 6 INJECTORS AND TURBO DUE TO LINER INSIDE OF TANK CAME OFF AND CLOGGED THE FUEL SYSTEM AND ENGINE FORD MOTOR COMPANY WAS NO HELP AND SAID SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY THEY WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING TO RESOLVE THE COST ISSUES. *TR

Mileage: 109,000

20120127SEAT BELTS

DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT LATCH DOES NOT LOCK. *TR

20090808SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

DISCOVERY OF CRACKED FRONT ROTORS ON MY 1996 E-350 MOTORHOME. FIRST CRACKED ROTOR FOUND IN MAY 2007 WITH 35,000 MILES ON VEHICLE. SECOND CRACKED ROTOR FOUND IN SEPTEMBER 2009 WITH 41,000 MILES ON VEHICLE. *TR

Mileage: 35,869

20031009POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

SUBJECT VEHICLE IS A FORD E350 SUPERDUTY VAN CHASSIS MANUFACTURED IN MAY 1996 WITH VN [XXX] EQUIPPED WITH A E40D TRANSMISSION. THE TRANSMISSION IN A 1997 CLASS C MOTORHOME STARTED TO LEAK. THE PROBLEM WAS DETECTED BEFORE COMPLETE FAILURE, WHICH COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A FIRE. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO GARAGE. WHEN TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT A SEAL HAD TO BE REPLACE. THE OEM PART NUMBER WAS E9TP 7AP48 AA. THE SEAL WAS REPLACE WITH A PART FROM PERCISION INTERNATIONAL WITH PART NUMBER 16601EV, WHICH CAME WITH THE FOLLOWING ADVISORY "THE ORIGINAL DESIGN SILICONE RUBBER IS NOT AS COMPATIBLE WITH NEW FORD MERCRON V FLUID. ALSO IT'S NOT ABLE TO HOLD UP TO THE DEMANDS OF HEAVY DUTY TRUCK APPLICATIONS." IF THIS IS IN FACT THE CASES THE AFFECTED VEHICLES SHOULD BE REVIEWED AND IF NECESSARY RECALLED. *LA INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Mileage: 42,000

20031009SUSPENSION:FRONT:SHOCK ABSORBER

WHILE DRIVING AT 45/55 MPH RIGHT FRONT TIRE WENT OUT OF ROUND, AND THE LEFT FRONT TIRE STARTED SHOWING SIGNS OF FATIGUE. WHEN THIS OCCURRED FRONT SHOCKS FAILED, AND THE HYDRAULIC FLUID SPILLED ONTO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THIS RESULTED IN SEVERE FRONTAL VEHICLE DAMAGE. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK

Mileage: 19,700

20031009TIRES

WHILE DRIVING AT 45/55 MPH RIGHT FRONT TIRE WENT OUT OF ROUND, AND THE LEFT FRONT TIRE STARTED SHOWING SIGNS OF FATIGUE. WHEN THIS OCCURRED FRONT SHOCKS FAILED, AND THE HYDRAULIC FLUID SPILLED ONTO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THIS RESULTED IN SEVERE FRONTAL VEHICLE DAMAGE. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK

Mileage: 19,700

20030801TIRES:TREAD/BELT

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH TREAD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE. SEVERAL WEEKS LATER THE SAME THING HAPPENED WITH THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH. *AK

Mileage: 23,000

20030801TIRES:VALVE

CONSUMER STATES THAT VALVE STEMS RECOMMENDED FOR VEHICLE IS NOT EFFECTIVE AFTER 8000 MILES. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS TIRES WOULD BECOME FLAT FOR NO APPARENT REASON. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP, WHO INFORMED CONSUMER OF THE VALVE PROBLEM.*AK

Mileage: 52,000

20030226FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:INJECTORS

THE INJECTOR MODULE FAILED, WHICH CAUSED THE POWER STEERING TO STOP WORKING. *JB THIS WAS THE SECOND FUEL INJECTOR DRIVER MODULE THAT FAILED DUE TO WATER IN THE MODULE. THE ENGINE STOPPED WITH OVT WARNING. SCC

Mileage: 77,320

20021209EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:FLASHER UNIT

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 ANOTHE

20021125TIRES:TREAD/BELT

CONSUMER'S VEHICLE EXPERIENCED 3 TREAD SEPARATIONS ON FIRESTONE STEEL TEX BRAND. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN CONTACTED. TS ONE OTHER TIRE SHOWED SIGNS OF TREAD SEPARATION WHICH INCLUDED THE SPARE. ALL TIRES HAD TO BE REPLACED. *TT *JB

Mileage: 20,200

20021122EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:CARRIER/RACK

CONSUMER STATE WHILE TRAVELING 30 MPH WITHOUT ANY INDICATION VEHICLE SPEAR TIRE CARRIER HAD BROKEN CAUSING SPARE TIRE TO FALL FROM UNDER. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

20021105TIRES

3 TIRES ALL SEPERATED AT DIFFERENT TIMES WITHIN A 3 MONTH. BOTH FRONT TIRES AND ONE REAR TIRE. ALL 3 TIRES HAD THE SAME DOT NUMBER. THE OTHER 3 TIRES DID NOT SEPERATE AND HAD A DIFFERENT DOT NUMBER. I STILL HAVE ALL OF THE TIRES. DT

20020514TIRES:TREAD/BELT

THE REGIONAL TRANSIT AUTHORITY WAS EXPERIENCING TREAD SEPARATION OF FIRESTONE TIRES (STEELTEX R4S 225-75R16) USED ON THEIR BUSES. (E-350 SUPER DUTY CHASSIS 1996,1997 AND 1999) *YH

20020503ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

20020503ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

20020429TIRES

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

Compare 1996FordE-350 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Vehicle Safety Guides

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1996 Ford E-350 have?
The 1996 Ford E-350 has 59 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 1 fires, 1 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1996 Ford E-350?
The most-complained component for the 1996 Ford E-350 is SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP with 9 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include TIRES:TREAD/BELT and TIRES.
Is the 1996 Ford E-350 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-350; 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.