FORD F-350 · model year

1996 FORD F-350

167 NHTSA complaints, 10 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1996FORDF-350 carries 167 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 10 crashes, 16 fires, 5 injuries, 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 F-350 is tires with 14 filings, followed by tires:tread/belt (12) and service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (10). 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 F-350, 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.

167
Complaints
10
Crashes
16
Fires
5
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

167 filings

Crashes Reported

10 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
TIRES14
TIRES:TREAD/BELT12
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP10
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION10
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL7
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE6
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE6
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL5
SUSPENSION:FRONT4
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR4
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM:DRUM3
WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS3
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP3
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC3
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM:SHOES/LININGS3

Recent Complaints

20140925WHEELS:RIM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD F-350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AIR WAS CONSTANTLY LEAKING FROM THE TIRES. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE RIMS WERE DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,000.

Mileage: 97,000

20120720FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL

I HAVE A FORD F-350 7.3L TURBO DIESEL. WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT 70 MPH., THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE ENGINE POWER WAS REDUCED BY HALF. AFTER I PULLED OVER THE LIGHT WENT OUT AND THE ENGINE RETURNED TO NORMAL. TWO WEEKS LATER THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN. I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC WHO FOUND THE FUEL FILTER, THE FUEL PUMP, AND THE FUEL PICKUP SCREENS CLOGGED WITH RESIDUE FROM THE LINER OF THE FUEL TANKS. *TR

Mileage: 157,000

20111007TIRES

CRACKING SIDEWALLS CAUSING BLOWOUT WHILE DRIVING BOTH DRIVERS SIDE AND PASS. SIDE. *TR

Mileage: 10,000

20100227FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL

1. BEGAN SMELLING DIESEL FUEL IN CAB. THEN NOTICED DRIPS ON DRIVEWAY. 2. WENT TO SAWGRASS FORD ON DATE BELOW WHERE I WAS TOLD THIS IS THE FUEL FILTER/WATER SEPARATOR DRAIN VALVE, AND IT IS HAPPENING FREQUENTLY AND PART IS ON BACK-ORDER. THEY SAW LEAK IS ALMOST A STREAM ESPECIALLY WITH ENGINE RUNNING. 3. TWO WEEKS AND NO CALL FROM DEALER. *TR

Mileage: 47,000

20090202FireVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

ON 1/30/09 I EXPERIENCED A FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT ON MY FORD F-350 DUE TO A FAULTY SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH. I JUST HAPPENED TO WALK OUT TO THE VEHICLE THAT WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY, NOT RUNNING, TO SEE A GLOW UNDERNEATH THE TRUCK. I OPENED THE HOOD AND REALIZED THAT THERE WAS A FIRE COMING FROM THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER. AFTER EXTINGUISHING THE FIRE, AND BURNING MY HANDS, I COULD SEE THAT THE RESERVOIR WAS MELTED AND THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH IS WHERE THE FIRE WAS COMING FROM. *TR

Mileage: 202,000

20080712ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

I HAD THE CMP SENSOR (CAM POSITION SENSOR, F6TZ-12K073-A) REPLACED AT 83,733 MILES AND AGAIN AT 88,500 MILES. THE ENGINE RUNS ROUGH FOR 3 SECONDS AND DIES. IT WILL CRANK BUT NOT RESTART. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO MECHANIC AND CMP SENSOR WAS REPLACED. *TR

Mileage: 88,500

20080307ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

THE EXISTING RECALL 07V-553 (CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR ON FORD 1997-2003 F-SUPER DUTY, E-SERIES, AND EXCURSION VEHICLES WITH 7.3L DIESEL ENGINES) SEEMS TO BE INCORRECTLY NARROW IN SCOPE. I HAVE A 1996 F-350 WITH THE SAME 7.3L DIESEL ENGINE NOTED IN THE RECALL, AND HAD THE EXACT FAILURE DESCRIBED IN THIS RECALL. I HAD IT REPAIRED AT A FORD DEALERSHIP ON SEPT 21, 2007, AND CAN PROVIDE COMPLETE DOCUMENTED INFORMATION FROM THAT REPAIR. WHY DID FORD NOT INCLUDE F-SERIES TRUCKS THAT USE THE 7.3L ENGINE (SUCH AS THE F-350) IN THIS RECALL? WHY IS IT LIMITED TO 1997 AND NEWER? THERE ARE OTHER VEHICLES OUT THERE ON THE ROAD (SUCH AS MINE) THAT HAVE A SIMILAR POTENTIAL TO FAIL. THIS IS A DIFFICULT PROBLEM TO DIAGNOSE; THE DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE THE PROBLEM THE FIRST TIME I BROUGHT IT IN (JANUARY 2007). MY PROBLEM WENT ON FOR MORE THAN A YEAR (WITH MOMENTARY POWER LOSSES AND ENGINE STALLS SHORTLY AFTER STARTUP) BEFORE IT PROGRESSED TO SERIOUS DRIVABLE ISSUES THAT WERE FREQUENT ENOUGH THEY COULD

Mileage: 123,447

20080201ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL

I HAVE A '96 FORD F350 WITH A 7.3L POWERSTROKE. MY TRUCK HAS BEEN STALLING INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. AND ON OCCASION, HAD CUT OUT COMPLETELY AND NOT COME RIGHT BACK WHICH LEAVES ME WITH NO POWER BRAKES, OR STEERING TO STOP THE VEHICLE, OR GET IT OFF THE ROAD. I STOPPED AT BANKSTON FORD IN FRISCO, TX TODAY TO ASK IF MY TRUCK WAS ON THE RECALL LIST, AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS NOT. THEY WOULD NOT FIX THE KNOWN PROBLEM, UNLESS I WAS WILLING TO PAY $380 FOR THE PART, AND ANOTHER 4HOURS OF LABOR. AS I UNDERSTAND IT, AND EVEN VERIFIED BY THEIR PARTS DEPARTMENT, THIS PART IS A $194 PART, OR A $36 PART. I WAS TOLD MY TRUCK IS THAT $194 SPECIAL ORDER PART. THERE WOULD BE NO REFUNDS IF I ORDERED IT WITH THEM. ALSO, WITH TALKING TO A FRIEND OF MINE THAT IS A MECHANIC AT FORD, THIS IS LESS THAN A 30 MINUTE JOB. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY MY TRUCK IS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST, WHEN THIS IS A KNOWN FORD PROBLEM. *TR

Mileage: 168,000

20080131ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD F350. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING AND HAD TO BE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE CAM POSITION SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 77,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,396. UPDATED 03/04/08.*LJ

Mileage: 53,396

20071029VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD F350. THE CONTACT WAS DISPLEASED BECAUSE THE PART FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V336000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) WAS UNAVAILABLE. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 56,000.

20071005FireVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD F-350. WHILE PARKED, THE VEHICLE BURST INTO FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND STATED THAT THE FIRE ORIGINATED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. IN JANUARY OF 2006, AFTER THE FIRE OCCURRED, THE CONTACT RECEIVED HER FIRST RECALL NOTICE FOR THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 140,000.

Mileage: 140,000

20070804SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM:SHOES/LININGS

1/07 SQUEAK IN FRONT LEFT WHEEL, TOOK TO SEARS AS BRAKES/BEARINGS UNDER WARRANTY. ENDED UP W/ COMPLETE BRAKE JOB FRONT & REAR. PICKED UP VEHICLE, POOR PEDAL PRESSURE, NO E-BRAKE. TOOK BACK TO SEARS THEY ADJUSTED. IN APRIL HAD REAR BRAKES FAIL TO STOP VEHICLE WHILE PULLING HORSE TRAILER. ONLY FRONT BRAKES ENGAGED. TOOK BACK COULDN'T FIND A PROBLEM. TOOK TO ANOTHER SHOP THEY FOUND ONLY PADS REPLACED ON RT REAR NOT ON LEFT. THEY DID COMPLETE BRAKE JOB ON REAR (NEW DRUMS AND PADS) TOOK IN 2 WEEKS LATER STILL NOT CORRECT AND HAD VIBRATION WHEN BRAKING. ENDED UP WITH RE-SURFACE OF FRONT ROTORS AND NEW PADS. 7/29/07 PULLING HORSE TRAILER REAR ENDED VEHICLE ON 19TH AVE IN SF DUE TO REAR BRAKES NOT ENGAGING AT ALL. ONLY FRONTS ENGAGED. REAR BRAKES NOT WORKING AT ALL. *JB

Mileage: 174,400

20070514FireVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD F-350. HE STATED THAT HE STARTED HIS VEHICLE AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. HE ALSO NOTICED FLAMES COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD WHEN HE OPENED IT. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PUT THE FIRE OUT WITHOUT CONTACTING THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL (RECALL #06V286000) WHICH STATED THERE COULD BE SMOKE AND FIRE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED AS PART OF THE RECALL. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,000. THE VEHICLE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN.

Mileage: 106,000

20060905FireVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL SENSOR CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THE VIN NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE VEHICLE SPEED SENSOR RECALL (06V286000) BECAUSE THE VEHICLE HAD A DIESEL ENGINE. THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE FIVE MINUTES AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND THE SERVICE DEALER DETERMINED THIS WAS THE SAME SYMPTOMS THAT LED TO THE RECALL.

20051216VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL

DT: THE CONTACT STATES THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 05V388000 CONCERNING THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH. THIS VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL, BUT IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN AND MODEL. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. *AK

20051107SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

DT: THE CONTACT COMPLAINED ABOUT A BRAKE PROBLEM. THE BRAKE FLUID CAUSED CORROSION ON THE BRAKE FITTINGS. ON AUGUST 7, 2003 THE FRONT BRAKES FAILED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS GOING UP HILL. THE FORD DEALER REPLACED THE TUBING AND FITTINGS. ON MAY 24, 2004 THE REAR BRAKES FAILED WHILE HE IN A PARKING LOT. AGAIN THE FORD DEALER REPLACED THE TUBING AND FITTINGS. ON NOVEMBER 1, 2005 THE MASTER CYLINDER EXPERIENCED CORROSION AT THE BRAKE FITTINGS, CAUSING THE BRAKES TO FAIL. THERE WAS BRAKE FLUID POURING OUT OF THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL. ANOTHER DEALERSHIP DRAINED THE BRAKE SYSTEM AND REPLACED THE LINE. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT RECURRED. *AK UPDATED 11/29/2004 - *NM

Mileage: 91,773

20051020ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

INTERMITTENT SHUT DOWN OF THE ENGINE. NEARLY RE-ENDED WHEN VEHICLE JUST STOPPED WHILE GOING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION. THE CAMSHAFT POSOTION SENSOR (CPS) FAILED. THIS IS A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM THAT FORD HAS DONE NOTHING ABOUT. IT'S DANGEROUS. *JB

Mileage: 258,000

20051008VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL

CRUISE CONTROL RECALL LIST DOES NOT INCLUDE THE FORD F350 TRUCK. MY CRUISE CONTROL QUIT WORKING DURING A ROUTINE SERVICE AT 60,000 MILES. SERVICE PERSONNEL AT BOBBY JONES FORD, AUGUSTA, GEORGIA, HAD APPARENTLY DISCONNECTED THE CRUISE CONTROL BECAUSE OF A FLUID LEAK FROM THE SWITCH. AFTER COMPLAINING, THIS VEHICLE HAD OTHER SWITCH FAILURES (TURN SIGNAL AND IGNITION SWITCHES) THESE SWITCHES WERE REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE, ALSO THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH WAS ALSO REPLACED AT THIS TIME (AT MY EXPENSE OF $20.88 PART AND $40.00 LABOR). THIS VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THE RECALL OF THE OTHER FORD VEHICLES WITH THIS CRUISE CONTROL PROBLEM, RESULTING IN THE POSSIBILITY OF THE VEHICLE CATCHING ON FIRE. *JB

Mileage: 60,000

20050406VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL

CRUISE CONTROL FAILED TO ENGAGE WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH. CONSUMER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE WIRING CONNECTED TO THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH WAS BURNT. CONSUMER WENT TO THE DEALER AND PURCHASED A SWITCH AND INSTALLED IT HIMSELF. CONSUMER EXPRESSED CONCERN THAT THIS COULD CAUSE THE CRUISE CONTROL TO FAIL DISENGAGING INSTEAD OF ENGAGING. *AK

Mileage: 110,000

20050324FireVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL

VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR A FEW MINUTES WHEN ALL OF SUDDEN THE OWNER NOTICED THAT THERE WAS SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE HOOD. HE THEN APPROACHED THE VEHICLE AND PUT THE FIRE OUT BEFORE IT BECAME WORSE. RESULTS INDICATED THAT THERE WAS A SHORT WITHIN THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH.*AK

Compare 1996FORDF-350 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 8 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1996 FORD F-350 have?
The 1996 FORD F-350 has 167 NHTSA complaints, 10 crashes, 16 fires, 5 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1996 FORD F-350?
The most-complained component for the 1996 FORD F-350 is TIRES with 14 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include TIRES:TREAD/BELT and SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP.
Is the 1996 FORD F-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.

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.