U.S. public vehicle records

Ford E350 problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

95 owner complaints analyzed

41 distinct recall campaigns

45,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1975 to 2013 model years. Data updated: 2026-09-30 (September 30, 2026). 9 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Structure is the most frequently named component, appearing in 12 of 95 complaints (12.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Braking behavior	25	26.3%
Fuel system concerns	4	4.2%
Engine operation	3	3.2%
Electrical and battery issues	3	3.2%
Steering behavior	3	3.2%
Transmission and shifting	1	1.1%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Structure

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components

Electrical System:Ignition:Switch

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Caliper

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip

Tires:Tread/Belt

Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood

Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly

Component breakdown data
Category	Count
Structure	12
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components	10
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch	6
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Caliper	6
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip	5
Tires:Tread/Belt	5
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood	4
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly	4

Structure: 12; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components: 10; Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 6; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Caliper: 6; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 5; Tires:Tread/Belt: 5; Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood: 4; Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly: 4

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

25,000 to 49,999

50,000 to 74,999

75,000 to 99,999

100,000 to 149,999

150,000 and above

Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0

25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4). 86 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2004

2005

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2014

2015

1995: 14; 1996: 38; 1997: 7; 1998: 4; 1999: 8; 2000: 6; 2001: 3; 2002: 2; 2004: 2; 2005: 2; 2007: 1; 2008: 1; 2009: 1; 2010: 2; 2011: 1; 2014: 1; 2015: 2

Pattern summary

Structure leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 25 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 4 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 3 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 836325 · 1999-03-30 (March 30, 1999)

BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WHICH MAY RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 836325 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 974435 · 1995-11-02 (November 2, 1995)

PEDAL FADED TO THE FLOOR, RESULTING IN LONG STOPPING DISTANCE, POSSIBLE DUE TO OVERHEATING OF THE BRAKE FLUID. TT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 974435 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 802690 · 1996-09-19 (September 19, 1996)

CONSUMER STATES THAT HE HAS REPLACED THE REAR GAS SENDER IN THE REAR GAS TANK, REPLACED (4) TIMES IN A (10) YEAR PERIOD. TIME TO BE REPLACED ONCE AGAIN.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 802690 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10130348 · 2005-07-27 (July 27, 2005)

LEAK FROM ON TOP OF FRONT FUEL TANK IN THE AREA OF THE VAPOR VALVE GROMMET. SOUNDS LIKE THE SAME PROBLEM AS REPORTED IN NHTSA 87V111000. IN RELATION TO NHTSA #87V144000 188,000 VEHICLES WERE AFFECTED. WERE ALL 1987 E350, CLUB WAGONS, WITH 7.5 LITER ENGINES INVOLVED IN THIS RECALL? FORD DEALERSHIP STATES MY VAN HAS NOT BEEN UNDER ANY RECALLS PAST OR PRESENT.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10130348 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 852929 · 1999-11-16 (November 16, 1999)

WHILE DRIVING THROTTLE CABLE POPPED OUT OF THE PLASTIC BRACKET,(WHICH THERE WASNO PART HOLDING DOWN THE THROTTLE CABLE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO IDLE AND LOSS OF POWER. THS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A CRASH. SAME INCIDENT HAPPEN TO A FORD BRONCO. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 852929 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 500059 · 1996-01-02 (January 2, 1996)

CATALYTIC CONVERTER PLUGGED UP,CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL. *SD

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 500059 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 983128 · 1996-04-19 (April 19, 1996)

WHILE PARKED FOR TWO DAYS, NOTICED SMOKE AND FIRE COMING FROM DASH AREA, POSSIBLE ELECTRICAL. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 983128 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 983790 · 1996-04-30 (April 30, 1996)

ELECTRICAL SHORT, SMOKE WAS COMING UNDER THE DASH AND VENT AND VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHUT OFF. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 983790 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10238138 · 2008-08-14 (August 14, 2008)

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1988 FORD E350. THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE SHIMMIED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE FAILURE USUALLY OCCURS WHEN DRIVING OVER BUMPS. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS AND VARIOUS REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE STEERING COMPONENTS. NONE OF THE REPAIRS HAVE SUCCESSFULLY REMEDIED THE FAILURE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 88V015000 (SUSPENSION). THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COSTS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEA…

Owner-reported narrative. 110,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10238138 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 979136 · 1996-02-13 (February 13, 1996)

THE CAR WAS PARKED AND A NEIGHBOR CALLED THE OWNER AND TOLD HIM HIS CAR WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE WAS IN FRONT BY THE STEERING. TT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 979136 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 757383 · 2002-01-26 (January 26, 2002)

BRAKE CALIPER FAILED TO RELEASE, BOILING THE BRAKE FLUID (UNBEKNOWNST TO ME UNTIL IT CAME TIME TO APPLY THE BRAKES). THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. I LET IT UP COMPLETELY AND WHEN DEPRESSED, IT WENT TO THE FLOOR ONCE AGAIN. I USED THE TRANSMISSION (GEARING DOWN) AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO BRING VEHICLE TO A STOP. THE MASTER CYLINDER BRAKE INDICATOR LIGHT NEVER ILLUMINATED. WHEN REPAIRS WERE COMPLETED, THE PRIMARY FAULT WAS IDENTIFIED AS EXTREMELY RUSTY FRONT BRAKE CALIPERS. ONE DID NOT RELEASE COMPLETELY AFTER A BRAKE APP…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 757383 at NHTSA ↗

Compare model years

Recalls by model year

All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.

From yearThrough year

Recall campaigns

Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.

1997

1998

1999

2000

2002

2003

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

1997: 1; 1998: 1; 1999: 1; 2000: 2; 2002: 1; 2003: 1; 2005: 2; 2006: 1; 2007: 1; 2008: 1; 2009: 1; 2010: 1; 2011: 1; 2012: 1; 2013: 1

First model yearSecond model year

Year-by-year records

Ford E350 model-year comparison
Model year	Complaints	Recalls	Change in recalls
1975	0	4	Not available
1976	0	1	-3
1977	0	1	0
1978	0	5	+4
1979	0	3	-2
1980	0	1	-2
1981	0	2	+1
1982	0	3	+1
1983	4	8	+5
1984	4	12	+4
1985	2	10	-2
1986	10	11	+1
1987	14	8	-3
1988	10	1	-7
1989	25	3	+2
1990	23	2	-1
1997	0	1	Not available
1998	0	1	0
1999	0	1	0
2000	0	2	+1
2002	0	1	Not available
2003	0	1	0
2005	0	2	Not available
2006	0	1	-1
2007	0	1	0
2008	0	1	0
2009	1	1	0
2010	1	1	0
2011	1	1	0
2012	0	1	0
2013	0	1	0

Explore the data

Vehicle analysis explorer

Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.

Data completeness

95 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-09-30.

9.5%Usable mileage9 / 95 records

90.5%Valid incident date86 / 95 records

100.0%Valid filing date95 / 95 records

90.5%Ordered incident and filing dates86 / 95 records

Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.

Problems by model year

Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.

From model yearThrough model year

Component complaint heatmap
Component	1999	2000	2002	2003	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013
Structure	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Caliper	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.
Tires:Tread/Belt	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.

Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.

Failure mileage by component

Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.

Component failure mileage distribution
Component	Mileage range (25th–75th percentile)	Median	Usable records	Examples
Tires:Tread/Belt	Too few reports for a range	33,423 mi	2 (sparse)	ODI 10088790 · 61,845 mi OUR 1984 FORD E-350 TYPE II 4X4 AMBULANCE WAS RSEPONDING NON-EMERGENT BACK TO OUR STATION FROM A STANDBY. THE DRIVER HAD JUST LEFT THE STANDBY AND WAS DRIVING ABOUT 55 MPH AND HAD TRAVELED ABOUT 3 MILES WHEN HE HEARD A RUBBING NOISE IN THE FRONT END AND 2 SECONDS LATER THE LEFT FRONT TIRE ON THE AMBULANCE BLEW OUT WITH TREAD FLYING OFF ONTO THE ROAD AND THE AMBULANCE PULLING HARD INTO THE ONCOMING LANE OF TRAFFIC. HE MANAGED TO CONTROL THE AMBULANCE AND GET IT BACK INTO HIS LANE AND OFF THE SHOULDER. IF THERE WAS TRAFFIC IN THE ONCOMING LANE H… Look up ODI 10088790 at NHTSA ↗ ODI 8023220 · 5,000 mi WHILE DRIVING 50MPH HAD TREAD SEPARATION ON FRONT RIGHT TIRE. PLEASE PROVIDE SIZE OF TIRE AND DOT #. NON ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT. TS ON SEVERAL OTHER OCCASIONS, TIRE SEPARATED AND ANOTHER BLEWOUT WHILE SITTING IN THE GARAGE. DOT H2XLYCP459 AND H2XLYCP449. *TT Look up ODI 8023220 at NHTSA ↗

Complaint and recall timeline

Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.

ComponentPeriod

Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.

Monthly counts, recall campaigns and complaint examples

Monthly complaint and recall timeline
Month	Campaigns announced	Examples
2024-10	None	No examples available for this selection.
2024-11	None	No examples available for this selection.
2024-12	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-01	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-02	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-03	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-04	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-05	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-06	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-07	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-08	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-09	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-10	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-11	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-12	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-01	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-02	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-03	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-04	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-05	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-06	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-07	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-08	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-09 (partial)	None	No examples available for this selection.

Emerging complaint spikes

Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.

This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.

No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.

Equal-age model-year comparison

Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.

Observation windowFirst model yearSecond model year

2012: 0 complaints · 2013: 0 complaints

Equal observation windows
Model year	Through age 0	Through age 1	Through age 2
2012	0	0	0
2013	0	0	0

Date coverage across each selected cohort

Date basis for all complaints in selected model years
Year	Incident dates used	Filing date fallbacks	Excluded dates
2012	0	0	0
2013	0	0	0

Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.

Components reported together

Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.

Component co-occurrence matrix
Component	Structure	Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components	Electrical System:Ignition:Switch	Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Caliper	Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip	Tires:Tread/Belt	Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood	Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly
Structure	—	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components	0	—	0	0	0	0	0	0
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch	0	0	—	0	0	0	0	0
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Caliper	0	0	0	—	0	0	0	0
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip	0	0	0	0	—	0	0	0
Tires:Tread/Belt	0	0	0	0	0	—	0	0
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood	0	0	0	0	0	0	—	0
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	—

Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.

Recurring narrative patterns

Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.

Search patterns

3 patterns with matching reports.

Brake response concerns

14 mentions · 14.7% of complaints

Median mileage: 25,000 mi (1 usable records).

ODI 809470

UPON APPLYING FORCE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL THE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE AND BRAKES FADING AWAY. AFTER PUMPING THE BRAKES, THE CONSUMER NOTICED THE BRAKES WERE FUNCTIONING. *AK

Look up ODI 809470 at NHTSA ↗

ODI 10079553 · 25,000 mi

INTERMITTENTLY VEHICLE LOSES BRAKE POWER WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED, BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR AND FAILS TO STOP THE TRUCK. THE EMERGENCY BRAKES HAD TO BE ENGAGED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER WAS REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITH IN 400 MILES. DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE MASTER CYLINDER AGAIN, AND BLEED THE BRAKES. HOWEVER, FAILURE RECURRED WITHIN 1500 MILES. THEN, DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THIS FAILURE OCCURRED BECAUSE THE BRAKE LINE WAS ROUTED BEHIND THE ENGINE , WHICH GET HOT AND BOILED THE FLUID.*AK

Look up ODI 10079553 at NHTSA ↗

ODI 505852

BRAKE FLUID OVERHEATED, CAUSING BRAKE FAILURE. *DH

Look up ODI 505852 at NHTSA ↗

Matching rule

Stalling or loss of power

3 mentions · 3.2% of complaints

Median mileage: Unavailable (0 usable records).

ODI 852929

Look up ODI 852929 at NHTSA ↗

ODI 500059

CATALYTIC CONVERTER PLUGGED UP,CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL. *SD

Look up ODI 500059 at NHTSA ↗

ODI 507505

ENGINE STALLED FOUR TIMES DUE TO POOR DESIGN OF FUEL PUMP.

Look up ODI 507505 at NHTSA ↗

Matching rule

\b(stall\w*|loss of power|lost power|engine shut\w* off)\b

Steering assistance concerns

1 mentions · 1.1% of complaints

Median mileage: Unavailable (0 usable records).

ODI 964759

POWER STEERING GEAR BOX SEALS ARE LEAKING, CAUSING STEERING TO BE DIFFICULT. TT

Look up ODI 964759 at NHTSA ↗

Matching rule

\b(power steer\w*|steering assist\w*|steering lock\w*|steering wheel lock\w*)\b