1986 Ford E350: complaints, problems and recalls

1986 FORD E350, A FIRE STARTED ON THE RIGHT SIDE AND UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE VEHICLE. *BF ACCORDING TO THE POLICE REPORT, THE EXHAUST WAS BENT UPWARD TOWARD THE SIDE OF THE MOTOR HOME, WHICH MAY HAVE BEEN THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-0332-89) *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10357512 at NHTSA ↗

REPLACED DIFFERENTIAL.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 489043 at NHTSA ↗

OIL FILTER ADAPTER EXTENSION CONTINUOUSLY LOOSENS. *DSH

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 503729 at NHTSA ↗

IGNITION SWITCH FAILED 3 TIMES, THIRD OCCURRENCE FIRE. *SD

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 505954 at NHTSA ↗

ENGINE FIRE, OWNER STATED THAT EARLIER IN THE DAY ALTERNATOR WORK WAS DONE, DUE TO PROBLEMS. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). MJS

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 545265 at NHTSA ↗

ABOUT 3:15 P.M. ON MONDAY, 8 MARCH 1999 I EXITED THE OHIO TURNPIKE AT THE BLUE HERON SERVICE AREA, PARKED MY 1986 FORD E-350 VAN BEFORE THE TRAVELERS SERVICES BUILDING, PUT THE IGNITION KEY INTO MY POCKET, AND WENT INTO THE RESTROOM. WHEN I RETURNED TO M

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 704491 at NHTSA ↗

DESCRIPTION AND COMMENTS SEE E-MAIL WHICH IM SENDING AS BEST I KNOW HOW -- SORRY FOR CLUTSYNESS. RJD

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 704500 at NHTSA ↗

THIS IS THE EXACT FAILURE I HAVE SEEN ON RECALLED TIRES. TREAD HAS SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE CASING FOR APPROX 1/3 OF THE TIRE CIRCUMFRENCE AT HIGHWAY SPEED. THESE TIRES, ALTHOUGH OLD, HAVE ALWAYS BEEN PREFECTLY MAINTAINED AND GARAGE KEPT. THE Y SHOW NO SIGNS OF COLLATERAL DAMAGE SUCH AS HEAT OF SUN EFFECTS. THE TIRE FAILURE OCCURRED SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING OR EVIDENCE OF AN IMPENDING FAILURE. I FEEL THAT THE RECALL EFFORTS TOWARDS FIRESTONE SHOULD BE EXPANDED TO COVER ALL OF THEIR DEFECTIVE PRODUCT. THESE TIRES ARE ALSO "VD" PLANT CO…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 732814 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 1986-07-14 (July 14, 1986)

COMPOSITE GRAPHITE DRIVESHAFTS ARE SUBJECT TO OVERHEATING WHILE IDLING, WHICH MAY RESULT IN THE DRIVESHAFT TWISTING AND SHORTENING CAUSING THE SLIP YOKE TO DISCONNECT FROM THE TRANSMISSION. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: IF THE DRIVESHAFT DISCONNECTS FROM THE TRANSMISSION THE VEHICLE WOULD BECOME IMMOBILE WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy: INSTALL METAL DRIVESHAFT.

Reported: 1986-07-15 (July 15, 1986)

THE RUBBER THAT ENCASES BALL STUD AND SOCKET JOINT (CONNECTS STEERING DRAG LINK AND PITMAN ARM) MAY DETERIORATE, CAUSING METAL TO METAL CONTACT, AND MAY EVENTUALLY RESULT IN COMPLETE SEPARATION. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: COMPLETE SEPARATION OF THE DRAG LINK TO PITMAN ARM CONNECTION RESULTS IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL WHICH MAY LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT.

Remedy: INSTALL NEW DRAG LINK ASSEMBLIES WITH STEEL BALL AND SOCKET JOINTS AT THE PITMAN ARM CONNECTIONS.

Reported: 1986-12-30 (December 30, 1986)

DEFORMED BRAKE ROD COVERS MAY INTERFERE WITH RETURN OF ACCELERATOR PEDAL FROM OPEN THROTTLE POSITION. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: ENGINE WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN WHEN ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS RELEASED WHICH COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: MODIFY BRAKE ROD COVER TO ALLOW ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO RETURN FROM OPEN THROTTLE POSITION.

Reported: 1987-07-16 (July 16, 1987)

FUEL LEAK AT THE TOP OF THE FRONT FUEL TANK IN THE AREA OF THE VAPOR VALVE GROMMET. GROMMET MAY SPLIT DUE TO COMPRESSIVE LOAD WHEN INSTALLED IN THE FUEL TANK.

Consequence: FUEL MAY LEAK FROM VAPOR VALVE AND BECOME THE SOURCE OFFUEL FOR A FIRE.

Remedy: INSTALLATION OF A NEWLY DESIGNED VAPOR VALVE GROMMET.

Reported: 1987-07-21 (July 21, 1987)

EXPULSION OF FUEL DUE TO OVERPRESSURIZATION.

Consequence: FUEL OR FUEL VAPORS IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITIONSOURCE CAN CAUSE A FIRE.

Remedy: MODIFICATION OF THE BASE FUEL VENTING AND EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM TO REDUCE OPERATING TEMPERATURES AND FUEL SYSTEM PRESSURES.

Reported: 1987-09-09 (September 9, 1987)

VEHICLES ARE SUBJECT TO EXCESSIVE UNDERHOOD TEMPERATURES AND FUEL SYSTEM PRESSURES IN SEVERE DUTY APPLICATIONS.

Consequence: THIS CREATES POTENTIAL FOR FUEL EXPULSION FROM THE FUELFILLER PIPE WHICH IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN AFIRE.

Remedy: INSTALL MODIFICATION KITS TO MINIMIZE POSSIBILITY OF FUEL EXPULSION AND TO SHIELD UNDERBODY COMPONENTS FROM EXHAUST SYSTEM HEAT.

Reported: 1988-08-09 (August 9, 1988)

EXTREME OPERATING CONDITIONS COULD CAUSE PREMATURE DETERIORATION OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT HEATER HOSES OR ENGINE BYPASS HOSES.

Consequence: ENGINE COOLANT COULD DISCHARGE ONTO THE ENGINE AND ITSEXHAUST MANIFOLD CREATING THE POTENTIAL FOR A FIRE DUE TO THE HIGH ENGINEEXHAUST MANIFOLD TEMPERATURES.

Remedy: REPLACE HOSES AND RADIATOR CAPS; INSTALL HIGH HEAT RESISTANCE ALUMINIZED STAINLESS STEEL MUFFLERS.

Reported: 1989-04-17 (April 17, 1989)

NYLON TIES THAT SUPPORT THE MAIN WIRING HARNESS TO THE CHASSIS COULD WEAR AND BREAK DUE TO EXCESSIVE VIBRATION. THUS, WIRING HARNESS COULD FALL ON ENGINE COMPONENTS AND SHORT CIRCUIT.

Consequence: THIS COULD CAUSE LOSS OF ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WHICH COULDRESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.

Remedy: INSTALL RETROFIT RIT OF PLASTIC-COATED METAL CLAMPS, LOOM FOR POSITIVE BATTERY CABLES AND RE-ROUTE WIRING.

Reported: 1989-05-09 (May 9, 1989)

HEATER HOSE MAY BE INCORRECTLY ROUTED.

Consequence: HOSE COULD WEAR THROUGH AND LEAK WHICH COULD RESULT INAN UNDERHOOD FIRE.

Remedy: REROUTE AND SPLICE HOSE AS NECESSARY.

Reported: 1989-08-15 (August 15, 1989)

HEATER HOSE MAY BE INCORRECTLY ROUTED.

Consequence: HOSE COULD WEAR THROUGH AND LEAK WHICH COULD RESULT INAN UNDERHOOD FIRE.

Remedy: REROUTE AND REPAIR HOSE, AS NECESSARY.

Reported: 1989-08-15 (August 15, 1989)

HEATER HOSE MAY BE INCORRECTLY ROUTED.

Consequence: HOSE COULD WEAR THROUGH AND LEAK WHICH COULD RESULT INAN UNDERHOOD FIRE.

Remedy: REROUTE AND REPAIR HOSE AS NECESSARY.