Model year record

1996 Ford E-150 recalls & problems

The 1996 Ford E-150 has 3 safety recalls and 59 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is service brakes, hydraulic (13 complaints).

Recalls3safety recalls

Complaints59filed by owners

Crashes · fires6 · 8reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths101 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

Vehicle speed controlOct 13, 2009

Vehicle speed control

Recall 09V3990004,500,000 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (ODI)

Problem: FORD IS RECALLING MODEL YEARS 1995-2003 WINDSTAR, 2000-2003 EXCURSION DIESEL, 1993-1997 AND 1999-2003 F-250 SD THROUGH F-550 SD DIESEL, 1992-2003 E-150 THROUGH E-550, 1995-2002 EXPLORER, 1997 AND 2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER, 1995-1997 AND 2001-2003 RANGER, AND 1994 F53 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE TEXAS INSTRUMENTS SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH (SCDS). THE SCDS MAY LEAK INTERNALLY AND THEN OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.
Risk: A VEHICLE FIRE COULD OCCUR WITH OR WITHOUT THE ENGINE RUNNING.
Fix: FORD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS THAT DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS IN LINE WITH THE SCDS. ON 1999-2003 WINDSTAR VEHICLES WITH A LEAKING SCDS, DEALERS WILL ALSO INSPECT THE ABS CONTROL MODULE CONNECTOR AND REPAIR AS NECESSARY. REPAIRS WILL BE COMPLETED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 27, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-888-222-2751.

Vehicle speed controlFeb 4, 2008

Cruise control

Recall 08V051000225,000 vehicles

Problem: FORD IS RECALLING 225,000 MY 1992-2003 ECONOLINE, MY 1993-1995 TAURUS SHO, MY 1992-1998 CROWN VICTORIA, MY 1993 BRONCO, F-SERIES, MY 1995-1997 F-SERIES SUPER DUTY STRIPPED CHASSIS, MY 1992-1998 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS, AND MY 1992-1995 LINCOLN TOWN CAR VEHICLES. THE AFFECTED VEHICLES WERE PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED USING A WIRING HARNESS THAT IS NOT COMPATIBLE WITH THE VEHICLE CIRCUIT POLARITY.
Risk: AS A RESULT, THE FUSE IS LOCATED IN THE OUTPUT CIRCUIT RATHER THAN IN THE INTENDED INPUT POWER FEED CIRCUIT, AND MAY NOT OFFER THE INTENDED PROTECTION IN THE EVENT OF AN ELECTRICAL SHORT TO GROUND.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW WIRING HARNESS, OR REPLACE THE MATING ELECTRICAL COMPONENT. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 18, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.

Vehicle speed controlAug 1, 2006

Vehicle speed control

Recall 06V2860001,200,000 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (ODI)

Problem: ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH SPEED CONTROL, GASOLINE OR NATURAL GAS ENGINES, THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH MAY OVERHEAT.
Risk: OVERHEATING COULD RESULT IN SMOKE OR BURN AND AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS INTO THE SPEED CONTROL SYSTEM FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 7, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-866-436-7332. (NOTE: ALSO SEE RECALLS 05V017 AND 05V388)

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

Fuel economy

E150 Econoline 2WD

14mpg combined

City / highway	12 / 17 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

5 L · 8 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $4,800/year to fuel

E150 Club Wagon

14mpg combined

City / highway	12 / 17 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

5 L · 8 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $4,800/year to fuel

E150 Econoline 2WD

13mpg combined

City / highway	12 / 14 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

4.9 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 3-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $5,150/year to fuel

E150 Econoline 2WD

13mpg combined

City / highway	12 / 16 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

4.9 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $5,150/year to fuel

E150 Econoline 2WD

13mpg combined

City / highway	11 / 16 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

5.8 L · 8 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $5,150/year to fuel

E150 Club Wagon

13mpg combined

City / highway	11 / 15 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

4.9 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $5,150/year to fuel

E150 Club Wagon

13mpg combined

City / highway	11 / 15 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

5.8 L · 8 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $5,150/year to fuel

EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Crashes	Fires	Injuries	Typical mileage*
Service brakes, hydraulicAntilock/traction control/electronic limited slip; Foundation components › Disc	13	6	0	0	144,000 mi
Engine and engine coolingEngine › Gasoline; Engine	12	1	0	0	—
Electrical systemWiring › Interior/under dash; Wiring › Fuses and circuit breakers	11	0	5	0	120,000 mi
Vehicle speed controlCruise control	6	1	3	0	120,000 mi
Fuel system, gasolineDelivery › Fuel pump; Storage › Tank assembly › Filler pipe and cap	6	0	0	0	—
SuspensionFront; Rear	5	0	0	0	—
TiresSidewall; Tread/belt	5	1	0	99	—
SteeringGear box (other than rack and pinion); Linkages › Tie rod assembly	4	1	0	1	—
StructureBody; Body › Door	4	0	0	0	—
EquipmentAppliance › Air conditioner; Mechanical › Carrier/rack	3	0	0	0	—
Air bagsFrontal; Frontal › Sensor/control module	2	1	0	2	—
Power trainAutomatic transmission; Axle assembly › Axle shaft › Seal	2	0	0	0	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Service brakes
MY VEHICLE ACCORDING THE NHTSA HAS RECALL #09V399000 FOR THE BRAKE SYSTEM SPEED CONTROL WHICH CAN CATCH ON FIRE EVEN IN THE GARAGE WITH THE VEHICLE OFF. I ASKED FORD TO REPAIR THIS BECAUSE I JUST BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE AND THEY CLAIM THERE ARE NO RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE, AND I KNOW THERE IS AND I KNOW THE RECALL HASN'T BEEN INSTALLED ON MY VEHICLE. ARE THEY SAYING THIS BECAUSE TIME RAN OUT TO HAVE THIS DONE BECAUSE I JUST BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE OR DO THEY JUST NOT WANT TO? THANKS FOR YOUR HELP. *JS
Apr 28, 2014 · 81,555 miles
Service brakesFire
VEHICLE WAS PARKED, AND UPON ENTERING NOTICED THE SMELL OF AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. STARTED THE VEHICLE, ODOMETER WAS INOPERABLE AND VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF PARK. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, FOUND A BLOWN 15 AMP FUSE IN THE FUSE PANEL. REPLACED FUSE, ODOMETER CAME BACK ON AND VEHICLE SHIFTED OUT OF PARK. APPROXIMATELY 10 SECONDS LATER, THE SMELL OF BURNING WIRING WAS EVIDENT, AS WAS SMOKE FROM UNDER THE HOOD. PULLED THE FUSE BACK OUT, OPENED THE HOOD TO FIND THE BRAKE PRESSURE SWITCH ON FIRE, WHICH MELTED THE BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR AS WELL AS THE BATTERY CASING ALSO. *TR
Apr 21, 2013 · 168,000 miles
Structure
A CHROME COLOR GRILLE ABOUT 2.5 FEET WIDE AND 6" TALL FLEW OFF THE FRONT OF OUR 1996 F150 FORD VAN WHILE WE WERE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED. I NOTICED OTHER SIMILAR FORD VANS THAT HAVE ALSO LOST THE SAME FRONT GRILL PART. WE WERE GOING 55 MPH DOWN A 2 LANE HIGHWAY AND A LARGE TRUCK WAS GOING THE OTHER WAY. THE GUST OF AIR FROM THE PASSING TRUCK WAS SUFFICIENT TO TEAR OFF THE GRILL PART AND CAUSE IT TO FLY OVER THE TOP OF OUR VAN. *TR
Jul 15, 2006 · 85,000 miles
Vehicle speed controlCrash
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD E-150. WHENEVER THE CONTACT STARTS THE ENGINE AND DEPRESSES THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE ENGINE BECOMES STUCK AT A HIGH RPM AND WILL NOT RETURN TO THE IDLE POSITION. THE FAILURE CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO EITHER SURGE FORWARD OR BACKWARDS DEPENDING ON WHAT GEAR IT IS IN AT THE TIME. THE ENGINE HAS TO BE TURNED OFF IN ORDER TO RESTORE THE VEHICLE TO A PROPER SPEED. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKES DO NOT HOLD OR STOP THE VEHICLE WHEN THEY ARE ENGAGED. THE FIRST TIME THIS FAILURE OCCURRED, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A TREE AT 10 MPH. THERE WERE NO INJURIES; HOWEVER, THE REAR WINDOW WAS DAMAGED. THROUGH RESEARCH, THE CONTACT FOUND NUMEROUS ISSUES WITH THIS DEFECT ON THE SAME MAKE…
May 2, 2009 · 150,000 miles
Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline › Belts and associated pulleys
1996 FORD E-150 SERPENTINE BELT, AIR CONDITIONING COMPRESSOR. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, IGNITION MODULE REPLACED, ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED, TIE RODS REPLACED, FUEL PUMP REPLACED. *KB
Dec 1, 2006
Suspension › Front › Springs › Coil springs
BROKEN FRONT SPRING ON 1996 ECONOLINE VAN APPARENTLY DUE TO CORROSION ISSUE. DEALER DIAGNOSED PROBLEM AND STATES THAT BROKEN SPRING MAY OR MAY NOT COME LOSE AND RESULT IN A SAFETY HAZARD. *NM
Sep 4, 2006
Vehicle speed control › Cruise controlFire
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE WHILE PARKED. THE FIRE WAS LOCALIZED UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN IN FOR SERVICE. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL # 06V286000 WHICH PERTAINED TO THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. *AK
Aug 14, 2006 · 130,000 miles
Vehicle speed control › Cruise controlFire
DT: THE CALLER SAID THAT WHILE AT WORK HIS VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. IT WAS SITTING FOR 2 HOURS AND 15 MINUTES. VEHICLE WAS SITTING ACROSS THE STREET FROM WHERE THE CALLER WORKED, AND THE NEIGHBORS SAW THE FIRE AND HELPED PUT IT OUT ALONG WITH A PASSING POLICE OFFICER. FIRE WAS CAUGHT IN TIME, AND NO OTHER DAMAGE WAS CAUSED. DEALER /MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
Apr 10, 2005 · 115,000 miles

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.

NHTSA defect investigations

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRESClosedLed to recall 05V388000
EA05-005 IS CLOSED WITH FORD?S ACTIONS IN RECALLS 05V-017, 05V-388, AND 06V-286, RECALLING APPROXIMATELY 6.7 MILLION VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH TEXAS INSTRUMENTS SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCHES (SCDS).THE BRAKE SYSTEMS IN THESE RECALLED VEHICLES GENERATE A VACUUM THAT CAN POTENTIALLY CAUSE THE SCDS TO FAIL AND, IN CERTAIN SWITCH INSTALLATION ORIENTATIONS, CATCH FIRE.FORD IS ALSO INCLUDING THE ENTIRE POPULATION OF 1998 EXPLORERS.FORD HAS INFORMED ODI THAT TESTING TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURES IN THE 1998 EXPLORERS WILL CONTINUE AFTER THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.ODI BELIEVES THAT THE VEHICLES EXHIBITING THE FACTORS CAUSING SCDS FAILURE DESCRIBED IN THIS REPORT CORRELATE WELL WITH THE OBSERVED FAILURE RATES ON THESE VEHICLES BY MODEL AND MODEL YEAR.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST IN THE NON-RECALLED…
EA05005 · opened Mar 22, 2005 · closed Aug 2, 2006