Model year record

1996 Ford F-350 recalls & problems

The 1996 Ford F-350 has 4 safety recalls and 130 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is service brakes, hydraulic (31 complaints).

Recalls4safety recalls

Complaints130filed by owners

Crashes · fires9 · 15reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths5 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

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)

Exterior lightingMay 24, 2006

Exterior lighting

Recall 06E04900027,176 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (OVSC)

Problem: CERTAIN CK MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION HEADLIGHTS, CLEAR CORNER, BUMPER, AND SIDE MARKER LIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
Risk: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Fix: CK MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE NONCOMPLIANT LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CK MOTORSPORT AT 1-909-610-7211.

EquipmentAug 29, 1996

Other › Labels

Recall 96V161000134,770 vehicles

Problem: THE CERTIFICATION LABELS ON THE INVOLVED VEHICLES HAS INCORRECT REAR TIRE INFLATION PRESSURE DESIGNATIONS. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS NO. 120, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES OTHER THAN PASSENGER CARS."
Risk: INCORRECT INFLATION PRESSURES COULD CAUSE PREMATURE WEAR OF THE REAR TIRES. .
Fix: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH CORRECT CERTIFICATION LABELS AND INSTRUCTIONS FOR INSTALLING THESE LABELS. DEALERS CAN INSTALL THIS LABEL IF THE OWNER SO DESIRES.

StructureAug 1, 1996

Frame and members

Recall 96V146000200 vehicles

Problem: THE CROSSMEMBER FRAME GUSSETS WERE INSTALLED WITH UNDERSIZED THREADED FASTENERS FOLLOWING A BREAKDOWN OF THE PRODUCTION RIVET GUN THAT IS GENERALLY USED. THIS GUSSET IS THE ATTACHMENT POINT FOR THE REAR STRAP OF THE MID-SHIP FUEL TANK.
Risk: THE SUBJECT FASTENERS CAN SEPARATE CAUSING IN THE REAR STRAP OF THE AFFECTED FUEL TANK TO BECOME DISCONNECTED. A LOOSE OR DISCONNECTED REAR STRAP ALLOWS THE FUEL TANK TO POSSIBLY CONTACT THE ROAD SURFACE INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE FIRE.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CROSSMEMBER GUSSET FASTENERS WITH THE SPECIFIED ALTERNATIVE FASTENERS (BOLTS).

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.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Crashes	Fires	Injuries	Typical mileage*
Service brakes, hydraulicAntilock/traction control/electronic limited slip; Foundation components › Disc › Rotor	31	4	1	1	91,773 mi
TiresTread/belt; Sidewall	30	0	1	0	63,423 mi
Engine and engine coolingEngine; Engine › Gasoline	22	0	2	0	105,973 mi
Power trainAutomatic transmission; Axle hubs	19	3	0	0	—
Vehicle speed controlCruise control	12	0	7	1	108,500 mi
Electrical systemWiring › Front underhood; Wiring	8	0	4	0	—
SuspensionFront; Front › Stabilizer bar	7	0	0	0	—
SteeringSteering wheel/handle bar; Linkages	6	2	0	1	—
StructureFrame and members; Body › Bumpers	6	0	0	0	—
Fuel system, gasolineDelivery › Fuel pump; Fuel injection system	5	0	0	0	—
WheelsLugs/nuts/bolts/studs; Rim	4	0	0	0	—
Exterior lightingTurn signal; Headlights	3	0	0	0	—

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

Recent owner complaints

Wheels › 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.
Aug 1, 2014 · 97,000 miles
Fuel 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
Jul 13, 2012 · 157,000 miles
Tires
CRACKING SIDEWALLS CAUSING BLOWOUT WHILE DRIVING BOTH DRIVERS SIDE AND PASS. SIDE. *TR
Oct 3, 2011 · 10,000 miles
Fuel 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
Feb 15, 2010 · 47,000 miles
Vehicle speed controlFire1 injury
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
Jan 30, 2009 · 202,000 miles
Engine 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
Jul 10, 2008 · 88,500 miles
Engine 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…
Sep 21, 2007 · 123,447 miles
Engine 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…
Feb 1, 2008 · 168,000 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