Ford E-350 Complaints (1997)

79 consumer complaints on file.

#11557917December 1, 2023
STRUCTURE:BODY
The rear passenger compartment outside and inside door handles broke such that rear seating passengers cannot exit the vehicle and are trapped inside. In case of an accident, the emergency responders will have to resort to drastic time consuming measures such as ripping the doors off to save the trapped passengers. Apparently all years of Ford Econoline vans have this dangerous problem because there are numerous fix it videos all over the internet showing how to replace the cheap handle-latch failure prone plastic parts with non-breakable METAL parts.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11342865August 2, 2020
AIR BAGS, SERVICE BRAKES
AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11319819March 31, 2020
STRUCTURE:BODY
12/11/2019
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11097778May 24, 2018
AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SEAT BELTS
THIS YEAR BOTH THE AIRBAGS IN MY 1997 FORD E350 VAN HAVE SPONTANEOUSLY DEPLOYED ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS--EACH OCCURRING WHILE THE VAN WAS IN 'PARK'. ON 1/31/18 THE DRIVER'S BAG DEPLOYED WHEN THE VAN WAS WARMING UP IN A PARKING LOT. MY ADULT DAUGHTER STARTED THE VAN, PLUGGED HER PHONE INTO THE TOP CAR ADAPTER, AND ABOUT A MINUTE LATER (THE VAN WAS STILL PARKED) THERE WAS A BIG 'BOOM' FROM UNDER HER SEAT AND HER SEATBELT TIGHTENED. WITH THE SEATBELT STILL ON, SHE LEANED TO HER RIGHT TO SEE WHAT WAS CAUSING THE SMOKE FROM UNDER HER SEAT WHEN SUDDENLY THE DRIVER'S STEERING WHEEL AIRBAG DEPLOYED. THANKFULLY SHE WAS SPARED ANY INJURY. SHE HAD THE VAN TOWED TO A FORD DEALERSHIP, BUT THEY COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM SO I DID NOT HAVE THEM DO ANY WORK ON IT [THEY WANTED TO REPLACE THE AIRBAG AND A FEW OTHER THINGS WHICH I FELT WAS A 'BAND-AID' SOLUTION SINCE THEY ADMITTED THEY WERE GUESSING]. WE DROVE THE CAR HOME. ON 4/13/18 MY ADULT DAUGHTER WAS SITTING IN THE FIRST BENCH ROW IN THE VAN TO HAVE A QUIET PLACE TO TALK ON THE PHONE. AFTER A WHILE ON THE PHONE, SHE PLUGGED HER PHONE INTO THE SAME CHARGER AND LESS THAN A MINUTE LATER THE PASSENGER AIRBAG EXPLODED. THIS OCCURRED IN MY DRIVEWAY WHEN THERE WAS NO KEY IN THE IGNITION AND NO ONE WAS SITTING IN EITHER FRONT SEAT! AGAIN, MY DAUGHTER ESCAPED INJURY, BUT NOW THE VAN WILL NOT EVEN START. AT THIS POINT, MY LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP (A DIFFERENT ONE) AND MY PERSONAL REPAIR SHOP ARE REFUSING TO TOUCH THE VAN BECAUSE OF POTENTIAL LIABILITY REGARDING THIS KIND OF MALFUNCTION. MY INSURANCE CAN'T HELP BECAUSE THE VAN WAS NOT IN AN ACCIDENT WHEN THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AND "ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS ARE EXCLUDED FROM COMPREHENSIVE COVERAGE." FORD CUSTOMER CARE SERVICE HAS TOLD ME REPEATEDLY THAT THEY DON'T HAVE A PROTOCOL FOR THIS AND THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO TO HELP ME.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11032600October 9, 2017
AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS
MY VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED FOR ABOUT THREE OR FOUR WEEKS AND I WENT TO START IT UP TO RUN THE ENGINE AND CHARGE THE BATTERIES AS I DID NOT PLAN TO USE IT FOR ANOTHER FEW WEEKS. WHEN I TURNED THE KEY THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED AND HIT ME HARD. ALSO THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE PRETENSIONER FIRED OFF BREAKING THE HOUSING. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER THE INCIDENT. THERE HAS NEVER BEEN AN ACCIDENT AND I CAN SEE NO DAMAGE TO THE OUTSIDE AT ALL. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD AND THEY WILL NOT ASSIGN A CASE NUMBER UNTIL IT IS INSPECTED AND CHECKED BY A FORD DEALER. THE CLOSEST FORD DEALER THAT SAID THEY WERE CAPABLE OF DOING THIS IS BOOKED UP AND CAN NOT LOOK AT IT FOR TWO WEEKS AND THEY DID MAKE AN APPOINTMENT FOR 10/25/17. THE DEALERSHIP IS ABOUT 35 MILES AND I WILL HAVE TO DRIVE IT THERE WITH THE AIRBAG HANGING OUT OF THE STEERING WHEEL. I AM SO THANKFUL THIS HAPPENED WHILE PARKED IN STORAGE AND NOT ON THE HIGHWAY AS I THE RESULT MAY HAVE BEEN FATAL TO MY SELF AND/OR OTHERS. MY INJURIES ARE SOME BRUISING, HEADACHES, AND A SORE NECK. THE MILES I ENTERED ARE APPROXIMATE, I WILL VERIFY THE EXACT NUMBER LATER. *TT CONSUMER'S STATEMENT "MY UNDERSTANDING IS THE SENSORS CHECK GOOD WITH NO OPEN CIRCUITS. THE ONLY OPEN CIRCUITS ARE THE ITEMS THAT DEPLOYED, THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG AND THE PASSENGER SIDE BELT TENSIONER. UPDATED 7/25/18*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10550329October 31, 2013
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, SUSPENSION, STEERING
CRUISE CONTROL STUCK ON WHEN TURNED OFF, THEN WOULD WORK ONLY SOMETIMES & STEERING VIBRATED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10512113May 15, 2013
TIRES, TIRES:TREAD/BELT
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD E-350 EQUIPPED WITH COOPER ADVENTURE HT TIRES (N/A), SIZE 265/75/16R. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE TIRE TREAD SEPARATED ON THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE. THE FAILURE HAD OCCURRED PREVIOUSLY WITH FOUR OTHER TIRES, WHICH HAD BEEN REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 15,000. THE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE TIRE #8 WENT BAD. THE CONSUMER STATED THE TIRE REPLACEMENT ALSO WENT BAD.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10472637August 27, 2012
TIRES
WHILE DRIVING AT 52 MPH (PULLING A SMALL U-HAUL TRAILER) THE LEFT REAR TIRE ON MY VAN SUFFERED COMPLETE TREAD SEPARATION. THE TREAD SUBSEQUENTLY WRAPPED AROUND THE AXLE AND HAD TO BE PRIED LOOSE. THE TREAD WAS WHOLE AND INTACT (A COMPLETE CIRCLE), BUT THE CARCASS OF THE TIRE SHREDDED. THE TIRE IS (WAS( A UNIROYAL LT 245/75 R16 APPROXIMATELY 4 YEARS OLD. I MANAGED TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY ON MY RIM. THIS OCCURRED ON SATURDAY, AUGUST 25. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10399849May 10, 2011
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
I LOOKED OVER MY 1997 FORD E-350 CLUB WAGON BEFORE INSPECTION LAST YEAR AND NOTICED THE FUEL TANK STRAPS WERE INADEQUATE AND RUSTING HEAVILY. THESE VEHICLES SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED AND CITED FOR THE SAME RECALL THE FORD F150'S WERE THIS WEEK. THE TWO STRAPS ARE THIN AND OF POOR QUALITY -- MY TANK IS 35 GALLONS AND I AM AFRAID TO FILL IT MORE THAN HALF FULL UNTIL I GET NEW STRAPS INSTALLED OR REINFORCE THE EXISTING ONES. EVERY TRIP, I WORRY ABOUT IT FALLING OUT AND CATCHING FIRE OR CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10356671September 20, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
MY V10 FORD E-350 MOTOR HAD A HEAD FAILURE AND A SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT WHILE DRIVING. A FIRE STARTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND THE EXPLOSION SOUND CREATED A PANIC AND STARTLED RESPONSE THAT ALMOST LEAD TO A VEHICLE CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR FACILITY AND THEY WERE FAMILIAR WITH THE PROBLEM. THEY WORK ON FLEET VEHICLES REGULARLY AND THEY STATED THEY HAVE SEEN THIS PROBLEM MANY TIMES BEFORE. THE ALUMINUM HEAD OF THE ENGINE WAS TOO WEAK TO HOLD ON TO THE SPARK PLUG AND THAT LEAD TO THE EXPLOSION, FIRE, AND DAMAGE. THE SHOP INFORMED ME THAT THIS COULD VERY LIKELY HAPPEN AGAIN BECAUSE OF THE DEFECTIVE DESIGN OF THE ENGINE AND IF I AM TRAVELING WITH MY FAMILY I COULD BE LEFT STRANDED, POSSIBLE A VERY DANGEROUS PART OF THE HIGHWAY WHILE DRIVING STEEP OR DANGEROUS ROADS. IF THE VEHICLE CATCHES ON FIRE AGAIN IT COULD EXPLODE IF THE GAS LINE IGNITES. THIS ONE CYLINDER COST $800 TO FIX BUT NOW I HAVE 9 OTHER ONES TO WORRY ABOUT. I WAS NOT ABLE TO FIND A CURRENT RECALL BUT THERE WILL HAVE TO BE ONE ISSUED TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF ANY AMERICAN DRIVING A FORD VEHICLE WITH THIS ENGINE. AFTER RESEARCHING THE INTERNET I HAVE FOUND LITERALLY THOUSANDS OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE STATING SIMILAR SCENARIOS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10341713July 6, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
MY 97 FORD CLUB WAGON HEATER LINES TO THE REAS HEATER DISINTEGRATED. I FOUND THE LEAK AND DISCONNECTED THE LINES TO FIND THEM DETERIORATED 3/4 THE LENGTH. I KEPT THE LINES FOR INSPECTION. CONTACTING FORD THEIR RESPONSE WAS THAT THEY HAD NO INFORMATION OR RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM WITH A VEHICLE THIS OLD. MY FRIEND [XXX] , PASTOR AT CHURCH OF[XXX] , FREEPORT, ILLINOIS WAS NOT AS FORTUNATE. THE 97 FORD VAN THE CHURCH USES HAD LEAKED ENOUGH COOLANT OUT UNNOTICED THAT THEY ALMOST RUINED THE ENGINE FROM OVER-HEATING. THERE SHOULD BE A WARNING TO ALL VAN OWNERS TO WATCH FOR CORROSION AND LEAKS SO THEY DO NOT RUIN ENGINES AND A SOLUTION SHOULD BE GIVEN BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10283337September 8, 2009
POWER TRAIN, TIRES:TREAD/BELT
SUDDEN TIRE TREAD SEPARATION OF THREE TIRES IN THREE WEEKS. TWO IN LESS THEN 15 MILES. TIRES ARE ONLY FOUR YEARS OLD AND ONLY 6000 MILES ON THEM. THEY ARE THE CORRECT SIZE AND LOAD E RATING KUHMO VENTURE HT FOR THE MOTORHOME THAT THESE TIRES ARE MOUNTED ON. THE TREAD SEPARATION HAD NO WARNING. THE MANUFACTURE CALLED THE FIRST TIRE FAILURE AS A BLOW OUT AND DID NOT TRY TO REPLACE OR INSPECT THE TIRE FOR THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. I DO NOT LONGER HAVE THE FIRST FAILED TIRE. I DO HAVE THE OTHERS TWO REARS THAT FAILED IN THE 15 MILE SPAN AND THE REAR THAT HAS NOT FAILED. THEY WERE ALL REAR TIRES IN THERE ORIGINAL LOCATIONS IN THE TIME FRAME. I WOULD HAVE EXPECTED AT LEAST TWO MORE YEARS OUT OF THE TIRES BEFORE ANY FAILURE OF THIS TYPE WOULD HAVE HAPPENED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10275793July 5, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
ABS FAILURE WHEN DRIVEN FOR MORE THAN 15 MILES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10268473May 12, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
OUR 1997 FORD F350 TRUCK WAS PARKED IN OUR BARN AND CAUGHT FIRE YESTERDAY MORNING FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THE FIRE DESTROYED THE TRUCK AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE BARN AND ALSO CAUGHT OUR ATV ON FIRE. I LEFT FOR WORK AT 7 A.M. AND HAD BEEN IN THE BARN BEFORE LEAVING. THE FIRST DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED AT 8:04 AND BY THE TIME THEY GOT THERE, THE TRUCK WAS BASICALLY GONE. WE HAD OTHER DAMAGES CAUSED BY THIS FIRE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10268474May 12, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD E350. THE CONTACT AWOKE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT TO FIND HIS VEHICLE ON FIRE. HE ATTEMPTED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE WITH A GARDEN HOSE, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND SUCCESSFULLY EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. A FIREFIGHTER STATED THAT THE FIRE ORIGINATED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY STILL AT THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE OVER 250,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10252281December 19, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE #3 SPARK PLUG ON MY '97 FORD E-350 VAN BLEW OUT (ABOUT 1 YEAR AFTER THE PLUGS WERE CHANGED) WHILE STARTING TO DRIVE SLOWLY IN A PARKING LOT. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY MORE THAN ONE MECHANIC THAT THIS IS COMMON ON THIS ENGINE (5.4 L 8-CYLINDER) AND THAT IT IS A DESIGN DEFECT. I HAVE NOT HAD THE MONEY TO GET IT FIXED YET (ESTIMATED BY MECHANIC TO BE $1500 TO PULL THE HEAD AND REPAIR). I HAVE ALSO READ THAT THERE IS A GOOD POSSIBILITY OF FIRE WHEN THIS HAPPENS, ALTHOUGH THAT DID NOT HAPPEN IN OUR CASE (WE SHUT DOWN THE ENGINE RIGHT AWAY AND HAD IT TOWED HOME). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10245191October 12, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
1997 FORD E350 V-10 ENGINE VAN BLEW OUT THE NUMBER 4 SPARK PLUG. LOUD POPPING SOUND FOLLOWED BY LOSS OF POWER AND STRONG FUEL SMELL. ALSO HAD A NEIGHBOR WITH AN F-150 THAT HAD SAME PROBLEM AND TRUCK BURNED TO THE GROUND IN UNDER 5 MINUTES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10240498August 31, 2008
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
FORD POWERED MOTORHOME WAS DESTROYED BY AN ENGINE FIRE MAY 24 2008 THERE WAS A RECALL IN SEPTEMBER 2007 STATING THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL COULD CAUSE A FIRE. DURING A PHONE CALL WITH A DEALER I WAS TOLD PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. FOUR DAYS AFTER THE FIRE MAY 24 2008 I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM FORD APOLOGIZING FOR THE LACK OF PARTS BUT THAT THEY WERE NOW AVAILABLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10176435December 1, 2006
TIRES
1997 ECONOLINE LEFT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT CAUSING VEHICLE TO ROLLOVER ON ITS SIDE. *TS *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10159918June 15, 2006
SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING
CRASH RIGHT FRONT,WHEEL BEARING NUT SHEERED OFF, ROTOR BROKE, WHEEL, TIRE ,AND HUB ASSEMBLY CAME OFF VEHICLE. WHEEL AND TIRE UNDAMAGED. *NM. *AK UPDATED 06/22/06 *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
1

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