Ford E-350 Complaints (1997)

79 consumer complaints on file.

#10156054April 25, 2006
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS, EQUIPMENT
VEHICLE IS A FORD E-350 CHASSIS EQUIPPED WITH A UNICEL BOX BODY. THE FAILURE IS THE MOUNTING OF THE TRUCK BODY TO THE CHASSIS. THE DESIGN OF THE BOX ATTACHING MECHANISM IS INFERIOR RESULTING IN A SEPARATION OF THE BODY FROM THE CHASSIS. THE BODY IS ATTACHED ONLY TO THE PLYWOOD FLOOR OF THE BOX ONLY WITH NO OTHER STRUCTURAL COMPONENTS. THE ATTACHMENT POINTS ARE ALSO INACCESSIBLE FOR INSPECTION RESULTING IN THE INABILITY TO INSPECT THE CORROSION OF THE BOLTS AND THE ULTIMATE FAILURE OF THE MOUNTING TO THE CHASSIS. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10090086August 31, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
FUEL TANK LEAKED FUEL FROM THE TOP OF THE TANK ON BOTH SIDES. RECALL 01V114000 WAS ISSUED REGARDING THIS PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10088846August 30, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
I HAVE A 97 FORD E-350 AND THE FUEL LINE DEVELOPED A LEAK DUE TO THE PLASTIC OUTER COATING RUBBING AGAINST THE LINE. I CONSIDER THIS A FIRE HAZARD AS IT IS LOCATED DIRECTLY ABOVE THE EXHAUST.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10082416July 22, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE MOTOR HOME ENGINE OPERATED FINE WHILE WE WERE ON AN EXTENDED 1700 MILE TRIP. THE GAUGES REGISTERED NORMAL. WE CHECKED THE OIL & ANTIFREEZE & THEY WERE AT THE NORMAL LEVELS. AFTER WE RETURNED: AT MILEAGE 48526 WE STARTED THE ENGINE ON MAY 6, 2004 THE ENGINE STARTED WITH A LARGE KNOCKING NOISE & THERE WAS WHITE SMOKE OUT THE TAILPIPE. 2. ANTIFREEZE HAD GOTTEN INTO THE OIL SO THE ROD BENT & #1 CYLINDER WAS SCORED WHEN THE ENGINE WAS STARTED. 3. THE HEAD GASKETS & HEAD WAS NORMAL - THE WHOLE ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED!*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10072421May 11, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
HIGH PRESSURE FUEL RETURN LINE FAILED AS I WAS READY TO DEPART FOR THE DAY. I HAD STOPPED AFTER DRIVING ABOUT 300 FEET; UPON EXITING I SMELLED A STRONG FUEL ODOR AND NOTICED A FUEL TRACK LEADING FROM MY VEHICLE. FUEL WAS LEAKING BADLY ONTO THE HEAT SHIELD ABOVE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER OR MUFFLER. HAD THE FAILURE OCCURED WHEN THE ENGINE WAS HOT, THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A FIRE BOMB. IT HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE NEAREST FORD DEALER. THEY REPLACED PART [XXX], A $143.39 TUB ASSEMBLY-FUEL LINE, WHICH IS A COMPOSITE METAL AND HIGH PRESSURE PLASTIC FUEL LINE. TOTAL BILL WAS $443.93 AND A TWO DAY DELAY IN DEPARTURE. I HAVE THE FAILED PART WHICH, WHEN RETURNED TO ME, WAS BENT (BY THE MECHANIC) AT THE POINT OF FAILURE OF THE PLASTIC LINE 1 INCH FROM WHERE IT WAS BONDED TO THE METAL SEGMENT. 1997 FORD ECONOLINE E350 VAN CONVERSION VIN [XXX] (V-10 ENGINE). FORD WEB SITE SHOWS NO RECALL FOR THIS VIN. CONSEQUENCES COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC! UPDATED 07/26/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10018785May 16, 2003
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP
THE RUBBER HOSE ~7/8" DIA. JUST ABOVE THE GAS TANK FILLER TUBE, WHICH RELIEVES PRESSURE AND ALLOWS THE TANK TO FILL PROPERLY, CRACKED AND SEPARATED. WHEN EVER THE TANK WAS FILLED TO THE TOP, FUEL WOULD SPEW ALL OVER THE GROUND. THE LEAK RAN DOWN FRAME RAILS AND WAS DIFFICULT TO LOCATE, I HAD TO CRAWL UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE, DURING FILLING TO FINALLY LOCATE THE SOURCE OF THE FUEL LEAK. ONCE BEFORE THE LEAK WAS LOCATED, I DUMPED ABOUT A GALLON OF FUEL OR MORE ON THE GROUND, BEFORE I COULD SHUT OFF THE PUMP AS I FILLING MY TANK AND CHECKING THE ENGINE OIL LEVEL AT THE SAME TIME. I DETERMINED WHERE THE FUEL LEAK WAS EMANATING FROM AFTER SEVERAL OTHER FILLS. AS MY VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY I REPAIRED THE RUBBER LINE MYSELF (USING A LENGTH OF RUBBER HOSE FROM NAPA) NOT USING THE FORD PART BECAUSE OF THE EXTREME POTENTIAL FOR THE PART TO PREMATURELY FAIL AGAIN, AND ITS QUITE DIFFICULT TO ACCESS THE ONE CLAMP (REQUIRING A MIRROR) SO I DIDN'T WANT TO MAKE THIS REPAIR AGAIN BY USING A FAULTY FORD PART. THIS PART IS MANUFACTURED WITH A HOSE CLAMP MOLDED INTO ONE END OF THE HOSE. AS IT USES HEAT TO ENCASE PART OF THE HOSE CLAMP WITH RUBBER TO RETAIN IT ON THE END OF THE HOSE, THIS PROCESS HARDENS THE HOSE AND THE HOSE WILL CRACK AT THE CLAMP. MY OPINION IS THAT THIS IS AN EXTREME FIRE POTENTIAL. *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10002719January 15, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
SPARK PLUG WAS BLOWN OUT OF THE ALUMINUM HEAD OF AN E-350 FORD V-8 VORTEX ENGINE. MECHANICS I HAVE SPOKEN TO HAVE REPORTED FAMILIARITY WITH THIS EXACT PROBLEM WHEN VEHICLE REACHES 60,000 PLUS MILES. INDIVIDUAL WITH SAME TYPE AND YEAR (97) TRUCK IS HAVING SAME TROUBLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10000736January 5, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
1997 FORD SUPER CLUB WAGON XLT (E350) ABS SYSTEM ENGAGES INAPPROPRIATELY CAUSING TOTAL LACK OF BRAKING POWER. THE ABS CONTROL UNIT DOES NOT RECORD AN ERROR CODE SO MY MECHANIC CANNOT FIND A CAUSE. I HAVE HAD TO REMOVE THE ABS FUSE IN ORDER TO HAVE TRUSTWORTHY BRAKES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#765969August 21, 2002
TIRES
THESE TIRES HAS TO BE INVESTIGATED! I'VE HAD 3 BLOWOUTS ON SEPARATE OCCASIONS. TIRES HAD 15,000 MILES ON THEM. FIRST BLOWOUT OCCURRED ON HIGHWAY AT 65MPH ON FRONT PASSENGER SIDE, TIRE HAD MULTIPLE BELT SEPERATIONS. PUT ON SPARE TIRE OF SAME BRAND AND SIZE AND BARELY GOT HOME BEFORE THE BELT STARTED COMING APART. WENT TO FIRESTONE DEALER, AND THEY SOLD ME ANOTHER STEELTEX FOR REPLACEMENT. 2 MONTHS LATER WENT ON A ROADTRIP TO CALIFORNIA AT ABOUT 75MPH AND THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE TREAD COMPLETELY CAME OFF AND BLEW OUT. THE VAN NOSE DIVED OFF THE HIGHWAY OUT INTO THE DESERT AND ALMOST ROLLED. 8 PEOPLE ALMOST WERE KILLED. EVERY TIME THE TIRE SHOWED SAME SYMPTOMS BEFORE FAILURE. VEHICLE WOULD BE ON HIGHWAY CRUISING WHEN SUDDENLY IT WOULD SHAKE VIOLENTLY AND THEN BAM! I AM AN MECHANIC BY TRADE AND I KEEP MY VEHICLE IN TOP SHAPE WITH CORRECT AIR PRESSURE AND ROTATION, SO THIS IS NOT HUMAN OR ROAD ERROR. SEVERE DAMAGE WAS DONE TO THE VAN IN THE INCIDENT. I HAVE SINCE REPLACED THE TIRES WITH ANOTHER BRAND (BF GOODRICH) AND HAVE HAD NO PROBLEMS. THE FIRESTONE STEELTEX HAS TO BE INVESTIGATED AS THIS IS RIDICULOUS ASWELL AS DANGEROUS! I FEEL I SHOULD BE REIMBURSED FOR THE REPLACEMENT TIRES ASWELL AS THE DAMAGES! *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8011719June 13, 2002
TIRES:SIDEWALL
MICHELIN, LTXA/S, P22575/R16 AFTER MARKET 3000, AMBULANCE, RIGHT FRONT INTERIOR SIDEWALL BLEWOUT WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING DAMAGE TO RIM. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED, THREE PEOPLE WERE INJURED. *AK *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
3
Deaths:
0
#566030June 7, 2002
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
CONSUMER STATES THE 1997 FORD V-10 CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE HOOD, CONSUMER IS UNSURE OF CAUSE. YD CONSUMER STATES NO FURTHER INFORMATION HAS BEEN AVAILABLE FROM INSURANCE COMPANY OR DEALERSHIP, CONSUMER MENTIONS THAT ON DOG DIED DUE TO THE FIRE. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8011075June 5, 2002
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
AFTER VEHICLE WAS STARTED AN UNUSUAL NOISE OCCURRED IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT. DEALER INSPECTED VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THAT ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO COOLANT LEAKING INTO THE CYLINDER. *AK *MJ
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8006873April 2, 2002
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY VEHICLE STARTED TREMBLING AND VIBRATING. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER, AND NOTICED THAT BOTH REAR TIRE TREAD HAD SEPARATED.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#898292October 26, 2001
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
WHILE DRIVING TREAD ON LEFT INNER TIRE SEPARATED. ORIGINAL MANUFACTURING EQUIPMENT ON A FORD, TRUCK E350, 1997. TIRE MILEAGE 20,000. *AK FIRESTONE STEELTEX, P225/75R16, DOT NUMBER VD1L1XA. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#9004459September 26, 2001
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
RV PULLES TO THE SIDE, ALIGNMENT DID NOT FULLY CORRECT, VEHICLE SHOOK AT HIGHWAY SPEED, DIAGNOSIS AS TREAD SEPARATION WITH DANGER OF TIRE FAILURE AND LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#748932July 23, 2001
TIRES
TIRE BLEW OUT INSTANTLY AND WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING ON STRAIGHT AND LEVEL PAVEMENT IN GOOD REPAIR WITH NO ROAD HAZARD OR CROSS WIND OR ANY OTHER APPARENT ADVERSE CONDITION EXCEPT THAT THE AMBIENT OUTSIDE AIR TEMPERATURE WAS APPRX. 110 DEGREES , AND THE ROAD WAS ALSO VERY HOT.THE TIRE THAT BLEW WAS THE OUTSIDE RIGHT REAR TIRE AND IT'S PARTNER-THE INSIDE RIGHT REAR HELD FINE ALLOWING A SAFE AND CONTROLLED EXIT OF THE ROADWAY.(DUAL REAR WHEELS. *AK (DOT NUMBER: VD1L1XD227 TIRESIZE: LT225/75R1)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#890811June 20, 2001
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
THREE FIRESTONE STEELTEX R4S M/S TIRES, SIZE: LT225/75R16, DOT: UNKNOWN. MOTORHOMES EXPERIENCED A BLOWOUT WITHIN APPROXIMATELY 300 MILES OF EACH OTHER WHILE TRAVELING AT SPEEDS RANGING FROM 45 TO 65 MPH. THESE TIRES WERE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON VEHICLES, AND HAD APPROXIMATELY 27,000 MILES ON THEM. *AK ALL TIRE FAILURES EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION, ONE OF THE SEPARATIONS CAUSED DAMAGE TO VEHICLE. *SLC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#746174May 31, 2001
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#745253May 12, 2001
TIRES, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
OIL FILTER HOUSING UNIT BOLTED TO LEFT SIDE OF TRITON V-10 ENGINE FELL OFF THE ENGINE AFTER BOLTS WHICH HELD THE HOUSING APPARENTLY VIBRATED LOOSE. THE FAILURE RESULTED DESTRUCTION OF BOTH THE SENDING AND RETURN OIL LINES TO THE OIL COOLER AND ALSO HEAVY DAMAGE TO OIL COOLER AFTER IT TOO ALSO FELL AFTER BEING YANKED BY THE FALLING OIL FILTER MOUNTING UNIT. AT TIME OF FAILURE THERE WAS NO INDICATION THAT THERE WAS AN OIL PRESSURE PROBLEM BECAUSE THE INSTRUMENT GAGES WERE STILL READING FULL PRESSURE. ENGINE WAS SAVED FROM DAMAGE AFTER DRIVER SHUT ENGINE OFF AND STEERED MOTOR HOME DOWN A TWO LANE ROAD TO WHERE IT COULD SAFELY PULL OFF. NOTE THERE IS AN EXTREAM FIRE HAZARD ISSUE WITH THIS LARGE AMOUNTS OF OIL SPRAYED ON THE LEFT SIDE ENGINE MANIFOLD. TIRES. SIX FIRESTONE STEELTEX TIRES AND A NON-FIRESTONE SPARE TIRE WERE REPLACED DUE TO SEVER CRACKING AND EVIDENCE THAT TIRES WERE SHOWING IMMENANT FAILURE. TIRES WERE ONLY LOAD RANGE D. VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE LOAD RANGE E. REPLACED WITH NON-FIRESTONES ON ALL POSITIONS. (DOT NUMBER: VD1L1XE127 TIRESIZE: LT22575R16)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#743166March 27, 2001
TIRES:SIDEWALL
2 TIRES BLEW OUT WITH VERY LITTLE TRED WEAR ON THEM. BOTH TIMES THE SIDEWALLS RIPPED AWAY AT SIDEWALL. *AK (TIRESIZE: 16)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 16 )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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