Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1996 Ford E-150, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Engine and engine cooling11
- Service brakes, hydraulic11
- Electrical system10
- Vehicle speed control6
- Suspension5
- Tires5
- Fuel system, gasoline5
- Structure4
- Steering4
- Equipment3
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 101 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 4 1996 E-150 vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 3 people died inside them, and 1 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 1996 Ford E-150 failed the safety check 1.17% of the time — 20% less often than the average 1996 passenger car (1.47%). Median odometer at inspection: 145,129 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Recalls
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.
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.
ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH SPEED CONTROL, GASOLINE OR NATURAL GAS ENGINES, THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH MAY OVERHEAT.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Ford told its dealers about the 1996 Ford E-150: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 50721 | CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, CODE P030X, WITH NO DRIVEABILITY COMPLAINT. *TW |
| 50546 | INFORMATION FOR WHEN DIAGNOSING CONCERNS W/ FACTORY INSTALLED CELLULAR PHONES. *TT |
| 50497 | VEHICLES W/ AN ABS CODE 1095, MAY BE CAUSED BY WATER INTRUSION INTO THE HCU/ECU MOTOR. *TT |
| 50477 | INVESTIGATING 7.3L IRREGULAR IDLE. *TT |
| 50472 | FIRESTONE P235 TIRES MAY EXHIBIT A HIGH FREQUENCY VIBRATION AT 65-75 MPH. *TT |
| 50469 | FOR CONCERNS OF STALLING, REFLASH PCM W/ 1996 CALIBRATION (R11 LEVEL). *TT |
| 50440 | VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT AN EXHAUST LEAK &/OR NOISE DUE TO WARPED EXHAUST MANIFOLDS. *TT |
| 50429 | E4OD TRANS MAY EMIT A TICK/RATTLE NOISE WHEN DRIVING AT LIGHT LOADS IN 1ST GEAR AT 1100 TO 1800 RPM RPM. *TT |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation