Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1998 Ford E-350, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Tires14
- Engine and engine cooling8
- Service brakes, hydraulic8
- Electrical system5
- Fuel system, other4
- Fuel system, diesel3
- Steering3
- Suspension3
- Vehicle speed control3
- Fuel system, gasoline2
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 0 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 18 1998 E-350 vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 13 people died inside them, and 4 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 1998 Ford E-350 failed the safety check 1.19% of the time — 30% less often than the average 1998 passenger car (1.71%). Median odometer at inspection: 143,278 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Recalls
Cummings Mobility Conversion & Supply, Inc. (Cummings) is recalling various model year 1994-2011 Ford and Chevrolet vans equipped with Braun NCL-2, and NVL-2 wheel chair lifts manufactured November 20, 2006, through September 10, 2010. Over time, and with frequent use, the roll stop latches on the outer barrier of the lifts in these vans may become bent or misaligned.
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.
ONENESS MOBILITY IS RECALLING 19 MY 1998, AND 2005-2006 E-350 VANS BUILT ON FORD CHASSIS AND EQUIPPED WITH RICON PLATFORM STYLE WHEELCHAIR LIFTS. THESE LIFTS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 403, "PLATFORM LIFT SYSTEM ACCESSIBLE FOR MOTOR VEHICLES." THE ANTI-STOW INTERLOCK MAY NOT DETECT THE PRESENCE OF A WHEELCHAIR OR MOBILITY AID USER. THE PRESSURE SENSING SWITCH THAT DETECTS THE PRESENCE OF WEIGHT ON THE PLATFORM WAS NOT ADJUSTED TO THE NECESSARY SENSITIVITY LEVEL. THE LIFT COULD STOW EVEN THOUGH SOMEONE OR SOMETHING IS STILL ON THE LIFT.
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 PICKUP TRUCKS, PASSENGER VEHICLES, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, AND MOTOR HOMES CHASSIS, THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH MAY, UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, LEAK INTERNALLY AND THEN OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: ON CERTAIN VANS WITH AMBULANCE PREP PACKAGES OR OTHER SEVERE-DUTY APPLICATIONS INVOLVING OPERATION AT OR NEAR THE GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT WITH FREQUENT TWISTING OF THE VEHICLE BODY, SUCH AS OFF-ROAD, ROUGH ROAD OR SPEED BUMP EVENTS, THE 35 GALLON MID-SHIP FUEL TANK COULD DEVELOP A CRACK WHERE IT CONTACTS THE FRAME CROSS MEMBER. IF THE FUEL TANK CRACKS, FUEL LEAKAGE COULD OCCUR.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: BI-FUEL CNG PICKUP TRUCKS AND BI-FUEL CNG VANS, MODIFIED BY CFI CONTROL SYSTEMS, INC., FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 303, "FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITY OF COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS VEHICLES." THE LABEL AFFIXED TO THE FUEL FILLER DOOR BY THE VEHICLE MODIFIER CONTAINS THE INSPECTION DATE AND EXPIRATION DATE OF THE CNG TANK. HOWEVER, IT DOES NOT CONTAIN THE STATEMENT "SEE INSTRUCTIONS ON THE FUEL CONTAINER FOR INSPECTION AND SERVICE LIFE."
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 1998 Ford E-350: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 637519 | SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 4R70W TRANSMISSION (DRIVESHAFT >70 INCH) MAY EXHIBIT A VIBRATION / ROUGHNESS ON ACCELERATION OR UNDER LOAD AT ABOUT 50-55 MPH. *TT |
| 630683 | CONCERNS WITH BUMP STEER STEERING FEELING NOTED WHEN FRONT WHEELS / TIRES CONTACT ROAD SURFACE IRREGULARITIES. *TT |
| 630150 | SOME VEHICLES WITHOUT FRONT BRAKE DUST SHIELDS MAY EXHIBIT PREMATURE WEAR OF THE FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS. *TT |
| 624689 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A FUEL FILL VALVE SEALING CONDITION. *YD |
| 622802 | SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 4R70W TRANSMISSION (DRIVESHAFT >70 INCH) MAY EXHIBIT A DRIVELINE VIBRATION / ROUGHNESS ON ACCELERATION OR UNDER LOAD AT ABOUT 50 - 55 MPH. *TT |
| 622744 | SOME CUT-AWAY VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT ANTI-SKID BRAKE SYSTEM DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE C1229, C1230 AND C1237. *TT |
| 620986 | SUBJECT REGARDING OVERVIEW OF BI-FUEL CNG VEHICLE PARAMETER IDENTIFICATION DATA (PID), INPUTS AND OUTPUTS AS A DIAGNOSTIC AID FOR BI-FUEL VEHICLES. *TT |
| 619273 | SOME BI-FUEL VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A NO START CONDITION. *TT |
| 618568 | THIS BULLETIN INVOLVES FUEL DOOR LABEL APPLICATION / REPLACEMENT. *JB |
| 616508 | SPECIAL FIELD ACTION REGARDING REVISED WARANTY INFORMATION. *TT |
| 615514 | SUBJECT REGARDING ENGINE DIAGNOSTIC GUIDE FOR WARRANTY REIMBURSEMENT. *TT |
| 615427 | THIS BULLETIN STATES THAT REPLACEMENT UNDER WARRANTY OF CERTAIN SPECIFIED COMPONENTS ON ANY 7.3L DIT DIESEL VEHICLE, REQUIRES THAT THE REPLACED COMPONENT BE RETURNED WITH THE APPROPRIATE YEAR DIESEL ENGINE DIAGNOSTIC GUIDE FOR WARRANTY REIMBURSEMENT. *TT |
| 615279 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT BRAKE ROTOR CHECKING OR SIGNS OF EXCESSIVE HEAT BUILD-UP. *TT |
| 615198 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT BRAKE ROTOR CHECKING OR SIGNS OF EXCESSIVE HEAT BUILD-UP. *TT |
| 612791 | VEHICLES WITHOUT FRONT DUST SHIELDS MAY EXHIBIT PREMATURE WEAR OF THE FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS DUE TO DAMAGED INNER WHEEL BEARING SEALS. *MJS |
| 612290 | WITHOUT FRONT BRAKE DUST SHIELDS MAY EXHIBIT PREMATURE WEAR OF THE FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS DUE TO DAMAGED INNER WHEEL BEARING SEALS. |
| 6092006 | SUBJECT REGARDING TIRE BALANCE HINT. *TT |
| 6091808 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE P1298. *TT |
| 606839 | ADDRESSING TIRE BALANCE HINTS. *TT |
| 605259 | SERVICE TIPS FOR IDENTIFYING INJECTOR DRIVER MODULE (IDM) FAILURE WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE P1298. *TT |
| 603506 | EXCESSIVE WHITE SMOKE. VERIFY GLOW PLUG OPERATION BY PERFORMING GLOW PLUG SYSTEM OPERATION CHECK ON THE HARD START/NO START DIAGNOSTIC SHEET. *TT |
| 10148820 | This SKU is a front upper ball joint. The Customer communication requested return of unsold inventory to inspect for ball studs with excessive rotational friction in the ball joint assembly. Excessive friction in the ball joint assembly may cause a perceptible increase in steering effort. |
| 10022675 | BRAKE BOOSTER SYSTEM MAY EXHIBIT A BRAKE PEDAL KICKBACK AND/OR GRABBING CONDITION WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES. *NJ |
| 10018941 | VIBRATION/HARSHNESS ABOVE 45 MPH (72 KM/H) AFTER TIRE BALANCE. *TT |
| 10013298 | CRACKS IN THE LEFT OR RIGHT SPRING TOWER FLANGE. *TT SPRING TOWER WELD REPAIR AND REPLACEMENT PROCEDURE. *TT |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
HVAC Switch Failures
HVAC Switch Failures
SPARK PLUG EJECTION FROM CYLINDER HEAD
BLOW BACK DURING REFUELING
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation