Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2004 Ford E-350, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Fuel system, diesel13
- Engine and engine cooling10
- Power train5
- Electrical system5
- Equipment4
- Fuel system, gasoline4
- Tires4
- Seat belts3
- Engine3
- Structure3
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 18 injuries and 1 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 11 2004 E-350 vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 7 people died inside them, and 3 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 2004 Ford E-350 failed the safety check 0.70% of the time — 68% less often than the average 2004 passenger car (2.21%). Median odometer at inspection: 72,631 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Recalls
VAN CONVERSIONS IS RECALLING 74 MY 2004-2007 FORD E-150, E-250 E-350 AND MY 2006 GM SAVANNA 3500 VANS BUILT ON FORD AND GM CHASSIS AND EQUIPPED WITH RICON PLATFORM STYLE WHEELCHAIR LIFTS. THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 404, "PLATFORM LIFT INSTALLATIONS IN MOTOR VEHICLES." THE THRESHOLD WARNING SYSTEM MAY NOT DETECT THE PRESENCE OF A WHEELCHAIR OR MOBILITY AID USER IN A CERTAIN SPOT WITHIN THE DEFINED THRESHOLD AREA.
VAN CONVERSIONS IS RECALLING 52 MY 2004-2007 FORD E-150, E-250 E-350 AND MY 2006 GM SAVANNA 3500 VANS BUILT ON FORD AND GM 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.
MOBILITYWORKS IS RECALLING 133 MY 2005-2006 FORD E250, MY 2000, 2004-2006 E350, MY 2000, 2005 E450, MY 2005-2006 GMC 2500, GMC 3500, AND MY 2006 DODGE 2500 VANS 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 SYSTEMS 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.
MOBILITYWORKS IS RECALLING 224 MY 2007-2008 FORD E150, MY 2006-2008 E250, MY 2004-2007 E350, MY 2006 E450, MY 2005-2007 CHEVROLET 2500, MY 2007 CHEVROLET 1500, AND MY 2006 DODGE 2500 VANS EQUIPPED WITH RICON PLATFORM STYLE WHEELCHAIR LIFTS. THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 404, "PLATFORM LIFT INSTALLATIONS IN MOTOR VEHICLES." THE THRESHOLD WARNING SYSTEM MAY NOT DETECT THE PRESENCE OF A WHEELCHAIR OR MOBILITY AID USER IN A CERTAIN SPOT WITHIN THE DEFINED THRESHOLD AREA.
CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES AND VANS EQUIPPED WITH 6.0L DIESEL ENGINES MAY EXPERIENCE STALLING WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING AND MAY OR MAY NOT RESTART.
ON CERTAIN VANS BUILT ON FORD E250/E350 CHASSIS AND EQUIPPED WITH SURE-LOK WHEELCHAIR SECUREMENT SYSTEMS, THE SPROCKET TEETH OF THE RETRACTOR ASSEMBLY IS OUT OF ALIGNMENT.
ON CERTAIN VANS EQUIPPED WITH SURE-LOK WHEELCHAIR SECUREMENT SYSTEMS, THE SPROCKET TEETH OF THE RETRACTOR ASSEMBLY IS OUT OF ALIGNMENT.
ON CERTAIN VANS, A DIODE IN THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS) MODULE MAY EXPERIENCE AN ELECTRICAL SHORT.
ON CERTAIN VANS, THE AIR FILTER ELEMENT MATERIAL PROCESS RESULTED IN AN AIR FILTER PAPER ELEMENT THAT CAN SMOLDER OR BURN. THIS CHANGE IN FILTER PAPER COMPOSITION COMBINED WITH THE CONFIGURATION OF THE AIR INDUCTION SYSTEM, MAY ALLOW HOT CARBON PARTICLES TO CONTACT THE AIR FILTER ELEMENT DURING CERTAIN DRIVING CONDITIONS THAT CREATE HOT PARTICLES.
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 2004 Ford E-350: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 10243490 | When performing any transmission fluid changes or topoffs involving MERCON SP, MERCON LV has replaced all versions of MERCON SP and can be used going forward. Mixing MERCON LV and MERCON SP in the same transmission is acceptable. After 30-Jun-2023, MERCON SP ATF will no longer be manufactured and will only be available until inventory depletes. |
| 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. |
| 10056196 | FORD: WHEN SHIFTING BETWEEN PARK, REVERSE AND/OR DURING 2-3 SHIFT, AN INTERMITTENT CLUNK OCCURS WITH A TORQSHIFT TRANSMISSION. MODEL 2003-2014 F-SUPER DUTY, E SERIES, EXCURSION, F-53 MOTORHOME CHASSIS, LOW CAB FORWARD. *PE |
| 10055629 | FORD: ON SOME TRUCKS, THERE IS A NO CRANK SITUATION AND IF VOLTAGE ON TRANSMISSION RANGE SENSOR AT PIN 21, IS LESS THAN 5 VOLTS, DISCONNECT THE ENGINE COOLING FAN CLUTCH, ELECTRONICALLY, AND RECHECK VOLTAGE. MODEL 2003-2007 F SUPER DUTY, 2004-2010 E SERIES, 2003-2005 EXCURSION. |
| 10034571 | FORD: RUNS ROUGH, LACKS POWER, HARD START, NO START. SOME VEHICLES AND TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH 6.0L ENGINE MAY EXHIBIT A RUNS ROUGH, LACKS POWER, HARD TO START, NO START CONCERN WITH OR WITHOUT DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE (DTC) P0611 CODE OR VARIOUS INJECTOR CIRCUIT CODES. *PE |
| 10028826 | FORD: SOME VEHICLES WITH DIESEL ENGINES MAY EXPERIENCE NO STARTS, HARD STARTS OR ROUGH RUNNING WHEN COLD AND MAY BE ACCOMPANIED WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES (DTCS) P0611, P1378 AND/OR ALL 8 INJECTOR CIRCUIT CODES. *PE |
| 10028730 | FORD: SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 6.0L DIESEL ENGINE MAY EXHIBIT ANY ONE OR COMBINATION OF THE FOLLOWING CONCERNS-LACK OF POWER, WHITE/BLACK SMOKE OR A SURGE. *PE |
| 10028284 | FORD TRUCKS: MISFIRE, LACK OF POWER, BUCK/JERK, EXCESSIVE SMOKE, CRANK/NO START-DIAGNOSTICS FOR FUEL SYSTEM. THERE ARE SEVERAL POTENTIAL CAUSES FOR THESE SYMPTOMS. *PE |
| 10024325 | 6.0L TURBOCHARGER CARBON DEPOSIT DIAGNOSTICS AND SERVICE TIPS. *NJ UPDATED 5/29/08. *NJ |
| 10023855 | 6.0L--MIL ON--P0401, P0402, P0404, P1335--LACK OF POWER OR SURGE WITH SOME 2003-2007 F-SUPER DUTY, 2003-2005 EXCURSION AND 2004-2008 E-SERIES VEHICLES. *NJ |
| 10022675 | BRAKE BOOSTER SYSTEM MAY EXHIBIT A BRAKE PEDAL KICKBACK AND/OR GRABBING CONDITION WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES. *NJ |
| 10022243 | LACK OF POWER DUE TO LOW FUEL PRESSURE - FUEL TANK LINER SEPERATION. *KB |
| 10022232 | HEADLIGHT ADJUSTMENT NEEDED. *KB |
| 10021621 | LACK OF POWER DUE TO LOW FUEL PRESSURE, FUEL TANK LINER SEPERATION. *KB |
| 10021462 | COLD START DRIVEABILITY - WHITE SMOKE, LACKS POWER, EXHAUST ODOR, SURGES, RUNS, ROUGH, OR NO START. *KB |
| 10021236 | LACK OF COOLING FAN OPERATION. *KB |
| 10021232 | 6.0L TURBOCHARGER CARBON DEPOSIT DIAGNOSTICS AND SERVICE TIPS - LACK OF POWER, WHITE OR BLACK SMOKE, SURGE, P0238, P0299, P0404, P2262, AND/OR P2263. *KB |
| 10021229 | WATCH FOR OIL FLOW FROM THE BASE ENGINE OIL PUMP. VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 6.0L DIESEL ENGINE. *KB |
| 10021173 | OIL FLOW FROM THE BASE ENGINE OIL PUMP. *KB |
| 10020671 | SLOW FUEL FILL ON VEHICLES WITH A 4.6L OR 5.4L ENGINE AND MID-SHIP FUEL TANK. *KB |
| 10020069 | MISFIRE, LACK OF POWER, BUCK/JERK, EXCESSIVE SMOKE OR CRANK/NO START. *TT |
| 10019949 | WATER-IN-FUEL (WIF) LAMP ON. *TT |
| 10019810 | LACK OF POWER OR MIL ON - TURBOCHARGER STICKING - REVISED DIAGNOSTICS. *TT |
| 10019795 | P0404 SERVICE TIP. *TT |
| 10019385 | COOLANT DEGAS BOTTLE OVERFLOW - 6.0L. *TT |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
HVAC Switch Failures
HVAC Switch Failures
SPARK PLUG EJECTION FROM CYLINDER HEAD
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation