FordModel report

Ford E-250 Problems by Model Year

NHTSA recorded 307 consumer complaints across the 24 model years of the Ford E-250 (1989–2014) that have at least 5 complaints. 1999 has the most, with 31. Across all years, the part named most often is brakes (53 mentions). Pick a model year below to see its parts, mileage, recalls and service bulletins.

All E-250 model years

Years with fewer than 5 complaints are not listed. The score compares years of the same model, allowing for the era and for how long each year has collected complaints: 50 is a typical year, lower means fewer complaints. It is not adjusted for sales volume.

Year	Complaints	Median mi	Recalls	TSBs	Score (50 = typical)	Trend
2014	7	59,830	11	25	—	Not enough data
2013	11	40,000	11	29	—	Not enough data
2012	8	53,500	12	24	—	Not enough data
2011	6	27,746	16	28	—	Not enough data
2010	9	81,427	11	29	—	Not enough data
2008	6	76,000	21	16	—	Not enough data
2007	6	21,500	26	13	—	Not enough data
2006	12	5,600	29	47	—	Not enough data
2005	11	57,300	9	54	—	Not enough data
2004	8	89,500	16	48	—	Not enough data
2003	17	50,103	7	9	—	Stable
2002	17	40,000	5	7	—	Falling
2001	18	120,000	3	6	—	Stable
2000	18	43,519	5	5	—	Stable
1999	31	59,555	6	3	Not compared (before 2008)	Stable
1998	16	92,300	5	3	—	Stable
1997	24	98,500	4	3	—	Stable
1996	20	94,500	3	1	—	Stable
1995	15	115,000	3	1	—	Stable
1994	11	90,012	3	1	—	Not enough data
1993	7	162,792	3	1	—	Not enough data
1992	14	25,000	3	1	—	Not enough data
1991	8	150,000	1	0	—	Not enough data
1989	7	41,000	2	0	—	Not enough data

Parts named most often, all years

Counts add up complaint mentions across the listed years. A complaint can name several parts.

Brakes53 19%
Engine cooling46 17%
Tires42 15%
Electrical system31 11%
Suspension30 11%
Transmission and drivetrain28 10%
Fuel system25 9.1%
Steering19 6.9%

Example complaints

One per model year, chosen for length and detail. Personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

1994: “Rear ABS module failed. Causing over pressurization of front brakes resulting in passenger side brake hose separation. So no rear or front brakes! Thank god it happened near my driveway otherwise people could die. I had just reentered drivers seat and released parking brake and engaged brake pedal with 1 foot. Vehicle was stationary pointed in a straight line.”

NHTSA complaint #11185736, filed 2019-03, 105,025 miles

2013: “My headlights and tail lights just come on all by themselves, or if you open or close the doors---they come on or go off. Really scary stuff.I took the cover off, and there is water inside the rear lights. I had this same problem on my f-150 truck in 1998. Why hasnt Ford fixed this problem by now???”

NHTSA complaint #11352441, filed 2020-09, 103,000 miles

2005: “Warning. Safety hazard about duralast center link part# ds1287, alternative part number:ds6070x. I installed this part in 2005 Ford e250 but you can install this part in other vehicles also. I replace center link 1.5 years ago(07/17/2015). Metal thread on ball joint broken and made car unsteerable. This happened at parking when I turn wheels, if this happen on highway not on parking I will be death now.”

NHTSA complaint #11052041, filed 2017-12, 30,000 miles

Other Ford models

Ford F-150
38,897 complaints Ford Explorer
34,624 complaints Ford Escape
27,530 complaints Ford Fusion
22,441 complaints Ford Focus
22,107 complaints Ford Taurus
18,162 complaints Ford Windstar
14,152 complaints Ford Edge
14,106 complaints

All Ford models →

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Methodology