1999 Ford E-350 Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 1999 Ford E-350 report two dominant themes in complaints: tire tread separation and blowouts, often at highway speed on original-equipment tires, and engine-related problems, chiefly spark plugs blowing out of the cylinder head on V10 and V8 engines. Fuel tank corrosion or cracking, brake line and ABS problems, and steering looseness also appear, with mileage ranging from under 30,000 to well past 200,000 miles.

1. 1
   Tires

   Tire tread separation and blowouts

   • 21 complaints (29%)
   • median 73,000 mi at 13.9 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2000–2022

   Complaints describe tread separating from the tire casing, sidewall splits, bubbles, and blowouts, most often on the rear tires at highway speeds. In several cases owners say the separated tread damaged the wheel well or body, and a few report the van becoming unstable or rolling over after the failure. Some owners mention that replacement tires from a prior replacement campaign also separated, and one tire shop reportedly attributed a failure to dry rot on a low-mileage tire. Reported across a wide mileage range, from about 15,000 to over 90,000 miles, frequently on original-equipment tires at highway speeds.

   What to check: Check the DOT date codes on all tires and look for cracking, bulging, or uneven tread; ask whether original-equipment tires were ever replaced under a tire manufacturer campaign. Tires more than a few years old may warrant replacement regardless of tread depth.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Goodyear tire recall. I own a 15 passenger Ford van, approx one year ago I received a letter from goodyear, to take my van to a goodyear dealer and have the tires inspected for some replacement campaign. It was determined that my tires were to be replaced at no charge. Recently four of the five replacement tires have separated and had to be replaced. The fifth has not separated because it is the new spare. One of the center treads is letting go and are rising higher then the rest of the treads causing the tire to bounce drastically. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10039311, filed 2003-09, 72,000 miles

   “After driving on pavement, air temp 71 degrees for 45 minutes - the tire just came apart. There is a gaping hole down the center. We had another steeltex on the same vehicle loose its tread 8 weeks ago, and reported it here. This is the second firestone steeltex orginal tire on the rv that has fallen apart. We even had it inspected three days ago, and the pressure checked. Because it is an rv the weight is considerable. The original tires just can't seem to hold up. Now we are wondering if the vehicle is safe to drive. …”

   NHTSA complaint #733143, filed 2000-10
2. 2
   Fuel system

   Fuel tank corrosion, cracks, and fuel leaks

   • 7 complaints (10%)
   • median 118,500 mi at 12.2 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2000–2015

   Complaints describe rusted or cracked fuel tanks, leaking filler necks, rusted tank support straps, and paint flaking inside the tank that clogged the fuel pump and led to stalling. Some owners report repeated tank replacement within a year, and one fleet operator reported cracked tanks on multiple vans at low mileage. A recall exists for cracks on the mid-ship tank in certain severe-duty vans. Reported from low mileage up into the 175,000 to 285,000 mile range, often on vans used for work or fleet duty.

   Recall 01V114000

   What to check: Inspect the fuel tank, straps, and filler neck for rust, seepage, or a fuel smell, especially on vans used for heavy-duty or ambulance-type service, and ask whether recall 01V114000 was performed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Recall 01v114000: possible fuel tank crack. I took my van in for brake work. It was discovered that there is a fuel tank crack. I received a recall report from my mechanic from alldate online stating that this is an issue that happens to my type of vehicle. It is a van that I use for work.”

   NHTSA complaint #10302543, filed 2010-01, 175,178 miles

   “Diesel fuel tank filler neck failure. When filling with fuel filler neck leaks fuel. This was initially diagnosed in 2000. Filler neck replaced. September 2001 tank mounts replaced in recall. This is the second failure of the fuel tank filler neck. Ford refuses to make repairs under warranty.”

   NHTSA complaint #10000381, filed 2002-12, 58,540 miles
3. 3
   Engine cooling

   Spark plug blown out of cylinder head

   • 9 complaints (13%)
   • median 139,500 mi at 8.6 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2001–2012

   Complaints describe a loud pop or bang during normal driving followed by rough running or loss of power, with a mechanic finding that a spark plug had been ejected from the cylinder head and the threads stripped. In some cases the ignition coil was damaged and the head or engine had to be replaced; one owner also reported fuel entering the cabin after the event. Owners describe the repair as expensive and say they received little direction from the dealer beyond replacing the head or engine. Mostly reported between roughly 100,000 and 150,000 miles, though one owner reported it at 73,000 miles.

   What to check: Ask whether the spark plugs have been replaced and whether any plug has ever blown out; listen for ticking or misfire on a test drive. A mechanic can inspect the plug wells and threads on the V10 or V8 before purchase.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was doing some city driving in my Ford van and all of a sudden it started to sound rough and like my muffler fell off. I stopped had it towed and they told me the spark plug had blown out of the engine. When looking into it seems that it is a fairly common problem. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10335796, filed 2010-06, 141,000 miles

   “I have a 1999 chinook class c with a Ford E-350 chassis powered by a triton v-10. Shortly after buying it used we had a spark plug pop out. It was an original plug. We had them changed and took a cross country trip. As we were coming up on memphis tn. Another plug blew out. We were on an interchange in a very dangerous place. We could not get out as there was a freeway on both sides. It took 3 1/2 hours to get us out of harms way. Just last weekend it happened again though I drove off the freeway. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10302185, filed 2010-01, 100,000 miles
4. 4
   Brakes

   Brake line rust, ABS light, and uneven braking

   • 5 complaints (7%)
   • median 48,000 mi at 9.2 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2002–2011

   Complaints describe badly rusted brake lines that leaked fluid, ABS and brake warning lights coming on together, a hard pedal with reduced stopping force, and the van pulling or locking one front wheel when braking. Owners report the dealer was sometimes unwilling to act, and one owner noted replacement lines were not available from the manufacturer and had to be fabricated. Mostly reported between about 24,000 and 106,000 miles, including one van with rusted-through lines at 48,000 miles.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Have the brake lines inspected for rust and seepage, and check that the ABS and brake warning lights go out after startup. A service bulletin describes a brake pedal kickback or grabbing condition linked to the booster system.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Ford E-350 and e-250 vans, both are year,1999 the antilock and brake lights came on simultaneously at a 105k miles on each. There should be no reason for this and I also noticed many others with the same issues. It will impose a safety issue because I seen a web site mentioning how to disconnect dash lights for both. Please take this into consideration before auto owners start disconnecting wire harness. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10384324, filed 2011-02, 106,000 miles

   “Brake failure. This has been reported previously and I have made numerous attempts to get it repaired at the dealer and to convey the problem to the manufacturer. The problem is intermittent and impossible to predict. One of the front wheels lock up and serve as the only braking force. In dry weather it will pull to one side and in wet weather it will skid resulting in no braking force. On 10/08/03 this occurred in a rain shower as I pulled into an interstate rest area (20-25mph). …”

   NHTSA complaint #10041720, filed 2003-10
5. 5
   Steering

   Steering looseness and vibration

   • 5 complaints (7%)
   • median 91,012 mi at 17.0 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1999–2015

   Complaints describe play in the steering, a loose feel in the wheel at low speed or on the highway, and shaking or vibration while driving that one owner linked to a tire belt failure. In a few cases owners report loss of steering control after hitting a bump, with one adding a steering stabilizer to make the vehicle driveable. Dealers reportedly told some owners they found no problem. Reported from very low mileage, around 27,500 miles, up through higher-mileage vans.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Check for play in the steering wheel with the engine running and look for uneven front tire wear; ask whether the front end and ball joints have been inspected. A service bulletin addresses ball joints with excessive rotational friction.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “To much end play in steering box out put shaft. Dealership (gorno Ford) has seen vehicle twice. In august 1999 and today 12/3/99 and tells me there is no problem. But yet I can feel the loosness in the steering wheel when manuvering in parking lots and/or driving down the freeway.”

   NHTSA complaint #715591, filed 1999-12

   “The vehicle was going 20mph down a dirt road. The van hit a bump and loss control causing the vehicle to run off the road and hit a tree. The manufacturer was notified but the vehicle is being repaired by a collision shop. Consumer sustained eye injuries, passenger received injuries to neck and stomach, also having headaches. Loss of steering also came about in accident. Vehicle is gas powered, not diesel!!!”

   NHTSA complaint #8008982, filed 2002-05

Buying note. These vans are old enough that condition and maintenance history matter more than the model year itself, so a pre-purchase inspection covering tires and their date codes, brake lines, the fuel tank and straps, and the front end is worthwhile. Ask for records on spark plug service and any recall work, and factor tire replacement into the price if the tires are old or of unknown history.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.