Ford E350 Reliability
123 NHTSA complaints (1983–2011). Complaint rate: 482.4 per 1,000 vehicles.
Which Years to Buy & Avoid
Years auto-clustered by complaint volume relative to this model's median.
Bottom line: Avoid the 1989–1990 Ford E350. The 1983–1985 models had significantly fewer reported issues. Most common issue across all years: STRUCTURE.
Avoid These Years
Average
Better Years
A model's reputation is just the start.
Even within the “good” years, individual cars can have hidden accidents, title issues, or odometer rollbacks. Check the actual VIN before you buy — full history report for $4.99 (vs. Carfax $44.99).
Complaints by Model Year
NHTSA complaint count per model year
Common Ford E350 Problems
Most reported component complaints to NHTSA
| Component | Complaints | Crash % |
|---|---|---|
| STRUCTURE | 12 | 0.0% |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS | 10 | 0.0% |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH | 7 | 0.0% |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER | 6 | 0.0% |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER | 5 | 0.0% |
| TIRES:TREAD/BELT | 5 | 0.0% |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 5 | 0.0% |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY | 4 | 0.0% |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR | 4 | 0.0% |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD | 4 | 0.0% |
Year-by-Year Breakdown
NHTSA complaint count per model year — click any year for full problems & recalls breakdown.
| Year | Generation | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1983GOOD | — | 4 | 0 | 2 | View 1983View→ |
| 1984GOOD | — | 6 | 0 | 2 | View 1984View→ |
| 1985GOOD | — | 3 | 0 | — | View 1985View→ |
| 1986 | — | 13 | 0 | 7 | View 1986View→ |
| 1987 | — | 15 | 0 | 4 | View 1987View→ |
| 1988 | — | 15 | 1 | 4 | View 1988View→ |
| 1989AVOID | — | 36 | 0 | 1 | View 1989View→ |
| 1990AVOID | — | 28 | 0 | 1 | View 1990View→ |
See also: Ford E350accident & safety statistics from our vehicle history database.
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