Ford E150 Recalls & Complaints by Model Year

NHTSA lists 18 safety recalls and 99 owner complaints across 27 model years of the Ford E150 (1976–2013). The most-complained-about year is 1989.

Pick your Ford E150 model year

• 1976
• 1978
• 1979
• 1980
• 1981
• 1982
• 1983
• 1984
• 1985
• 1986
• 1987
• 1988
• 1989
• 1990
• 1997
• 1998
• 1999
• 2000
• 2004
• 2006
• 2007
• 2008
• 2009
• 2010
• 2011
• 2012
• 2013

What Ford E150 owners complain about

Across all model years, owners have filed 99 complaints with NHTSA. The 1989 model year has the most, with 30.

• Electrical system: switch10
• Fuel system, gasoline: selector devices8
• Tires: tread/belt6
• Electrical system: ignition6
• Electrical system: alternator/generator/regulator5
• Electrical system: wiring4
• Engine and engine cooling: gasoline4
• Engine and engine cooling: manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe4

All Ford E150 recalls (18)

Every NHTSA safety campaign that lists a Ford E150, most recent first, with the model years each one covers.

1. Equipment adaptive/mobility

   NHTSA 14V641000 Reported October 10, 2014 834 vehicles potentially affected Mobility Works (WMK Inc.)

   Mobility Works (WMK Inc.) is recalling certain model year 2006-2014 Ford E150, E250, and E350 vans modified by Mobility Works to be equipped with certain model S2005, S2010, S5005, S5010, S5505, and S5510 wheelchair lifts manufactured by Ricon Corporation. The platform side plate of the affected wheelchair lifts may crack.

   Remedy: Mobility Works will notify owners, and Ricon will supply supplemental platform support bumpers. Any platform that has already started cracking will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began on November 10, 2014.…

   Model years: 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013

2. Equipment adaptive/mobility

   NHTSA 04V562000 Reported November 26, 2004 1,660 vehicles potentially affected MOBILITY WORKS

   On certain vans equipped with sure-lok wheelchair securement systems, the sprocket teeth of the retractor assembly is out of alignment.

   Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the wheelchair securement retractors as necessary. Sure-lok will handle the repairs for this campaign. Owners should contact sure-lock at 1-908-231-1804 or mobilityworks at…

   Model years: 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2004

3. Selector devices (fuel system)

   NHTSA 91V146000 Reported September 4, 1991 350,000 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

   The dual fuel tank selector valve may malfunction and cause an overfill condition in one of the fuel tanks, resulting in an overflow of fuel past the filler cap.

   Remedy: Replace the dual fuel tank selector valve.

   Model years: 1989, 1990

4. Anchorage (seat belts)

   NHTSA 91V119000 Reported July 3, 1991 30 vehicles potentially affected VAN CRAFT CORP

   Safety belt anchorages did not meet load requirements of FMVSS 210; belt anchorage bar pulled through the floor of vehicle when subjected to loads of FMVSS 210 test.

   Remedy: Secure safety belt anchorage bar to vehicle frame for added strength.

   Model years: 1990

5. Anchorage (seat belts)

   NHTSA 90V137000 Reported July 18, 1990 13,637 vehicles potentially affected MARK III INDUSTRIES, INC.

   Remedy: Install proper mounting hardware and seat belts.

   Model years: 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984

6. Gear position indication (prndl) (power train)

   NHTSA 90V101000 Reported June 1, 1990 111,000 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

   Under certain conditions, the snap ring that locates the park gear on the output shaft of the transmission may fracture.

   Remedy: Install improved snap ring and revised transmission extension housing.

   Model years: 1989, 1990

7. Carburetor system (fuel system)

   NHTSA 84V119000 Reported October 2, 1984 85,000 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

   The secondary throttle shaft may, with accumulated mileage, become contaminated and may stick in a partially open position while driving.

   Remedy: The primary to secondary throttle closure link on the carburetor will be replaced free of charge.

   Model years: 1984

8. Column shift (power train)

   NHTSA 82V004000 Reported January 13, 1982 378 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

   On some of the involved vehicles, the shift rod in the transmission may not be properly seated in the retention grommet of the steering column shift lever assembly. If the shift rod were to disengage, the driver could not select the proper transmission function which would create the potential for unexpected movement of the vehicle.

   Remedy: Dealer will inspect the shift rod attachment and make sure it is properly seated at no cost to owner.

   Model years: 1982

9. Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings (service brakes)

   NHTSA 80V120000 Reported September 19, 1980 10,000 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

   Certain vehicles were equipped with front brake hose assemblies that were incorrectly manufactured by the supplier. These assemblies, both rh and lh, were incorrectly built with the fittings misoriented by 90 degrees. This could cause chafing of the brake hose through contact with the adjacent tire during full turns. Continued chafing…

   Remedy: Dealer will inspect both front brake hoses and, if necessary, replace one or both hoses at no charge.

   Model years: 1980

10. Exhaust system (engine and engine cooling)

    NHTSA 80V088000 Reported July 14, 1980 4 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    Due to computer input error which resulted in an incorrect build schedule, some vehicles were shipped without the required exhaust system heat shields. When the vehicle is idled over an extended period of time, a missing exhaust heat shield may result in dangerously high floor pan temperatures.

    Remedy: Dealer will install frame-mounting heat shields without charge to owner.

    Model years: 1980

11. Wheels

    NHTSA 79V185000 Reported August 7, 1979 22,500 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    The wheel assembly may contain substandard welds in the area where the disc is attached to the rim. As a result, cracks can form in the wheel assembly, causing air loss and an underinflated tire.

    Remedy: Dealer will inspect and replace any defective wheels without charge to owner.

    Model years: 1979

12. Underbody shields (structure)

    NHTSA 79V153000 Reported June 19, 1979 12,000 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    Certain vehicles may not contain the specified body mounted heat shields. This could cause high floor pan temperatures when the engine is idled for extended periods of time. Fouled spark plugs or other engine conditions could further increase exhaust temperatures.

    Remedy: The dealer will install the necessary frame mounted heat shield, if missing.

    Model years: 1979

13. Pedals and linkages (service brakes)

    NHTSA 79V117000 Reported May 15, 1979 82,000 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    The involved vehicles were produced with brake push-rod to brake pedal retaining pins which were not heat-treated as specified. This could allow the brake pedal to become disengaged from the push-rod.

    Remedy: Dealer will replace the suspect brake retaining pin.

    Model years: 1979

14. Seat belts: rear/other

    NHTSA 78V214000 Reported October 5, 1978 874 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    On the involved vehicles, the potential exists for the outboard seat belts to become trapped in the seat-bed pivoting mechanism. Should the belt become trapped in the mechanism when the seat is converted to a bed, the belt may become cut or frayed.

    Remedy: The dealer will install seat belt shields on the folding seat/bed pivoting mechanism and replace the outboard seat belt assemblies if damaged, free of charge.

    Model years: 1979

15. Column shift (power train)

    NHTSA 78V035000 Reported February 16, 1978 47,339 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    The shift selector reaction springs may be deformed as a result of improper installation of selector levers during column buildup. Thus the lever may not be able to be moved into the insert detents located in the steering column assembly. This could prevent the "park" gear from being engaged.

    Remedy: Dealer will inspect and, if necessary, replace the shift selector reaction spring without charge to owner.

    Model years: 1978

16. Carburetor system (fuel system)

    NHTSA 77V198000 Reported November 15, 1977 30,000 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    On the involved vehicles, leakage may occur at the threaded carburetor-to-fuel filter connection on the suspect carburetors. This is due to an improperly machined carburetor fuel inlet connection.

    Remedy: Dealer will inspect and, if necessary, will replace the carburetor without charge to owner.

    Model years: 1978

17. Column shift (power train)

    NHTSA 77V185000 Reported October 25, 1977 19,000 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    On the involved vehicles, the park actuation support plates are defective due to their susceptibility to cracking due to improper heat treatment during manufacture. As a result, fragments from a broken plate can become lodged in the transmission parking pawl mechanism. This could prevent the transmission parking pawl from engaging when…

    Remedy: The dealer will replace the park actuation cam support plates, free of charge, on all affected vehicles.

    Model years: 1978

18. Gear box (other than rack and pinion) (steering)

    NHTSA 76V165000 Reported October 18, 1976 53,137 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    Model years: 1976

Other Ford models

• F-15037,961 complaints
• Explorer34,566 complaints
• Escape27,430 complaints
• Fusion22,405 complaints
• Focus22,096 complaints
• Taurus18,159 complaints
• Windstar14,158 complaints
• Edge14,065 complaints

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.