1996 Ford F-250 Recalls, Complaints & Specs
4 safety recalls list the 1996 Ford F-250, and owners have filed 176 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
- 1979
- 1989
- 1990
- 1991
- 1992
- 1993
- 1994
- 1995
- 1996
- 1997
- 1998
- 1999
- 2000
- 2001
- 2002
- 2003
- 2004
- 2005
- 2006
- 2007
- 2008
- 2009
- 2010
- 2011
- 2012
- 2013
- 2014
4 safety recalls for the 1996 Ford F-250
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Vehicle speed control
On certain trucks equipped with speed control, gasoline or natural gas engines, the speed control deactivation switch may overheat.
Remedy: Dealers will install a fused wiring harness into the speed control system free of charge. The recall began on august 7, 2006. Owners may contact ford at 1-866-436-7332. (note: also see recalls 05v017 and 05v388)
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Vehicle speed control
On certain pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles equipped with speed control, the speed control deactivation switch may overheat, smoke, or burn.
Remedy: By letter dated september 12, 2005, owners were instructed to return their vehicles to their dealers to have the speed control deactivation switch disconnected. Owners who have had their speed control deactivated are…
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Labels (equipment)
The certification labels on the involved vehicles has incorrect rear tire inflation pressure designations. This does not comply with FMVSS no. 120, "tire selection and rims for motor vehicles other than passenger cars."
Remedy: Owners will be provided with correct certification labels and instructions for installing these labels. Dealers can install this label if the owner so desires.
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Frame and members (structure)
The crossmember frame gussets were installed with undersized threaded fasteners following a breakdown of the production rivet gun that is generally used. This gusset is the attachment point for the rear strap of the mid-ship fuel tank.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the crossmember gusset fasteners with the specified alternative fasteners (bolts).
176 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 1996 Ford F-250 have filed 176 complaints with NHTSA; 10 describe a crash and 25 describe a fire. Reports cite 3 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 142,070 miles. Complaints peaked in 2000 with 31 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“Cruise control switch began smoking, disconnected it and took it to Awesome Ford of Chehalis, WA for recall service sometime in June or July. Service tech found that brake fluid had wicked its way up”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, September 9, 2023 · Vehicle speed control
“A malfunctioning check valve within the fuel pump assembly causes a portion of the unused fuel from one tank to be returned to the second tank. When this occurs, the capacity of the second tank can be”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, June 16, 2022 · Fuel/propulsion system
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 1996 Ford F250. Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 13–14 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 11–13 / 16–17 |
| Fuel | Regular |
| EPA class | Standard Pickup Trucks |
| Engine | 6/8 cyl, 4.9/5/5.8 L |
| Transmission | Automatic 4-spd; Manual 5-spd |
Compare Ford F-250 model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Ford F-250 model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1979 Ford F-250 | 0 | 1 |
| 1989 Ford F-250 | 0 | 11 |
| 1990 Ford F-250 | 0 | 4 |
| 1991 Ford F-250 | 5 | 107 |
| 1992 Ford F-250 | 4 | 119 |
| 1993 Ford F-250 | 6 | 130 |
| 1994 Ford F-250 | 8 | 123 |
| 1995 Ford F-250 | 3 | 184 |
| 1996 Ford F-250 | 4 | 176 |
| 1997 Ford F-250 | 10 | 304 |
| 1998 Ford F-250 | 6 | 56 |
| 1999 Ford F-250 | 14 | 581 |
| 2000 Ford F-250 | 5 | 326 |
| 2001 Ford F-250 | 4 | 220 |
| 2002 Ford F-250 | 2 | 156 |
| 2003 Ford F-250 | 2 | 116 |
| 2004 Ford F-250 | 2 | 154 |
| 2005 Ford F-250 | 0 | 144 |
| 2006 Ford F-250 | 1 | 221 |
| 2007 Ford F-250 | 2 | 60 |
| 2008 Ford F-250 | 5 | 196 |
| 2009 Ford F-250 | 0 | 54 |
| 2010 Ford F-250 | 0 | 73 |
| 2011 Ford F-250 | 2 | 248 |
| 2012 Ford F-250 | 1 | 266 |
| 2013 Ford F-250 | 0 | 95 |
| 2014 Ford F-250 | 0 | 142 |
Checking a specific 1996 Ford F-250
How do I know if my 1996 Ford F-250 has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 4 campaigns currently list the 1996 Ford F-250; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Ford dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 05V388000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
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.