Engine complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 2 | 25% | 20,000 miles |
| 2013 | 6 | 32% | 53,000 miles |
| 2012 | 1 | 8% | 125,000 miles |
| 2011 | 4 | 17% | 19,000 miles |
| 2010 | 1 | 10% | 91,000 miles |
| 2009 | 2 | 29% | 182,000 miles |
| 2008 | 4 | 36% | 89,000 miles |
| 2007 | 5 | 42% | 139,000 miles |
| 2006 | 2 | 13% | 29,000 miles |
| 2005 | 5 | 31% | 134,000 miles |
| 2004 | 3 | 9% | 117,000 miles |
| 2003 | 4 | 19% | 139,000 miles |
| 2002 | 3 | 11% | 99,000 miles |
| 2001 | 6 | 16% | 118,000 miles |
| 2000 | 3 | 6% | 223,000 miles |
| 1999 | 11 | 13% | 111,000 miles |
| 1998 | 15 | 25% | 98,000 miles |
| 1997 | 21 | 21% | 125,000 miles |
| 1996 | 11 | 19% | 150,000 miles |
| 1995 | 6 | 8% | 69,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
In the last two I been having a wrench coming up on the screen and truck loses power and the speed drops down to 5 miles an hour. While the truck is running in idle, it is vibrating. When I stop it and restart it goes away. It happen three times in the last two weeks. After the second time the dealer reprogramed the computer last Friday. Thursday five days later it came back when I was doing 50 miles an hour. I called the dealer and he said he will change the throttle sensor out tomorrow .the times it happen I was on country road with no traffic, if I would have on the interstate no telling what would have happen with cars behind me doing 70 miles an hour.
Vehicle was leaking antifreeze and taken to good year. The part was not made and is not being made by any factory or by Ford. Ford is aware of the problem. The service manager in rock hill,sc said there was 20 others waiting and they needed paperwork for proof and a hundred deposit for a part that isn't even made. Good year made a temporary fix. If the fix breaks the antifreeze will leak out causing the motor to seize up.
When engine is started in the mornings you can hear a knocking sound which seems to subside as the engine is warming. I've been watching the video on youtube about the catastrophic consequences this will eventually occur if the cause is not discovered and repaired. Please refer to youtube videos fordtechmakeuloco see the 2004-2015 titled Ford f-150/e-150 lower balljoint replacement and how a failed $4.00 part turned into a $7,000 motor repair. Oil pumps also. Happens in the driveway idling . Ford dealer wanted $125. To diagnose this morning Thursday 12/10/2020.
2011 e-150 econoline. Consumer seeking arbitration for vehicle. The consumer stated the vehicle had an oil leak. The rear main seal was replaced twice, the transmission would lock up, the steering gear box was leaking fluid, the battery was replaced.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Ford econoline van e150. The contact stated that while driving approximately 25 MPH, the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact tried to restart the vehicle. The check engine and electronic throttle warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was able to be restarted but when the failure would recur when the engine rpms increased over 2,000. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer. The manufacturer was notified of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 66,325.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Ford e-150 van. The contact was driving 45 MPH when the electronic throttle control warning light illuminated and the vehicle proceeded to stall. The vehicle was taken to the dealer six times regarding the failure. The manufacturer was contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 98,452 and the current mileage 101,600. Updated 04/25/12 updated 06/07/12
Van had trouble starting so took it to dealer, thinking it might be plug/injector-related. Shop contact indicated leak in fuel rail, dumping gas onto engine potentially resulting something that could ignite and explode. The 2007 series 150/250/350 with the large 5.4 (?)l v-8 already has a recall for this exact issue. Thought it would be wise to point out same problem with my with the 4.6l v-8. Van has ~43K miles.
While in motion traveling down highway I heard a bang and the engine began to knock and a sound of air was coming from engine and lost horse-power. I found the spark plug blew out of the #3 cylinder. I had to repair, and now the plug has dropped down, May have to spend up to $3,000 to repair/replace aluminum heads.
Related recalls (1)
Engine and engine cooling
On certain vans, the air filter element material process resulted in an air filter paper element that can smolder or burn. This change in filter paper composition combined with the configuration of the air induction system, May allow hot carbon particles to contact the air filter element during certain driving conditions that…
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the air filter element. The recall began September 27, 2004. Owners should contact Ford at 1-800-392-3673.
NHTSA investigations
Spark plug ejection from cylinder head
On September 6, 2005, odi received a petition requesting that the agency investigate allegations of engine spark plug ejection in certain model year 1997 through 2004 Ford vehicles with triton v-8 and v-10 engines.odi received a total of 474 non-duplicative complaints on the subject vehicles where the complainant, or the dealer repairing the vehicle, reported that a spark plug detached from the cylinder and/or…
Frequently asked questions
Which Ford E-150 years have engine problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 1997 (21), 1998 (15), 1996 (11), 1999 (11) and 1995 (6) model years. Engine complaints make up 21% of all complaints for the 1997.
Is there a recall for Ford E-150 engine problems?
Yes — 1 recall, including 04V-445 (engine and engine cooling, Sep 13, 2004). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Ford E-150 engine problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 107,000 miles; 23% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the engine (23 mentions), followed by the engine › gasoline (19).
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.