Most common 2008 Ford E-350 problems
Share of the 39 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Ford E-350 complaints by model year
Best E-350 years: 2018, 2016, 2015. Years to avoid: 1997, 1995, 1999. Compare all years →
2008 Ford E-350 recalls (29)
Equipment adaptive/mobility
New England Wheels (New England) is recalling certain model year 2006-2014 Ford E-250, E-350, and 2015 Ford Transit vans equipped with certain model S2005, S2010, S5005, S5010, S5505, and S5510 wheelchair lifts by Ricon. The platform side plate of the affected wheelchair lifts may crack.
Remedy: New England will notify owners, and Ricon dealers will inspect the link arms for damage or for displaced bearings. The platform will be inspected for cracks. Any damaged parts will be replaced, free of charge.
Equipment adaptive/mobility
New England Wheels is recalling certain model year 2006-2014 Ford E-250, and E-350 cargo vans modified to be equipped with certain model S2005, S2010, S5005, S5010, S5505, and S5510 wheelchair lifts built by the Ricon Corporation.
Remedy: New England Wheels will notify owners, and Ricon dealers will inspect the link arms for damage or for displaced bearings. The platform will be inspected for cracks. Any damaged parts will be replaced, free of charge.
Equipment adaptive/mobility
Mobility Specialists, Inc. (Mobility Specialists) is recalling certain model year 2006-2014 Ford E-250, and E-350 vehicles modified to be equipped with certain model S2005, S2010, S5005, S5010, S5505, and S5510 wheelchair lifts manufactured by Ricon Corporation.
Remedy: Mobility Specialists will notify owners to take their vehicles to a Ricon dealer or service center who will install supplemental platform support bumpers.
Equipment adaptive/mobility
MobilityWorks (WMK Inc.) is recalling certain model year 2006-2014 Ford E-150, E-250, and E-350 vans modified by MobilityWorks to be equipped with certain model S2005, S2010, S5005, S5010, S5505, and S5510 wheelchair lifts manufactured by Ricon Corporation.
Remedy: MobilityWorks will notify owners, and Ricon dealers will inspect the link arms for damage or for displaced bearings. The platform will be inspected for cracks. Any damaged parts will be replaced, free of charge.
Equipment adaptive/mobility
Cummings Mobility Conversion & Supply (Cummings) is recalling certain model year 2006-2014 Ford E-150, E-250, E-350, Chevrolet Express, 2006-2008 Dodge Sprinter, and 2009-2014 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, and 2013 Ford Transit Connect vehicles manufactured January 1, 2006, to October 8, 2014, equipped with certain model S2005,…
Remedy: Cummings will notify owners to take buses to a Ricon dealer or service center who will install supplemental platform support bumpers. Any platform that has already started cracking will be replaced, free of charge.
Equipment adaptive/mobility
New England Wheels (New England) is recalling certain model year 2006-2014 E-250, and E-350 vehicles modified by New England 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: New England will notify owners to take vehicles to a Ricon dealer or service center who will install supplemental platform support bumpers.
Show 23 more recalls
Equipment adaptive/mobility
Elkhart Coach (Elkhart) is recalling certain model year 2006-2014 Ford E-350 and Ford E-450 vehicles manufactured January 1, 2006, to May 1, 2014 and equipped with certain model S2005, S2010, S5005, S5010, S5505, and S5510 wheelchair lifts manufactured by Ricon Corporation.
Remedy: Elkhart will notify owners to take the vehicles to a Ricon dealer or service center who will install supplemental platform support bumpers.
Equipment adaptive/mobility
Advanced Wheels of Technology, Inc. (Advanced Wheels) is recalling certain model year 2008-2010 Ford E-350 vehicles modified by Advanced Wheels and equipped with Braun NCL-2, and NVL-2 wheel chair lifts manufactured November 20, 2006, through September 10, 2010.
Remedy: Braun Corporation notified all of the vehicle owners, and Advanced Wheels replaced the recalled parts with new parts, free of charge. Owners may contact Advanced Wheels customer service at 1-860-653-8064.
Equipment adaptive/mobility
Cummings Mobility Conversion & Supply, Inc. (Cummings) is recalling various model year 1994-2011 Ford and Chevrolet vans equipped with Braun NCL-2, and NVL-2 wheel chair lifts manufactured November 20, 2006, through September 10, 2010.
Remedy: Braun Corporation notified all the vehicle owners, and Cummings Mobility replaced the recalled parts with new parts, free of charge. The recall was completed as of April 10, 2014.
Equipment
Mobility Works is recalling certain model year 2006-2012 Ford E-150, E-250 and E-350 vehicles manufactured August 2006 through August 2012. The vehicles are equipped with certain Ricon S series and K Series wheelchair lifts with an optional armored pendant cable.
Remedy: Mobility Works will notify owners and Ricon will provide a supplemental cover kit and instructions, free of charge. This recall campaign is expected to begin July 15, 2013.
Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Frontline is recalling certain model year 2006-2011 electronic news gathering (eng) vehicles built on a Ford e-350 chassis with an aftermarket rear anti-sway bar and manufactured from October 31, 2006, through July 12, 2011. These vehicles May be susceptible to rear hydraulic brake line damage.
Remedy: Frontline will notify owners, and dealers will repair the vehicles free of charge. Repairs will be performed by local Ford dealers and frontline authorized service facilities.
Equipment › Appliance › Air conditioner
Braun is recalling certain model year 2005 through 2011 paratransit vans built on Ford e-350 chassis from April 27, 2005, through July 29, 2010, equipped with carrier genv em-1 evaporator units (em-1) manufactured from January 1, 2006 through December 2010, containing a delphi pack-con III fuse holder in an allied motion motor…
Remedy: Braun will notify owners and instruct them to contact either carrier or a braun dealer to obtain the free remedy. The safety recall began on March 17, 2011.
Equipment adaptive/mobility
Mobility transportation (mts) is recalling certain model year 2007 through 2009 conversion vans built on Ford e150, e250, and e350 chassis from September 16, 2008 through April 15, 2009 and fitted with ricon public use lifts.
Remedy: Mts is working with ricon and ricon will be performing the remedy for this campaign. Please see ricon's defect report 09e-060. Ricon will provide customers with a warning decal and a dvd-based training aid.
Equipment adaptive/mobility
Mobility transportation (mts) is recalling certain model year 2007 through 2009 conversion vans built on Ford e150, e250, and e350 chassis from September 16, 2008 through April 15, 2009 and fitted with certain ricon s series and k series l-model wheelchair lifts.
Remedy: Mts will notify owners and the repairs will be performed by authorized ricon dealers free of charge. A software solution for this safety defect is under investigation.
Equipment adaptive/mobility
Mobility works is recalling certain model year 2008 and 2009 conversion vans built on Ford e150, e250, and e350 chassis after November 2007 and fitted with ricon public use lifts. The restraint belt on these lifts was designed to prevent the lift from moving, unless the tongue of the belt is fully engaged and latched in the…
Remedy: Mobility works is working with ricon and ricon will be performing the remedy for this campaign. Please see ricon's defect report 09e-060. Ricon will provide customers with a warning decal and a dvd-based training aid.
Equipment adaptive/mobility
Mobility works is recalling certain model year 2008 and 2009 conversion vans built on Ford e150, e250, and e350 chassis and Chevrolet 2500 chassis after November 2007 and fitted with certain ricon s series and k series l-model wheelchair lifts.
Remedy: Mobility works will notify owners and the repairs will be performed by authorized ricon dealers free of charge. A software solution for this safety defect is under investigation.
Equipment adaptive/mobility
Comm-trans is recalling certain model year 2007-2009 ada conversion vans built on Ford e-150, e-250, and e-350 chassis between December 7, 2007 and December 23, 2009 and fitted with ricon public use lifts.
Remedy: Comm-trans is working with ricon and ricon will be performing the remedy for this campaign. Please see ricon's defect report 09e-060. Ricon will provide customers with a warning decal and a dvd-based training aid.
Equipment adaptive/mobility
Comm-trans is recalling certain model year 2007-2009 ada conversion vans built on Ford e-150, e-250, and e-350 chassis between December 7, 2007 and December 23, 2009 and fitted with certain ricon s series and k series l-model wheelchair lifts.
Remedy: Comm-trans will notify owners and the repairs will be performed by authorized ricon dealers free of charge. A software solution for this safety defect is under investigation.
Equipment adaptive/mobility
Elkhart coach has notified NHTSA about a defect in certain transit buses equipped with certain ricon s series and k series l-model wheelchair lifts, due to a problem in the software that controls the lift's "up" function.
Remedy: Elkhart coach will notify owners and the repairs will be performed by authorized ricon dealers free of charge. Currently ricon is developing a software solution and is not available.
Equipment adaptive/mobility
Elkhart coach has notified NHTSA of a defect in certain transit buses fitted with ricon public use lifts. The restraint belt on these lifts was designed to prevent the lift from moving, unless the tongue of the belt is fully engaged and latched in the buckle.
Remedy: Elkhart coach is working with ricon and ricon will be handling the remedy for this campaign. Please see ricon's defect report 09e-060. Ricon will provide customers with a warning decal and a dvd-based training aid.
Equipment › Appliance › Air conditioner
E-n-g mobile system is recalling certain model year 2008 Chevrolet w5500, model year 2007-2009 Dodge 3500, model year 2009 mighty mover, model year 2006-2009 Ford e-250, e-350 and e-450, model year 2008-2009 GMC w4500, model year 2007 international 4300, model year 2009 Toyota Land cruiser vehicles equipped with carrier airv…
Remedy: E-n-g mobile system will notify owners and the vehicles will be repaired by carrier free of charge. Please see carrier's defect report 09e-053. The safety recall is expected to begin during December 2009.
Fuel system, gasoline › Storage › Tank assembly
Ford is recalling 65 my 2008-2009 e-350 and my 2009 e450 cutaway vehicles equipped with school bus prep packages for failing to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect for proper fuel tank protection bracket installation and install brackets free of charge. The recall began on June 26, 2009.
Equipment adaptive/mobility
Colonial is recalling 50 my 2006-2008 Ford e350, e450, and Chevrolet g-van cutaway chassis vehicles equipped with ricon platform style wheelchair lifts. These vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no.
Remedy: Colonial is working with ricon to correct the wheelchair lifts free of charge (please see 07e095). Owners May contact ricon at 1-818-267-3000 or colonial at 1-301-698-5100.
Equipment adaptive/mobility
Colonial is recalling 50 my 2006-2008 Ford e350, e450, and Chevrolet g-van cutaway chassis vehicles and equipped with ricon platform style wheelchair lifts. These lifts fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no.
Remedy: Colonial is working with ricon to correct the wheelchair lifts free of charge (please see 07e097). Owners May contact ricon at 1-818-267-3000 or colonial at 1-301-698-5100.
Equipment adaptive/mobility
Cummings is recalling 42 my 2006-2008 Ford e150, e350, Chevrolet express, my 2006 Ford e250, GMC savanna, Dodge sprinter conversion vans, and my 2007 newmar dutchstar motor homes equipped with ricon platform style wheelchair lifts. These lifts fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no.
Remedy: Cummings is working with ricon to correct the wheelchair lifts free of charge (please see 07e097). Owners May contact ricon at 1-818-267-3000 or cummings at 1-763-498-7887.
Equipment adaptive/mobility
Cummings is recalling 42 my 2006-2008 Ford e150, e350, Chevrolet express, my 2006 Ford e250, GMC savanna, Dodge sprinter conversion vans, and my 2007 newmar dutchstar motor homes equipped with ricon platform style wheelchair lifts. These buses fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no.
Remedy: Cummings is working with ricon to correct the wheelchair lifts free of charge (please see 07e095). Owners May contact ricon at 1-818-267-3000 or cummings at 1-763-498-7887.
Equipment adaptive/mobility
Accubuilt is recalling 890 my 2006-2008 Ford e150, e250, and e350 cargo vans equipped with ricon platform style wheelchair lifts. These buses fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no.
Remedy: Accubuilt is working with ricon to correct the wheelchair lifts free of charge (please see 07e095). The recall is expected to begin on or about October 6, 2008.
Equipment adaptive/mobility
Accubuilt is recalling 890 my 2006-2008 Ford e150, e250, and e350 cargo vans equipped with ricon platform style wheelchair lifts. These lifts fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no.
Remedy: Accubuilt is working with ricon to correct the wheelchair lifts free of charge (please see 07e097). Owners May contact ricon at 1-818-267-3000 or accubuilt at 1-800-837-8624.
Power train › Driveline › Driveshaft
Ford is recalling 3,331 my 2008 e-350 vehicles built with a 138 inch wheel base. The drive shaft May have been manufactured with a slip yoke that has cracks. The effect of the cracks on fatigue performance is variable, but on some yokes with cracks, the performance is reduced below design specification.
Remedy: Dealers will have the drive shaft inspected for manufacturing date and replace it free of charge. The recall began on April 14, 2008. Owners May contact Ford at 1-800-392-3673.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 2 possible defects involving the 2008 Ford E-350:
HVAC Switch Failures
ODI has received 1 complaint and reports from 4 transportation fleets alleging 182 switch failures.Each fleet operates mini buses built on a Ford E350 or E450 cutaway chassis.The OEM HVAC blower switches have melted, smoked, burned or experienced open flame and become inoperable on vehicles in each fleet.Some drivers have reported a burning smell or smoke coming from the dash.One fleet reported a vehicle fire.No…
HVAC Switch Failures
This investigation was opened based on one complaint and reports from four transportation fleets alleging 182 blower motor control switch failures.ODI was concerned that these melting and burning switches could lead to an open flame that could spread throughout the vehicle.After a comprehensive review of all data related to overheating blower motor control switches in the subject vehicles, ODI did not identify the…
What 2008 Ford E-350 owners say
Steering
I was driving on i215 in salt lake city utah at 65mph when I hit a small bump in the road and the front end of the truck began shaking violently and I could not regain control before it ran me off the road into a ditch narrowly missing a concrete barrier and another vehicle. There was no impact, however I am not sure how I kept it from rolling the truck. This has happened to me in three other Ford trucks ranging from 2006 to 2008 that I used to drive at work. And now my personal 2008 f350. I hear that they call it the death wobble. I want to know why there is no recall for this.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Ford f-350. The contact stated that while traveling 75 MPH, the power steering assist failed. The steering wheel became abnormally stiff and as the contact attempted to move the vehicle to the road shoulder, the brake pedal was depressed and abnormally traveled to the floorboard. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer and was told that the lines connected to the steering and braking systems was completed rusted and needed replacing. The contact stated that the vehicle had been parked inside and had not been exposed to the outside elements for the lines to become rusted. The manufacturer was also contacted and advised that the vehicle was no longer covered under warranty. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileages were 17,000.
Suspension
The steering on this van is very "loose" causing it to wander and require constant correction at all speeds. At normal highway speeds, hitting any bumps causes the back of the vehicle to skip or shift requiring significant steering correction and causing the vehicle to be very unstable. Mechanical inspection reveals no failure with any parts. (shame on Ford for this vehicle)
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Ford econoline e-350 sd. The contact was driving approximately 15 MPH and making a turn when a loud noise emitted outside of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who replaced the front driver's side upper and lower ball joints. The manufacturer was not notified of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 24,000.
Body & structure
The side back doors to my Ford e350 12 passenger van keep popping loose while driving. It happens in all driving conditions, whether on the highway or in urban areas. It occurs on a daily basis about every 15-20 miles. I have to pull over to the side of the road and open both doors and re-close. Locking the doors does not help. I have been to the dealership 4 times for this issue and the problem still exists. The dealership has adjusted the doors and oiled the hinges and latches.
While driving, the rear and side doors will pop. It doesn't matter if they're locked or unlocked. They do not come open just come loose. Very worry some. I do home child care. I also have 7 children of my own.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2008 Ford E-350 a good car?
Based on 39 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2008 E-350 rates average: about as many complaints as a typical year of the E-350 at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2008 Ford E-350?
The steering — 12 complaints, 31% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the suspension (7) and body & structure (6).
How many recalls does the 2008 Ford E-350 have?
There are 29 recalls for the 2008 Ford E-350, the most recent from May 24, 2016 (equipment adaptive/mobility). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Ford E-350?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2018, 2016 and 2015. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 1997, 1995 and 1999. See the full Ford E-350 years comparison.
At what mileage do 2008 Ford E-350 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 51,000 miles; 45% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
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.