Most common 1996 Ford F-250 problems
Share of the 176 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Ford F-250 complaints by model year
Best F-250 years: 2010, 2009, 2007. Years to avoid: 1999, 2000, 2012, 2011, 2006. Compare all years →
1996 Ford F-250 recalls (4)
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)
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.
Equipment › Other › Labels
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.
Structure › Frame and members
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).
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 2 possible defects involving the 1996 Ford F-250:
Separated front suspension
Consumer complaints report that bolts which retain the axle pivot bracket to the frame cross member can loosen or fail, causing the inboard end or the axle to become detached from the vehicle.owners allege that this could result in loss of steering control, however the complaint data shows only one incident where the vehicle left the roadway following axle separation, with no damage to the vehicle.in addition to the…
Engine compartment fires
Ea05-005 is closed with Ford?s actions in recalls 05v-017, 05v-388, and 06v-286, recalling approximately 6.7 million vehicles equipped with texas instruments speed control deactivation switches (scds).the brake systems in these recalled vehicles generate a vacuum that can potentially cause the scds to fail and, in certain switch installation orientations, catch fire.Ford is also including the entire population of…
What 1996 Ford F-250 owners say
Wheels & tires all 38 →
Tl* the contact owns a 1996 Ford f-250 equipped with uniroyal laredo tires, size: 265/75r16 (na). While making a right turn at approximately 50 MPH, the front passenger side tire ruptured. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was confirmed that the tread separated and the tire needed to be replaced. The tire was replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate vehicle failure mileage was 185,000 and the tire failure mileage was 15,000. The dot number was unavailable.
Two out of four kumho tires have failed with a third one on advisement in poor condition. One tire separated in highway traffic at highway velocity. Extensive damage to vehicle, body and fuel system. Verbally and in writing I asked for an investigation into this matter with no action being taken. I have maintenance logs, receipts, pictures, estimates and all email correspondences for your review. On September 10, 2010, upon a visual inspection, the consumer noticed the right rear tire was getting ready to separate. So, he replaced it with only 15, 979 miles on the vehicle. On September 25, 2012, the left rear tire separated at highway speed with 22,642.6 miles on the tire, the approximate tread was 7/32. Updated ivoq 11/19/12
Engine & cooling all 28 →
Dt*: the contact stated the vehicle caught on fire while parked in the driveway. The fire began without any warning and started in the engine compartment. The contact could not determine whether the fire caused by electrical source or fuel. The engine master cylinder melted. Pictures were taken. The manufacturer was contacted who expressed that the legal department would return the call. There was no immediate action taken by the manufacturer. The service dealer was also contact and the dealer determined since there was no immediate action taken by the manufacturer, the dealer would not perform or assist in repairing the vehicle nor offer compensation.
Tl* the contact owns a 1996 Ford f250. His vehicle caught on fire while he was making repairs to the engine. The fire spread to the wiring harness and burned the high pressure oil line. He had to disconnect the batteries. The Ford manufacturer was notified of the failure. Fords legal department sent a letter denying responsibility , because the vehicle was not repaired by a Ford dealer. The failure mileage was 210,000.
Transmission & drivetrain
Unit was parked and shifter placed in the "park" position. The truck rolled back across the parking lot and came into contact with another vehicle. Witnesses on the scene verified that the shifter was in park but that transmission was not engaged in that position. After this incident, it was determined, by experiment, that the indicator on the shifter did not show the actual gear. When in "park" the truck was actually in either reverse or neutral. According to other sources, this problem, of either jumping out of park or not being in the gear indicated, has been a problem with Ford automatic transmissions in the past.
The transmission gear indicator indicates that the vehicle is in park when it is actually in reverse or neutral. The vehicle was turned off and in park, and it rolled down an incline and struck a post. This is the third 1996 Ford f250 in our company that the shift indicator linkage had the screws back out, causing this same thing to happen.
1996 Ford F-250 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.9L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | RWD | 13 / 17 / 14 |
| 5.0L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 12 / 17 / 14 |
| 5.0L 8-cyl | 5-speed manual | RWD | 13 / 17 / 14 |
| 4.9L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 12 / 16 / 13 |
| 5.8L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 11 / 16 / 13 |
EPA ratings. Class: Full-size pickup.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1996 Ford F-250 a good car?
Based on 176 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1996 F-250 rates average: 1.2× as many complaints as a typical year of the F-250 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 1996 Ford F-250?
The wheels & tires — 38 complaints, 22% of all complaints for this model year, most often about tread/belt. Next are the engine & cooling (28) and transmission & drivetrain (19).
How many recalls does the 1996 Ford F-250 have?
There are 4 recalls for the 1996 Ford F-250, the most recent from August 1, 2006 (vehicle speed control). 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 F-250?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2010, 2009 and 2007. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 1999, 2000, 2012, 2011 and 2006. See the full Ford F-250 years comparison.
At what mileage do 1996 Ford F-250 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 127,000 miles; 8% 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.