Most common 1996 Ford F-350 problems
Share of the 130 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Ford F-350 complaints by model year
Best F-350 years: 2009, 2007, 2013. Years to avoid: 1999, 2000, 1997. Compare all years →
1996 Ford F-350 recalls (3)
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)
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 a possible defect involving the 1996 Ford F-350:
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-350 owners say
Wheels & tires all 31 →
1996, f-350, crew cab, 4x4, with 35,000 original miles was towing 5th wheel travel trailer in mountainous area. Exhaust pipes caused the spare tire to catch on fire. The spare tire was new and had never been removed since vehicle was purchased in 1996 used, with 3,000 miles on it. The spare tire was about 3-4 inches away from the exhaust pipe heat shield. ( not touching). Rear gas tank was not harmed due to quick action on fire extinguishing. Driver was unaware of fire until notified by persons outside the vehicle. Spare tire burned clear to the core prior to being removed after flames were extinguished.
Tl* the contact owns a 1996 Ford f-350. The contact stated that air was constantly leaking from the tires. The dealer stated that the rims were defective and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 97,000.
Brakes all 28 →
Stepped on brake to release the parking brake and the brake peddle went to the floor, causing me to hit a post. On investigation I found the brake line to the rear wheels rotted in the middle. All other lines in the area are like new. I have owned much older vehicles without having brake line problems. I believe the material in these lines are quite inferior and dangerous for a vehicle. I had just been towing my fifth-wheel trailer the day before.
On a rainy day, rear brake lining grabbed actuating the ABS system. As I have found, this problem is discussed in Ford TSB 9805a24a. The brake pedal fell as additional pressure was needed to stop. Described as "normal" in special service message 03731. (a nice way to describe a problem that you do not want to fix.) the ABS brakes stopped pumping. The system then appeared as though no brakes were applied. The truck was not slowing down. Either the back brakes and possibly the front were not functioning at all, or all 4 wheel were locked up and the truck was sliding. (tires were all in good condition.) I was forced to put the truck into a ditch in order to avoid the vehicle in front of me. Later testing on a wet surface revealed that I would have been better off to pump the brakes, something that manufacturers of ABS systems advise you not to do. …
Engine & cooling
1996, f-350, crew cab, 4x4, with 35,000 original miles was towing 5th wheel travel trailer in mountainous area. Exhaust pipes caused the spare tire to catch on fire. The spare tire was new and had never been removed since vehicle was purchased in 1996 used, with 3,000 miles on it. The spare tire was about 3-4 inches away from the exhaust pipe heat shield. ( not touching). Rear gas tank was not harmed due to quick action on fire extinguishing. Driver was unaware of fire until notified by persons outside the vehicle. Spare tire burned clear to the core prior to being removed after flames were extinguished.
The existing recall 07v-553 (camshaft position sensor on Ford 1997-2003 f-super duty, e-series, and excursion vehicles with 7.3l diesel engines) seems to be incorrectly narrow in scope. I have a 1996 f-350 with the same 7.3l diesel engine noted in the recall, and had the exact failure described in this recall. I had it repaired at a Ford dealership on sept 21, 2007, and can provide complete documented information from that repair. Why did Ford not include f-series trucks that use the 7.3l engine (such as the f-350) in this recall? Why is it limited to 1997 and newer? There are other vehicles out there on the road (such as mine) that have a similar potential to fail. This is a difficult problem to diagnose; the dealer could not determine the problem the first time I brought it in (January 2007). …
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1996 Ford F-350 a good car?
Based on 130 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1996 F-350 rates average: 1.2× as many complaints as a typical year of the F-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 1996 Ford F-350?
The wheels & tires — 31 complaints, 24% of all complaints for this model year, most often about tread/belt. Next are the brakes (28) and engine & cooling (17).
How many recalls does the 1996 Ford F-350 have?
There are 3 recalls for the 1996 Ford F-350, 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-350?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2009, 2007 and 2013. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 1999, 2000 and 1997. See the full Ford F-350 years comparison.
At what mileage do 1996 Ford F-350 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 106,000 miles; 13% 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.