Ford E-450 Problems by Year
NHTSA has 414 owner complaints and 52 safety recalls on file for the Ford E-450, across 32 model years (1995–2027). The 1999 model year has the most complaints (73). The most reported problem area overall is tires.
Ford E-450 years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical E-450 year: 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2016, 2021. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.
Model years with the most complaints
- 1999 E-450: 73 complaints, 2 recalls
- 2000 E-450: 42 complaints, 3 recalls
- 2005 E-450: 34 complaints, 6 recalls
Model years with the fewest complaints
- 1996 E-450: 1 complaint, 2 recalls
- 2009 E-450: 2 complaints, 9 recalls
- 2023 E-450: 2 complaints, 3 recalls
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common Ford E-450 problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tires problems | 113 | 18 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 47 | 12 | 0 |
| Power Train | 35 | 14 | 3 |
| Engine | 33 | 18 | 0 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 31 | 9 | 0 |
| Steering | 30 | 10 | 0 |
| Structure | 30 | 12 | 0 |
| Electrical System | 24 | 11 | 0 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 22 | 11 | 2 |
| Suspension | 19 | 12 | 1 |
| Wheels | 17 | 11 | 0 |
| Service Brakes | 16 | 9 | 1 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 12 | 10 | 0 |
| Equipment | 11 | 8 | 0 |
| Air Bags | 9 | 8 | 3 |
| Fuel System, Diesel | 9 | 6 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 9 | 8 | 2 |
| Exterior Lighting | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| Visibility | 5 | 4 | 0 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Other | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Visibility/wiper | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Back Over Prevention | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Seat Belts | 1 | 1 | 0 |
All Ford E-450 model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 E-450 | 0 | 1 | — | — | |
| 2026 E-450 | 2 | 1 | — | Electrical System | |
| 2025 E-450 | 2 | 0 | — | Power Train | |
| 2024 E-450 | 4 | 0 | — | Engine | |
| 2023 E-450 | 2 | 3 | — | Structure | |
| 2022 E-450 | 13 | 3 | — | Steering | More complaints than other years |
| 2021 E-450 | 27 | 6 | — | Steering | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2019 E-450 | 5 | 0 | — | Structure | |
| 2018 E-450 | 5 | 4 | — | Unknown or Other | |
| 2017 E-450 | 11 | 2 | — | Engine | More complaints than other years |
| 2016 E-450 | 17 | 4 | — | Structure | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2015 E-450 | 6 | 1 | — | Power Train | |
| 2014 E-450 | 5 | 3 | — | Unknown or Other | |
| 2013 E-450 | 12 | 2 | — | Power Train | More complaints than other years |
| 2012 E-450 | 4 | 4 | — | Wheels | |
| 2011 E-450 | 7 | 8 | — | Fuel/propulsion System | |
| 2010 E-450 | 5 | 6 | — | Air Bags | |
| 2009 E-450 | 2 | 9 | — | Air Bags | |
| 2008 E-450 | 6 | 8 | — | Tires | |
| 2007 E-450 | 12 | 11 | — | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | More complaints than other years |
| 2006 E-450 | 20 | 11 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2005 E-450 | 34 | 6 | — | Electrical System | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2004 E-450 | 27 | 5 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2003 E-450 | 18 | 4 | — | Vehicle Speed Control | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2002 E-450 | 13 | 2 | — | Tires | More complaints than other years |
| 2001 E-450 | 16 | 2 | — | Tires | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2000 E-450 | 42 | 3 | — | Tires | Far more complaints than other years |
| 1999 E-450 | 73 | 2 | — | Tires | Far more complaints than other years |
| 1998 E-450 | 5 | 2 | — | Tires | |
| 1997 E-450 | 18 | 2 | — | Structure | Far more complaints than other years |
| 1996 E-450 | 1 | 2 | — | Fuel System, Gasoline | |
| 1995 E-450 | 0 | 1 | — | — |
More from Ford: all Ford models · Ford VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Ford E-450 years should you stay away from?
By NHTSA complaints, 1997 (18), 1999 (73), 2000 (42), 2001 (16), 2003 (18), 2004 (27), 2005 (34), 2006 (20), 2016 (17), 2021 (27) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical E-450 year. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the Ford E-450?
Tires, with 113 complaints across 18 model years.
How many recalls does the Ford E-450 have?
52 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.