1996 Ford F-250 SD Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other F-250 SD years
- Far fewer complaints than other years 29th of 32 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 1 recall: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 11 complaints with NHTSA about the 1996 Ford F-250 SD. That ranks 29th out of 32 F-250 SD model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is engine and engine cooling (4 complaints, 36%), typically at around 93,538 miles. Complaints mention 2 fires. There is 1 safety recall covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation involving it.
- 11owner complaints
- 1safety recalls
- 1NHTSA investigations
- 0complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1996 Ford F-250 SD problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 4 | 36% | 93,538 | — | — |
| Tires | 2 | 18% | 145,782 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 | 18% | 131,000 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 1 | 9% | 104,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Diesel | 1 | 9% | 230,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 1 | 9% | 100,700 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1996 Ford F-250 SD recalls (1)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Vehicle speed control
Problem: Ford is recalling model years 1995-2003 windstar, 2000-2003 excursion diesel, 1993-1997 and 1999-2003 f-250 sd through f-550 sd diesel, 1992-2003 e-150 through e-550, 1995-2002 explorer, 1997 and 2002 mercury mountaineer, 1995-1997 and 2001-2003 ranger, and 1994 f53 vehicles equipped with the texas instruments speed control deactivation switch (scds). The scds may leak internally and then overheat, smoke, or burn.
Risk: A vehicle fire could occur with or without the engine running.
Fix: Ford will notify owners that dealers will install a fused wiring harness in line with the scds. On 1999-2003 windstar vehicles with a leaking scds, dealers will also inspect the abs control module connector and repair as necessary. Repairs will be completed free of charge. The safety recall began on october 27, 2009. Owners may contact ford at 1-888-222-2751.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Engine compartment fires (EA05005) — opened Mar 22, 2005, closed Aug 2, 2006, led to recall 05V388000.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
Kumho kl78 245/75r16 load range e tire. Purchased a set of kl78 tires in november 2011 for my 3/4 truck. Since the time of purchase i have put less than 20,000 miles on the truck / tires. Three of the tires have developed large deformation across the tread cap, like a bulge. This is a manufacturing…
Tl* the contact owns a 1996 ford f-250 super duty. The contact stated that the speed control deactivation switch became oily and started leaking brake fluid. The vehicle was taken to a dealer for diagnosis and the contact was informed that the speed control deactivation switch would need to be…
Ply separation. Tire store confirmed they were aware of other occurrences. There's no section to report type in form so i will here. Type apt. M&s lt235/85/r16. Other i.d. Info.120/116q. *tr
Tl*the contact owns a 1996 ford f250. The contact stated that the filter housing cracked and leaked diesel fluid from the top of the engine down into the vehicle. He was concerned that the leak could cause a fire. An independent mechanic assumed that the fuel pump was causing the leak. After the…
While driving in traffic my camshaft position sensor failed without warning causing my diesel engine to shut off, leaving me with no steering and braking ability. This action almost caused a traffic accident. My truck was towed to my local repair shop and the camshaft position sensor was replaced…
Other Ford F-250 SD years
← 1995 F-250 SD · 1997 F-250 SD →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 F-250 SD | 9 | 6 |
| 2025 F-250 SD | 17 | 7 |
| 2024 F-250 SD | 40 | 4 |
| 2023 F-250 SD | 43 | 16 |
| 2022 F-250 SD | 126 | 17 |
| 2021 F-250 SD | 166 | 12 |
| 2020 F-250 SD | 265 | 14 |
| 2019 F-250 SD | 1,164 | 11 |
| 2018 F-250 SD | 398 | 9 |
| 2017 F-250 SD | 1,155 | 14 |
| 2016 F-250 SD | 290 | 3 |
| 2015 F-250 SD | 296 | 2 |
| 2014 F-250 SD | 26 | 0 |
| 2013 F-250 SD | 21 | 0 |
| 2012 F-250 SD | 57 | 0 |
| 2011 F-250 SD | 122 | 0 |
| 2010 F-250 SD | 32 | 0 |
| 2009 F-250 SD | 23 | 0 |
| 2008 F-250 SD | 141 | 0 |
| 2007 F-250 SD | 54 | 1 |
| 2006 F-250 SD | 274 | 1 |
| 2005 F-250 SD | 295 | 3 |
| 2004 F-250 SD | 254 | 2 |
| 2003 F-250 SD | 178 | 4 |
| 2002 F-250 SD | 245 | 3 |
| 2001 F-250 SD | 288 | 2 |
| 2000 F-250 SD | 233 | 2 |
| 1999 F-250 SD | 249 | 2 |
| 1998 F-250 SD | 1 | 1 |
| 1997 F-250 SD | 39 | 2 |
| 1996 | 11 | 1 |
| 1995 F-250 SD | 9 | 1 |
See all Ford F-250 SD problems by year, every Ford model, or the Ford VIN decoder.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1996 Ford F-250 SD?
Owners most often report engine and engine cooling, tires, vehicle speed control problems. The top one, engine and engine cooling, accounts for 4 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1996 Ford F-250 SD?
Yes, 1 safety recall. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 1996 Ford F-250 SD a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other F-250 SD model years, the 1996 has far fewer complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.