1997 Ford E-350 defect investigations

Investigations by NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation that name the 1997 Ford E-350. An investigation is how complaints can become a recall: complaints → investigation → (sometimes) TSB → recall.

• HVAC Switch Failures
  Engineering Analysis EA10003 · opened Apr 13, 2010 · closed Mar 5, 2012

  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 relat…

• HVAC Switch Failures
  Preliminary Evaluation PE09055 · opened Dec 7, 2009 · closed Apr 21, 2010

  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 h…

• SPARK PLUG EJECTION FROM CYLINDER HEAD
  Defect Petition DP05005 · opened Sep 22, 2005 · closed Jan 4, 2006

  On september 6, 2005, odi received a petition requesting that the agency investigate allegations of engine spark plug ejection in certain model year 1997 through 2004 ford vehicles with triton v-8 and v-10 engines.odi received a total of 474 non-duplicative complaints on the subject vehicles where the complainant, or t…

• ALLEGED BRAKE HOSE FAILURES
  Preliminary Evaluation PE02070 · opened Oct 1, 2002 · closed Jan 9, 2003

  Ford has received no owner reports of failure, other than the four odi reports that came from a single fleet in new york state.ford also reports that it has received no field reports and did not identify any warranty claims alleging the subject problem.ford estimates that the 86,910 subject vehicles (that have over 6 y…