CarRecallWatchThe 1997 Ford E-350 has 5 safety recalls on file with NHTSA.
Owners have filed 79 complaints with NHTSA, including 5 crashes, 6 fires, 9 injuries.
The most-reported problem area is Tires (25 reports).
1997 Ford E-350 recalls
Most common 1997 Ford E-350 problems
Problem areas named in the 79 complaints owners filed with NHTSA.
| Problem area | Reports |
|---|---|
| Tires | 25 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 15 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 15 |
| Suspension | 6 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 4 |
| Electrical System | 4 |
| Power Train | 4 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 4 |
| Structure | 3 |
| Air Bags | 3 |
What owners report
The rear passenger compartment outside and inside door handles broke such that rear seating passengers cannot exit the vehicle and are trapped inside. In case of an accident, the emergency responders will have to resort to drastic time consuming measures such as ripping the doors off to save the trapped passengers. Apparently all years of Ford Econoline vans have this dangerous problem because there are numerous fix it videos all over the internet showing how to replace the cheap handle-latch failure prone plastic parts with non-breakable METAL parts.
AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON
12/11/2019
THIS YEAR BOTH THE AIRBAGS IN MY 1997 FORD E350 VAN HAVE SPONTANEOUSLY DEPLOYED ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS--EACH OCCURRING WHILE THE VAN WAS IN 'PARK'. ON 1/31/18 THE DRIVER'S BAG DEPLOYED WHEN THE VAN WAS WARMING UP IN A PARKING LOT. MY ADULT DAUGHTER STARTED THE VAN, PLUGGED HER PHONE INTO THE TOP CAR ADAPTER, AND ABOUT A MINUTE LATER (THE VAN WAS STILL PARKED) THERE WAS A BIG 'BOOM' FROM UNDER HER SEAT AND HER SEATBELT TIGHTENED. WITH THE SEATBELT STILL ON, SHE LEANED TO HER RIGHT TO SEE WHAT WAS CAUSING THE SMOKE FROM UNDER HER SEAT WHEN SUDDENLY THE DRIVER'S STEERING WHEEL AIRBAG DEPLOYED. THANKFULLY SHE WAS SPARED ANY INJURY. SHE HAD THE VAN TOWED TO A FORD DEALERSHIP, BUT THE
MY VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED FOR ABOUT THREE OR FOUR WEEKS AND I WENT TO START IT UP TO RUN THE ENGINE AND CHARGE THE BATTERIES AS I DID NOT PLAN TO USE IT FOR ANOTHER FEW WEEKS. WHEN I TURNED THE KEY THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED AND HIT ME HARD. ALSO THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE PRETENSIONER FIRED OFF BREAKING THE HOUSING. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER THE INCIDENT. THERE HAS NEVER BEEN AN ACCIDENT AND I CAN SEE NO DAMAGE TO THE OUTSIDE AT ALL. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD AND THEY WILL NOT ASSIGN A CASE NUMBER UNTIL IT IS INSPECTED AND CHECKED BY A FORD DEALER. THE CLOSEST FORD DEALER THAT SAID THEY WERE CAPABLE OF DOING THIS IS BOOKED UP AND CAN NOT LOOK AT IT
1997 Ford E-350 questions
Does the 1997 Ford E-350 have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 5 safety recalls for the 1997 Ford E-350: Vehicle Speed Control; Vehicle Speed Control:Cruise Control; Vehicle Speed Control; Equipment Adaptive/Mobility; Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly. Recall repairs are normally free at an authorized dealer.
What are the most common problems with the 1997 Ford E-350?
Based on 79 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are Tires (25), Service Brakes, Hydraulic (15), Engine And Engine Cooling (15).
How do I check if a recall on my 1997 Ford E-350 has been fixed?
Enter your 17-character VIN in our VIN recall check. It shows open recalls that have not been repaired on your specific vehicle. Recall repairs are normally free at an authorized dealer.