14 recalls covering model years 2018, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2026. To check whether your vehicle is affected, look up your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls — a recall may apply only to some vehicles of a given year.
These Ford vans have an alarm that beeps outside the vehicle whenever it is shifted into reverse, so people behind you know you are backing up. A plug in the wiring for that alarm can work loose and come apart. When that happens the alarm goes quiet, and pedestrians or other drivers behind the van get no warning that it is moving toward them. Dealers will replace the connector on the frame wiring harness at no charge.
These 2021 Ford E-350 and E-450 vans got an incomplete software fix during an earlier recall, so the problem it was meant to solve is still there. The engine cover — the large housing inside the cab between the front seats — can get very hot, especially when the engine idles at a raised speed for a long time. Touching it can burn your skin. Dealers will load the correct engine software at no cost.
On these vans with dual rear wheels, the high-pressure line that feeds the power steering is not connected well enough where it meets the brake booster unit. The connection can fail and all the power steering fluid can drain out. You then lose power steering and the extra assist that makes the brake pedal easy to press, so steering and stopping get much harder. Even if your van was fixed under the earlier recall, it needs this new repair.
On these vans and truck chassis, the paint along a welded seam on the gas tank can peel off. Once bare metal is exposed, it can rust through, and gasoline can start leaking from the tank. If that leaking fuel reaches anything hot or a spark, it can start a fire. Dealers will inspect the fuel tank and replace it if needed, at no charge to you.
On some 2023 Ford E-450 vans, a bolt that holds the rear axle rotor to the wheel hub may not have been tightened enough at the factory. If that bolt is loose, the wheel can come off the vehicle while you drive. Dealers will check the rear axle serial number and, if needed, take apart and inspect the rotor and hub. If any bolts are loose, the whole rotor and hub assembly is replaced, free.
The safety label on your vehicle is missing the tire size, rim type and correct tire pressure numbers for the front and rear axles. Nothing is actually broken on the vehicle. The problem is that you, a tire shop, or a future owner could fit the wrong size tire or wheel, or inflate the tires to the wrong pressure, because the numbers are not there to check. Dealers put on a correct replacement label.
On these vans with dual rear wheels, the hose carrying power steering fluid may not be properly connected where it meets the brake booster unit. That connection can let go and the fluid can drain out all at once. With the fluid gone, the steering wheel becomes very hard to turn and the brakes take much more foot pressure to work. A dealer will inspect the connection and replace the power steering lines if needed.
On these 2021 E-350 and E-450 vans, the insulation on the underside of the engine cover may be in the wrong place. The engine cover sits inside the cab near the driver and front passenger, and without proper insulation it can get very hot. Skin that rests against the hot spots can be burned. Dealers will check for gaps in the seal and insulation, add insulation patches where needed, and update the engine software — all free.
A bundle of wires at the back of your van can rub against the metal frame and wear through. Those wires feed the fuel pump and the anti-lock brakes. If the fuel pump wiring is damaged, the engine can shut off suddenly while you are driving. If the brake wiring is damaged, the anti-lock brakes and the roll stability system can stop working. The dealer will check the wiring and tape it or splice in new wire.
The rear axle on these vehicles may have left the factory with too little gear oil inside. Without enough oil, the rear axle can fail and the driveshaft, the spinning shaft that sends power to the rear wheels, can come apart underneath the vehicle. If that happens, you can suddenly lose the ability to drive. On top of that, if the parking brake is not set, the vehicle can roll away on its own. Dealers will check the fluid, top it up, or replace the axle free.
These shuttle buses, built on 2017-2018 Ford E-350 and E-450 vans, use an ASA Electronics Voyager monitor to show the picture from the back-up camera. The monitor can slip back to its factory default settings, and that flips the picture left-to-right like a mirror. A driver backing up could then steer the wrong way when trying to avoid a person or object behind the bus. A free part will be added to stop the picture from reversing.
The brake lights on these ambulances were wired in a way that can make them light up even when the driver has not touched the brake pedal. Drivers behind may think the ambulance is slowing down when it is not, and may brake hard or swerve for no reason. The lights themselves are not broken; the problem is how they are connected. Whelen will replace the brake lights at no cost to the owner.
These are ambulances and emergency vehicles built on Ford, Chevrolet, Dodge, Freightliner and International chassis and fitted with Whelen brake lights. Depending on how the vehicle was wired, the brake lights can come on even when the driver is not pressing the brake pedal. That breaks the federal rule for vehicle lamps. Whelen replaces the brake lights free of charge, and owners were told to contact Whelen directly rather than a dealer. The recall began March 21, 2019.
These Ford E-450 chassis were built into small transit buses. Large U-shaped bolts hold the rear axle to the leaf springs underneath, and on these buses those bolts may not have been tightened enough. Loose bolts can work their way looser or snap, which can let the rear axle shift or separate from the bus and cause the driver to lose control. A dealer checks the bolts and tightens or replaces them free of charge.
Complaints owners have filed with NHTSA about the Ford E-450. These are unverified reports; better-selling years collect more.
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | 27 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2023 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2026 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Recalls and complaint record for one model year at a time: