Problems · NHTSA complaints

2011 Ford E-350 problems

Owners filed 19 complaints about the 2011 Ford E-350 with NHTSA between Jun 2011 and Feb 2024. The most-cited component is tires (4).

Complaints
19
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
3
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Tires4
  2. Power train3
  3. Service brakes2
  4. Steering2
  5. Air bags2
  6. Wheels1
  7. Engine1
  8. Electronic stability control (esc)1
  9. Electrical system1
  10. Structure1
  11. Other / unknown2

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20111
20121
20131
20146
20151
20161
20171
20181
20192
20201
20212
20220
20230
20241

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Tires

4 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD E-350 EQUIPPED WITH B.F. GOODRICH TIRES, SIZE: LT 225/75R16. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO BOUNCE VIOLENTLY. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER AND DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE TREAD HAD SEPARATED AND NOTICED A BLISTER IN THE TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE TREAD HAD SEPARATED AND THE TIRE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE TIRE WAS REPLACED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE WAS REPLACED APPROXIMATELY TEN MONTHS AGO DUE TO THE SAME FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 1, 2017TiresODI 10957801

Power train

3 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD E-350. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, A METAL GRINDING NOISE WAS HEARD UNDER THE SUBFRAME. THE GRINDING NOISE WAS ALSO PRESENT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING IN REVERSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER (WALDORF FORD, 2440 CRAIN HWY, WALDORF MD) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE PLANETARY TRANSMISSION ASSEMBLY WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 23, 2018Power trainODI 11081136

Service brakes

2 reports
“Vehicle is not as described by VIN #, correctly. Vin describes as: 2011 Forest River Limited Edition Value Hauler. My vehicle is 2011 - E350 Ford Van, 12 passenger. The problem is with the brakes. Have had the brakes repaired 3 occasions, but the results is always the same. The brakes go completely end and have to be pumped to stop. I believe this is a manufacturing problem. [XXX]”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 12, 2021Service brakesODI 11424341

Steering

2 reports1 crash
“ALL THREE BOLTS ON THE STEERING COMPARTMENT WENT OUT AND LOST CONTROL OF MY PICKUP TRUCK. I WAS LEAVING FROM MY DRIVEWAY WHEN THIS HAPPENED DRIVING 2 MPH PER HOUR. AN HOUR PRIOR TO THIS MY DAUGHTER DROVE THIS VEHICLE ON A HIGHWAY AND I AM GLAD NOTHING HAD HAPPENED TO HER, THANK GOD. I CALLED INTER-MOUNTAIN TOWING COMPANY IN SLC, UT AND THEY TOOK IT TO FORD PERFORMANCE DEALERSHIP. THEY REPLACED IT AND I ASKED FOR OLD BOLTS SO I CAN SEND THEM TO YOU, BUT THEY SAID THESE ARE INSIDE MY PICK UP TRUCK. WE CHECKED AND THERE WERE NONE. I ALSO HAVE PHOTO OF THOSE IF YOU NEED IT. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE FROM FORD PERFORMANCE IN BOUNTIFUL, UT FEBRUARY OF 2016.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 13, 2016SteeringODI 10906236

Air bags

2 reports2 crashes
“THE FORD AMBULANCE I WAS IN WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. A CADILLAC ESCALADE CROSSED THE CENTER LINE STRIKING IN A OFF SET HEAD ON. THE CADILLAC WAS DOING APPROX. 40+ MPH. THE IMPACT WAS CENTERED ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE AMBULANCE. THERE WAS ENOUGH IMPACT THAT THE MOTOR MOUNTS BROKE AND THE ENGINE WAS PUSHED IN TO THE FIRE WALL. THERE WAS SLIGHT INTRUSION INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT OF THE AMBULANCE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE AIR BAGS IN THE CADILLAC DID DEPLOY. THERE WAS A THIRD VEHICLE INVOLVED. A FORD F`150 TRUCK THAT WAS SIDE SWIPED . THE AIR BAGS ALSO DEPLOYED. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 7, 2014Air bagsCrash reportedODI 10643090

Wheels

1 report
“Unknown”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 24, 2024WheelsODI 11573812
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.