IllustrationWHEN DRIVNG THOUGH A PUDDLE @ SLOW SPEEDS, BATTERY LIGHT BLINKED AND ENGINE SHUT OFF. BROUGHT CAR INTO SHOP, WAS TOLD LOOSE BATTERY CONNECTION. I READ ON YOUR WEB SITE THAT OTHER PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM.
1996 Ford Ford Truck
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.
About this comparison →18Owner complaints
Model-year median: 2
0Recall campaignsView recall details →
0InvestigationsView investigation details →
Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.
Inspection summary
1996 Ford Ford Truck
NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 18 owner complaints · 0 recall campaigns · 0 investigations.
Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.
Top reported categories (up to 5)
- Tires: 5 reports
- Engine And Engine Cooling: 4 reports
- Electrical System: 2 reports
- Power Train: 2 reports
- Equipment: 1 reports
Full reported-category list and vehicle report
Recall links
No recall campaigns in this snapshot.
Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.
Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.
How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Ford Truck years →Counts vary with age, sales, mileage exposure and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 4 of 18 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Tires. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
2 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
18 reportsTHIS TRUCK IS EQUIPPED WITH E4 OD AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, WHILE STILL UNDER ORIGINAL WARRENTEE I COMPLAINED OF JERKY AND ROUGH SHIFTING AND WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE DEALER, THAT THIS WAS NORMAL, TO PROTECT MYSELF AT 32,000 MILES I HAD THE TRANSISSIOM SERVICED AND CHECKED AGAIN FOR DEFECTS, AND WAS TOLD EVERYTHING W…
Read full complaint
THIS TRUCK IS EQUIPPED WITH E4 OD AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, WHILE STILL UNDER ORIGINAL WARRENTEE I COMPLAINED OF JERKY AND ROUGH SHIFTING AND WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE DEALER, THAT THIS WAS NORMAL, TO PROTECT MYSELF AT 32,000 MILES I HAD THE TRANSISSIOM SERVICED AND CHECKED AGAIN FOR DEFECTS, AND WAS TOLD EVERYTHING WAS A-OKAY. THE ROUGH AND JERKY SHIFTING STILL OCCURRED. AT 67,000 MILES THE E4 OD TRANSMISSION FAILED. A REPUTABLE TRANSMISSION AUTHORITY WAS CONTACTED, THE PROBLEM AND THIS IS KNOWN BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY, IS THE TRANSMISSION IN THE E4 OD WHICH WAS STANDARD AT THE TIME FOR THIS MODEL, WAS NOT STURDY ENOUGH TO GET THE PREPORTED 100,000 MILES THAT THE DEALERS BRAG ABOUT. THE TORQUE CONVERTER IS TOO LIGHT WEIGHT FOR THE 7.3 LTR ENGINE AND WAS COMPLETELY DIS INTERGRATED, BY THE POWER OF THE ENGINE. THIS HAD BEEN ON GOING EVEN TO THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY. FORD IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AS THIS E4 OD TRANSMISSION HAS HAD NUMEROUS RECALLS AND SEVICE BULLETINS SINCE IT'S CONCEPTION IN THE EARLY 1990'S.. FORD MOTOR COMPANY SENT ME A FREE 24 /24 EXTENDED WARRANTY DATED ACTIVE 4 DAYS AFTER I PAID $2500 FOR AN OVERHAUL OF THIS E4 OD TRANSMISSION. I HAVE 4 OTHER FORD PRODUCTS IN MY DRIVEWAY AND I'M SO UNHAPPY ABOUT THIS I FEEL LIKE MOVING OVER TO DODGE. MY FAMILY HAS ALWAYS USED FORD PRODUCTS, BUT THIS TIME WE ARE GETTING STUCK WITH A HUGE REPAIR BILL THAT THE FORD DEALER AND FORD MOTOR COMPANY SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR.
RIVETS AND BOLTS NEEDED REPLACEMENT IN THE CHASSIS, HOWEVER DEALERSHIP WELDED FRAME INSTEAD.
SHOULDER BELTS MOUNTED TO WALL, CAUSING BELTS TO CROSS OVER THE AISLE OF VAN, BLOCKING AISLE.
OIL PAN RUSTED OUT CAUSING LEAKAGE.
WHEN PULLING TRAILERS THE ABS, ON THESE VEHICLES, IS ACTIVE AND IT TAKES APPROXIMATELY 40% MORE BRAKING ROOM TO STOP. THIS HAS BEEN OBSERVED ON THE FORD AND DODGE ONE TON PICK-UP TRUCKS.
HOLE IN ENGINE CYLINDER DUE TO NOT ADDING CHEMNICAL ADDITIVE TO COOLANT SYSTEM. *DH
DRIVER HAS TO TAKE EYES OFF ROAD TO ADJUST RADIO DUE TO THE RADIO MISSING ITS KNOBS. *DH
Recall campaigns
0No recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
Defect investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.