2009 Ford E-350 Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Caution The 2009 Ford E-350 has a Complaint Index of 60 and ranks 9th worst of 21 model years, earning a Caution verdict. NHTSA lists 10 complaints and 25 recall campaigns for this year, with brakes, electrical, and engine issues most reported.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 60/100
- #9 of 21 E-350 years
- Verdict
- Caution
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 10
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 25
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 0
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 2
- Injuries
- 0
- Top issue
- Brakes
Top 2009 Ford E-350 problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Brakes2 (20%)
- Electrical System2 (20%)
- Engine2 (20%)
- Fuel System1 (10%)
- Other1 (10%)
- Seat Belts1 (10%)
- Steering1 (10%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires1 (10%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Owners report a fire that started in the engine compartment and spread through the firewall wiring to the gas tank on a vehicle only a few months old.
- A rear tail light reportedly caught fire while the van was parked, with the fire extinguishing on its own before any repair.
- Opening the rear cargo doors is described as blocking the tail lights, turn signals, and brake lights, leaving only the dome light visible to other drivers.
- A spark plug reportedly blew out of the engine head on two separate occasions months apart, releasing a strong gasoline smell and requiring the dealer to rethread the holes.
- A third-row seatbelt was found disconnected from the vehicle frame during a routine pre-trip inspection on a lightly used church van.
- At highway speed the vehicle reportedly lost power without warning after the flywheel detached, which a technician described as a known issue.
2009 Ford E-350 recalls
25 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 16V350000May 24, 2016Other2 vehicles
Equipment adaptive/mobility
New England Wheels (New England) is recalling certain model year 2006-2014 Ford E-250, E-350, and 2015 Ford Transit vans equipped with certain model S2005, S2010, S5005, S5010, S5505, and S5510 wheelchair lifts by Ricon. The platform side plate of the affected wheelchair lifts may crack. Additionally, the lifts are equipped with folding link arms that may have pivot holes that are too big, allowing the bearings to move out of position.
Risk: If the platform side plates crack or the platform mounting fails from out-of-position bearings, the lift platform can separate from the lift and come to rest against the vehicle's lift door. When the vehicle's doors are opened, the platform may fall onto the lift operator, increasing their risk of injury.
Remedy: New England will notify owners, and Ricon dealers will inspect the link arms for damage or for displaced bearings. The platform will be inspected for cracks. Any damaged parts will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began on June 29, 2016. Owners may contact New England customer service at 1-800-886-9247. New England's number for this recall is 16E-020.
- NHTSA 15V779000Nov 20, 2015Other278 vehicles
Equipment adaptive/mobility
New England Wheels is recalling certain model year 2006-2014 Ford E-250, and E-350 cargo vans modified to be equipped with certain model S2005, S2010, S5005, S5010, S5505, and S5510 wheelchair lifts built by the Ricon Corporation. The affected lifts are equipped with folding link arms that may have pivot holes that are too big, allowing the bearings to move out of position.
Risk: If the bearings move out of position, the stowed platform may have excessive movement resulting in failure of the platform mounting. This failure could cause the wheel chair lift platform to fall out of the vehicle when the doors are opened, increasing the risk of injury for the lift operator.
Remedy: New England Wheels will notify owners, and Ricon dealers will inspect the link arms for damage or for displaced bearings. The platform will be inspected for cracks. Any damaged parts will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began on January 5, 2016. Owners may contact New England Wheels customer service at 1-800-866-9247, or Ricon Customer Service at 1-800-322-2884. New England Wheels' number for this recall is 15E-068. Note: These vans and wheelchair lifts were subject to a similar recall in 2014. All vehicles that received that recall remedy are still affected by this recall as well.
- NHTSA 15V763000Nov 17, 2015Other285 vehicles
Equipment adaptive/mobility
Mobility Specialists, Inc. (Mobility Specialists) is recalling certain model year 2006-2014 Ford E-250, and E-350 vehicles modified to be equipped with certain model S2005, S2010, S5005, S5010, S5505, and S5510 wheelchair lifts manufactured by Ricon Corporation. The platform side plate of the affected wheelchair lifts may crack. Additionally, the affected lifts are equipped with folding link arms that may have pivot holes that are too big, allowing the bearings to move out of position.
Risk: If the platform side plates crack, the lift platform can separate from the lift and come to rest against the vehicle's lift door. When the doors are opened, the platform may fall out, increasing the risk of injury to the lift operator. Additionally, if the bearings move out of position, the stowed platform may have excessive movement resulting in failure of the platform mounting. This failure could cause the wheel chair lift platform to fall out of the vehicle when the doors are opened, increasing the risk of injury for the lift operator.
Remedy: Mobility Specialists will notify owners to take their vehicles to a Ricon dealer or service center who will install supplemental platform support bumpers. Any platform that has already started cracking will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began on November 13, 2015. Owners may contact Mobility Specialists customer service at 1-877-777-5438, or Ricon customer service at 1-800-322-2884.
2009 compared with other E-350 years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2009 Ford E-350 reliable?
- NHTSA data gives the 2009 E-350 a Complaint Index of 60 and a Caution verdict, ranking 9th worst out of 21 model years covered. It has fewer raw complaints (10) than several other years but shares in a large number of recall campaigns (25).
- What problems does the 2009 Ford E-350 have?
- Owner complaints split evenly across brakes, electrical system, and engine, each accounting for 20% of complaints. Fuel system, seat belts, steering, and suspension issues were also reported, each at 10%.
- Does the 2009 Ford E-350 have recalls?
- NHTSA lists 25 recall campaigns tied to this model year, mostly involving wheelchair lift equipment installed by aftermarket mobility conversion companies. None of these recalls are marked do-not-drive.
- Is the 2009 Ford E-350 better or worse than other years?
- With a Complaint Index of 60, the 2009 model is safer than the 2006 (index 100, Avoid) and 2008 (index 95, Avoid) model years, but worse than the 2016 (index 10, Best) and 2015 (index 20, Best) model years.
- How many miles do 2009 Ford E-350 problems typically show up at?
- Median mileage at failure varies by system: brakes at 20,000 miles, electrical issues at 35,000 miles, engine issues at 36,004 miles, and suspension problems as late as 159,000 miles.