YearToAvoid

2006 Ford E-450 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

84/100

#4 most-complained of 20 E-450 years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2006 Ford E-450 has 20 owner complaints and 11 safety recalls on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 84 out of 100 — #4 highest of 20 E-450 model years (verdict: Avoid). The most reported problem area is engine (10 complaints, 50% of the total). Complaints report 5 fires and 2 injuries.

Complaints
20
Recalls
11
Crashes / fires
0 / 5
Injuries / deaths
2 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
—

Top 2006 Ford E-450 problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Engine10 (50%)
  2. Electrical System3 (15%)
  3. Fuel System3 (15%)
  4. Suspension, Wheels & Tires3 (15%)
  5. Brakes2 (10%)
  6. Other2 (10%)
2006 Ford E-450 complaints: complaints filed per month4Jan 2007May 2008Jun 2009Dec 2010Sep 2012Oct 2014
23 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jan 2007 to May 2022; peak May 2008 (4).

2006 Ford E-450 recalls

11 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 19V401000May 29, 2019Other22 vehicles

    Equipment

    VCI Emergency Vehicle Specialists (VCI) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Ford F-550, 2014 E-350 and E-450, 2015 F-250 and F-450, 2016 E-450, 2017 E-350, F-450 and E-450, 2018 F-350, 2010 E-450, 2005-2006 E-450, 2009 E-450 and Chevrolet C4500-based Type I and Type III ambulances equipped with ASA Electronics Voyager monitors used to display the back-up camera image. The monitors may unexpectedly revert back to the factory default settings which may cause the camera image to be reversed.

    Risk: The driver may inadvertently turn the wrong direction to avoid an object behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: VCI Emergency Vehicle Specialists will work with ASA to notify the owners, and remedy the displays, free of charge. The recall began May 9, 2019. Owners may contact ASA Electronics at 1-800-384-4400.

  2. NHTSA 15V112000Feb 25, 2015Other117 vehicles

    Equipment adaptive/mobility

    Farber Specialty Vehicles (Farber) is recalling various specialty vehicles modified by Farber and equipped with 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.

    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.

    Remedy: Farber 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 March 24, 2015. Owners may contact Farber customer service at 1-800-331-3188, or Ricon customer service at 1-800-322-2884. Farber's number for this recall is 14E-041.

  3. NHTSA 14V595000Sep 24, 2014Other437 vehicles

    Equipment adaptive/mobility

    Elkhart Coach (Elkhart) is recalling certain model year 2006-2014 Ford E-350 and Ford E-450 vehicles manufactured January 1, 2006, to May 1, 2014 and 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.

    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.

    Remedy: Elkhart will notify owners to take the 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 October 1, 2014. Owners may contact Ricon customer service at 1-800-322-2884. Owners may also contact Elkhart customer service at 1-574-264-5179. This recall has been superseded by campaign 15V-768.

See all 11 recalls for the 2006 Ford E-450 →

2006 compared with other E-450 years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2005Avoid95346—
2006Avoid842011—
2007Caution741211—
2008Best1168—

All Ford E-450 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2006 Ford E-450 a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2006 Ford E-450 ranks #4 of 20 among E-450 model years (Complaint Index 84/100, verdict: Avoid). It has 20 complaints and 11 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2006 Ford E-450?
The most reported problem areas are engine (10 complaints), electrical system (3 complaints), and fuel system (3 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 35,000 miles.
Does the 2006 Ford E-450 have any recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 11 recall campaigns for the 2006 Ford E-450, most recently reported 2019, covering other and visibility & wipers.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.