2006 Ford E-450 Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Avoid NHTSA lists 20 complaints and 11 recall campaigns for the 2006 Ford E-450, giving it a complaint index of 84, the 4th-worst among 20 model years. It's rated Avoid, with Engine problems making up half of all complaints.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 84/100
- #4 of 20 E-450 years
- Verdict
- Avoid
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 20
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 11
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 0
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 5
- Injuries
- 2
- Top issue
- Engine
Top 2006 Ford E-450 problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Engine10 (50%)
- Electrical System3 (15%)
- Fuel System3 (15%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires3 (15%)
- Brakes2 (10%)
- Other2 (10%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Engine compartment fires ignited while parked, in one case starting from smoke and destroying the vehicle.
- Wiring harness near the alternator caught fire, damaging the alternator, glow plug wiring, and nearby hoses and belts.
- A seat computer module shorted out and started a fire in an ambulance application.
- Engine fails to start or stalls during rainy weather and will not restart until towed to a dealer.
- Engine quits without warning at highway speeds, cutting steering and brake assist, sometimes repeating at different mileages.
- Rear spring roll-through bolts broke on shuttle bus applications with less than 50,000 miles, and gas tanks showed delamination that caused stalling near intersections.
2006 Ford E-450 recalls
11 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
2006 compared with other E-450 years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2006 Ford E-450 reliable?
- Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2006 E-450 ranks 4th worst out of 20 model years with a complaint index of 84 and is rated Avoid. Engine problems account for half of its 20 complaints.
- What are the most common problems with the 2006 Ford E-450?
- Engine issues make up 50% of complaints, including stalling and no-start conditions, some with a median failure mileage of 24,731. Electrical system, fuel system, and suspension complaints each make up 15% of the total.
- Does the 2006 Ford E-450 have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists 11 recall campaigns for the 2006 E-450, mostly involving third-party wheelchair lift installers like Ricon, Braun, and Colonial rather than Ford factory defects.
- How does the 2006 E-450 compare to other years?
- The 2006 model's complaint index of 84 is worse than most other E-450 years; only 2005 (95) and 2021 (100) score higher. Years like 2014, 2015, and 2018 earned a Best verdict with much lower complaint indexes.
- Were there fires reported in the 2006 Ford E-450?
- NHTSA recorded 5 fire-related complaints for the 2006 E-450, including engine compartment fires and a wiring harness fire near the alternator.