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Ford E-250 — Years to Avoid

Reliability breakdown of every Ford E-250 model year. Based on NHTSA owner complaints, federal recalls, and safety investigations.

Model Years
49
Years to Avoid
2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 1997
Best Years
2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 1982, 1981, 1980, 1979, 1977, 1976, 1975
2023
0 complaints1 recalls21 TSBs
2022
1 complaints0 recalls32 TSBs
2021
0 complaints0 recalls34 TSBs
2020Best Year
0 complaints0 recalls5 TSBs
2019Best Year
0 complaints0 recalls1 TSBs
2018Best Year
0 complaints0 recalls1 TSBs
2017Best Year
3 complaints0 recalls21 TSBs
2016Best Year
2 complaints0 recalls21 TSBs
2015Best Year
0 complaints0 recalls23 TSBs
2014
7 complaints11 recalls25 TSBs
2013
13 complaints10 recalls29 TSBs
2012
13 complaints11 recalls24 TSBs
2011
9 complaints17 recalls28 TSBs
2010
12 complaints12 recalls29 TSBs
2009
2 complaints18 recalls24 TSBs
2008
10 complaints21 recalls1 invest.16 TSBs
2007Avoid
7 complaints26 recalls1 invest.13 TSBs
2006Avoid
16 complaints30 recalls1 invest.47 TSBs
2005Avoid
12 complaints10 recalls1 invest.56 TSBs
2004Avoid
14 complaints18 recalls2 invest.69 TSBs
2003
22 complaints7 recalls2 invest.15 TSBs
2002
18 complaints4 recalls2 invest.13 TSBs
2001
18 complaints3 recalls2 invest.21 TSBs
2000
21 complaints4 recalls2 invest.30 TSBs
1999
56 complaints5 recalls2 invest.32 TSBs
1998
30 complaints4 recalls2 invest.30 TSBs
1997Avoid
31 complaints3 recalls3 invest.63 TSBs
1996
24 complaints3 recalls49 TSBs
1995
19 complaints3 recalls47 TSBs
1994
14 complaints3 recalls1 invest.39 TSBs
1993
7 complaints3 recalls1 invest.9 TSBs
1992
30 complaints3 recalls3 invest.7 TSBs
1991
11 complaints1 recalls5 invest.5 TSBs
1990
4 complaints2 recalls6 invest.5 TSBs
1989
7 complaints2 recalls5 invest.5 TSBs
1988
2 complaints0 recalls4 invest.4 TSBs
1987
0 complaints2 recalls3 invest.4 TSBs
1986
0 complaints3 recalls4 invest.4 TSBs
1985
4 complaints5 recalls4 invest.3 TSBs
1984
2 complaints6 recalls3 invest.3 TSBs
1983
0 complaints6 recalls1 invest.4 TSBs
1982Best Year
0 complaints3 recalls1 invest.2 TSBs
1981Best Year
0 complaints1 recalls1 invest.2 TSBs
1980Best Year
1 complaints2 recalls1 invest.1 TSBs
1979Best Year
1 complaints4 recalls1 invest.
1978
1 complaints6 recalls1 invest.
1977Best Year
0 complaints2 recalls
1976Best Year
0 complaints2 recalls
1975Best Year
0 complaints5 recalls

How we calculate this

Each year receives a composite risk score based on NHTSA owner complaints, federal recalls, safety investigations, and technical service bulletins. Years scoring more than 2x the model's average are flagged as “years to avoid.” Years in the lowest risk bracket are marked as “best years.” All data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Which Ford E-250 Years Should You Avoid?

Based on federal safety data, the 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 1997 Ford E-250 are the most problematic years, with significantly higher rates of owner complaints, recalls, and safety investigations compared to other model years.

If you're shopping for a used Ford E-250, consider the 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 1982, 1981, 1980, 1979, 1977, 1976, 1975 model years — these have the fewest reported issues relative to other years.

49 model years analyzed