1991 Ford E-350: common problems

Owners of the 1991 Ford E-350 filed 19 complaints with NHTSA, most often about service brakes and electrical system. Details by component below, with sources.

Key figures

Owner complaints: 19

What fails most often

1 Service brakes 37% of all complaints
2 Electrical system 11% of all complaints
3 Engine and cooling 11% of all complaints
4 Tires 11% of all complaints
5 Vehicle speed control 11% of all complaints
6 Fuel system 5% of all complaints
7 Latches, locks, linkages 5% of all complaints
8 Powertrain 5% of all complaints

Circle size and colour show each component’s share of NHTSA complaints. Schematic only, not a drawing of the exact model.

Service brakes: 7 complaints (37% of all).
Electrical system: 2 complaints (11% of all).
Engine and cooling: 2 complaints (11% of all).
Tires: 2 complaints (11% of all).
Vehicle speed control: 2 complaints (11% of all).

Symptoms owners describe

How many of the 19 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).

brake failure2 · 11%
rust, corrosion2 · 11%
smoke, burning smell, fire2 · 11%
A/C or heater1 · 5%
fuel system, fuel smell1 · 5%
knocking, grinding or other noise1 · 5%
stalls while driving1 · 5%
tires: bulges, blowouts1 · 5%

Components owners complain about

Component	Owner complaints	involving a crash	Technical service bulletins (TSB)
Service brakes	7	0	0
Electrical system	2	0	0
Engine and cooling	2	0	0
Tires	2	0	0
Vehicle speed control	2	0	0
Fuel system	1	0	0
Latches, locks, linkages	1	0	0
Powertrain	1	0	0
Steering	1	0	0
Suspension	1	0	0
Visibility	1	0	0

What owners report

Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.

The right rear tire, (kelly-springfield lt235.85r16, load range e, dot# pjor bpkv 193) failed, causing the vehicle to leave the roadway and over turn several times. . (alabama uniform traffic accident report)
Tires · 2002-07-31 · NHTSA complaint #566497
Fuel pump failed causing vehicle to shut down on several occasions.
Fuel system · 2000-11-07 · NHTSA complaint #555526
Except for the area of the blowout the tire remained relatively intact and did not separate. The ambient temperature at the time was approximately 85 degrees f. No road hazzards were observed or felt prior the the explosion. Tire pressures had been checked 30 mile earlier and were 60-65 psi per vehicle manual.
Tires · 2000-10-10 · NHTSA complaint #733017
While driving in the middle of highway motor will quit. Consumer manages to get it to the side.
Engine and cooling · 2000-08-31 · NHTSA complaint #869236
I have had the vehicle and parts to two different transmission shops and both have told me that this never should have happened. Both the drum and shaft of the torque converter have stripped. I still have the parts and would be willing to share them with ford if a settlement is possible.
Powertrain · 1999-10-14 · NHTSA complaint #713316
Electrical fire, orinating in the gas tank, wires not being fused.
Electrical system · 1997-08-15 · NHTSA complaint #518861
Experienced a fire in the starter solenoid under hood and dash.
Electrical system · 1996-04-22 · NHTSA complaint #983215
Anti-lock brake design causes them to release when a bump is hit, causing extended stopping distances.
Service brakes · 1996-04-04 · NHTSA complaint #502062

When owners complained

NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.

19955
19965
19974
19992
20003
20021

Comparison

By complaint count this model year ranks 8,437 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 23% most complained about).

On average one model year of the E-350 has 27 complaints (44 years in the data). This year has 19, below average.

What to check before buying

Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
Tires. Tire age by DOT code, bulges, wear pattern.

Other years of this model

Questions and answers

What are the most common problems with the 1991 Ford E-350?

Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: service brakes, electrical system, engine and cooling. Total complaints: 19. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: brake failure (11%), rust, corrosion (11%), smoke, burning smell, fire (11%).

How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1991 Ford E-350?

NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.

Should I buy a 1991 Ford E-350 from a US auction?

Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.

Other 1991 models

Read also

Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.