2006 Ford E-350: common problems

Owners of the 2006 Ford E-350 filed 53 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and cooling and steering. Details by component below, with sources.

Key figures

Owner complaints: 53
involving a crash: 7

What fails most often

1 Engine and cooling 25% of all complaints
2 Steering 17% of all complaints
3 Electrical system 13% of all complaints
4 Service brakes 13% of all complaints
5 Fuel system 11% of all complaints
6 Structure 9% of all complaints
7 Engine 8% of all complaints
8 Tires 8% of all complaints

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

Engine and cooling: 13 complaints (25% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Steering: 9 complaints (17% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Electrical system: 7 complaints (13% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Service brakes: 7 complaints (13% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Fuel system: 6 complaints (11% of all).

Symptoms owners describe

How many of the 53 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).

stalls while driving6 · 11%
brake failure4 · 8%
smoke, burning smell, fire4 · 8%
steering or power steering problems4 · 8%
tires: bulges, blowouts4 · 8%
warning lights, check engine4 · 8%
fuel system, fuel smell3 · 6%
knocking, grinding or other noise3 · 6%
loss of power / limp mode3 · 6%
rust, corrosion2 · 4%

Components owners complain about

Component	Owner complaints	involving a crash
Engine and cooling	13	1
Steering	9	2
Electrical system	7	2
Service brakes	7	1
Fuel system	6	0
Structure	5	2
Engine	4	0
Tires	4	0
Powertrain	3	1
Electronic stability control	2	0
Exterior lighting	2	0
Seat belts	2	0
Suspension	2	0
Vehicle speed control	2	1

What owners report

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

Brakes line rapture on front left line in driveway with foot on pedal had had feel of having brakes put van in drive started out of car port got on the down grade of the driveway pushed brake pedal and had no brakes to stop the vehicle I sideswiped a tree to keep from rolling In to to neighbors house
Structure · crash · 2024-12-23 · NHTSA complaint #11632071
Driving about 30 miles per hour began to change into left lane to go around car as light was turning green. Heard a loud sound thinking my tire blew. Suddenly steering went out of van. Could not control vehicle as steering wheel was in 360 degree motion. Hit brakes to stop unfortunately rear ended a lady.
Steering · crash · 2013-03-02 · NHTSA complaint #10501023
I actually rear ended someone today because my brakes did not work!!!!!! I think the system is a good idea but the self testing causing loss of control is dangerous!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Now I have a ticket, a record, 2 vehicles to repair and probably an increase in insurance!
Electrical system · crash · 2010-09-08 · NHTSA complaint #10354414
2006 ford econoline e350, transmission started shifting erratically causing him to lose control. The driver struck a guardrail, entered the roadway again and was struck by a semi-tractor trailer. Ohio traffic crash report# 10-0635-90. Updated 04/14/10
Powertrain · crash · 2010-03-24 · NHTSA complaint #10321993
Dt*: the contact stated while driving 70 mph, the vehicle's engine power failed, but the radio still worked. Power steering also failed causing the vehicle to side swipe a construction sign as the contact steered to the side of the highway, into a rest stop. No police report was filed.
Engine and cooling · crash · 2006-09-08 · NHTSA complaint #10167658
After many times at several dealerships explaining loss of power, shaking and bucking while on the highway, smoke when starting, rough running. Dealers not able to fix specific problem. I stated that when fuel filter was changed by my mechanic he tells me my tank is delaminating and needs to be replaced.
Fuel/propulsion system · 2018-08-06 · NHTSA complaint #11115882
Michelin tire blow out lt 225/75r16 ltx ms2 dot b3jh 009x 4413 inside rear passenger side blow out 35k miles on a 70k warranty 2006 ford rv cutaway e350 super duty 6.8 v10 phoenix cruiser 2400 vin 1fdwe35s2 6hb19410
Tires · 2018-01-22 · NHTSA complaint #11064095
The contact stated that upon exiting the vehicle, the rear passenger side tire tread was missing but still had air. The spare tire was placed on the vehicle. The vehicle and the tire were taken to an independent tire store where three of the four tires were replaced free of charge but the contact stated she had to pay…
Tires · 2017-07-03 · NHTSA complaint #11002864

When owners complained

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

20051
20069
20074
20083
20094
20108
20114
20123
20135
20144
20151
20162
20172
20182
20241

Comparison

By complaint count this model year ranks 5,181 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 14% most complained about).

On average one model year of the E-350 has 27 complaints (44 years in the data). This year has 53, above average.

What to check before buying

Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
Steering. Steering play, power assist, rack and tie rods after a wheel impact.
Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.

Other years of this model

Questions and answers

What are the most common problems with the 2006 Ford E-350?

Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine and cooling, steering, electrical system. Total complaints: 53. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: stalls while driving (11%), brake failure (8%), smoke, burning smell, fire (8%).

How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2006 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 2006 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 2006 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.