Is the 2004 Ford E-250 reliable?

There isn't enough NHTSA complaint data on file yet to give this model year a verdict.

What are the most common problems with the 2004 Ford E-250?

The most-reported component is electrical system, accounting for 38% of complaints on file.

How many recalls does the 2004 Ford E-250 have?

18 recalls on file for this model year.

2004 Ford E-250

○ Not enough data

2004 Ford E-250
RENDERED 2026-11-01T15:53:15.619Z

Only 8 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.

This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.

Only 8 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict. The data below is complete but unranked.

How is this computed?

Complaints: 8
Recalls: 18
Investigations: 2
Top problem: —

Complaints per year

2004: 8 complaints

View as data table

Year	Complaints
1990	1
1991	8
1992	14
1993	7
1994	11
1995	15
1996	20
1997	24
1998	16
1999	31
2000	18
2001	18
2002	17
2003	17
2004	8
2005	11
2006	11
2007	6
2008	6
2009	2
2010	9
2011	6
2012	8
2013	11
2014	7
2015	0
2016	1
2017	2
2022	1
2023	0

Known problem areas

Only 8 complaints on file for this model year — too few to rank by share. Raw counts only, below.

Electrical system

3 of 8 total reports mention: electrical system, most commonly citing wiring and ignition.

Show complaint excerpts

The contact owns a 2004 Ford E-250. The contact stated while driving 45 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled.

NHTSA ODI report, 2022-02-09

Service brakes

2 of 8 total reports mention: service brakes, most commonly citing hydraulic.

Show complaint excerpts

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Ford E250. The contact stated that the glue that held the emergency brake pad separated from the pedal. The contact stated he tried to use the emergency brake but it was inoperable.

NHTSA ODI report, 2012-11-20

Vehicle speed control

1 of 8 total reports mentions: vehicle speed control.

Steering

1 of 8 total reports mentions: steering, most commonly citing shaft pitman.

Show complaint excerpts

While driving at any speed and when turning the steering wheel column will not come back to the original position. Dealer examined the vehicle, and replaced the steering gear box. Several days later, check engine light came on.

NHTSA ODI report, 2004-02-09

Also filed under Exterior lighting and interior lighting

Seats

1 of 8 total reports mentions: seats.

Safety timeline

18 recalls · 2 investigations · oldest first

To check one car, enter its VIN on the NHTSA recall page. Check a VIN →

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2004-08-23Equipment adaptive/mobility04V589000 On certain vans built on Ford E250/E350 chassis and equipped with sure-lok wheelchair securement systems, the sprocket teeth of the retractor assembly is out of alignment.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the wheelchair securement retractors as necessary. Sure-lok is conducting the owner notification and remedy for this campaign. Owners should contact sure-lock at…

Check if this car was fixed →
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2004-09-27Engine and engine cooling04V445000 On certain vans, the air filter element material process resulted in an air filter paper element that can smolder or burn. This change in filter paper composition combined with the configuration of…

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the air filter element. The recall began September 27, 2004. Owners should contact Ford at 1-800-392-3673. Also Ford is extending the limited warranty (For a…

Check if this car was fixed →
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2004-10-15Electrical system04V444000 On certain vans, a diode in the anti-lock braking system (ABS) module may experience an electrical short.

Remedy: Dealers will install a new fuse in the ABS circuit and install a heat shield over the ABS module. The recall began on October 15, 2004. Owners should contact Ford at 1-800-392-3673. Also Ford…

Check if this car was fixed →
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2005-09-22Defect petitionClosed 2006-01-04 Spark plug ejection from cylinder head
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2006-08-04Fuel system, gasoline06E056000 Certain aftermarket fuel filters sold under the purolator brand name, p/n F65277, shipped from January 16 through June 2, 2006, for use on the above listed passenger vehicles. Due to incorrect…

Remedy: Ufi will notify owners and replace the filters free of charge. The recall began on August 4, 2006. Owners may contact ufi filters USA at 800-230-5876.

Check if this car was fixed →
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2009-03-27Equipment adaptive/mobility09V100000 Van conversions is recalling 52 my 2004-2007 Ford e-150, E-250 E-350 and my 2006 GM savanna 3500 vans built on Ford and GM chassis and equipped with ricon platform style wheelchair lifts. These…

Remedy: Van conversions is working with ricon to correct the wheelchair lifts free of charge (Please see 07E097). Owners may contact ricon at 1-818-267-3000 or van conversions at 610-837-0707.

Check if this car was fixed →
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2009-03-27Equipment adaptive/mobility09V102000 Van conversions is recalling 74 my 2004-2007 Ford e-150, E-250 E-350 and my 2006 GM savanna 3500 vans built on Ford and GM chassis and equipped with ricon platform style wheelchair lifts. These…

Remedy: Van conversions is working with ricon to correct the wheelchair lifts free of charge (Please see 07E095). Owners may contact ricon at 1-818-267-3000 or van conversions at 610-837-0707.

Check if this car was fixed →
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2009-07-08Equipment adaptive/mobility09V303000 Van products is recalling 8 vans equipped with ricon platform style wheelchair lifts. The lift fails to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 404, "Platform lift…

Remedy: Van products is working with ricon to correct the wheelchair lift free of charge (Please see 07E095). Owners may contact ricon at 1-818-267-3000.

Check if this car was fixed →
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2009-07-08Equipment adaptive/mobility09V243000 Handicapped driver services is recalling 3 model year 2004 and 2005 Ford E-250 Transit buses built on Ford Chassis and equipped with ricon platform style wheelchair lifts. These vehicles fail to…

Remedy: Handicapped driver services is working with ricon to correct the wheelchair lifts free of charge (Please see 07E097). Owners may contact ricon at 1-818-267-3000 or handicapped driver services at…

Check if this car was fixed →
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2009-07-08Equipment adaptive/mobility09V304000 Van products is recalling 8 vans equipped with ricon platform style wheelchair lifts. These lifts fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 403, "Platform…

Remedy: Van products is working with ricon to correct the wheelchair lifts free of charge (Please see 07E097). Owners may contact ricon at 1-818-267-3000.

Check if this car was fixed →
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2009-07-14Equipment adaptive/mobility09V242000 Handicapped driver services is recalling 3 model year 2004 and 2005 Ford E-250 rental vans built on Ford Chassis and equipped with ricon platform style wheelchair lifts. These vehicles fail to…

Remedy: Handicapped driver services is working with ricon to correct the wheelchair lifts free of charge (Please see 07E095). Owners may contact ricon at 1-818-267-3000 or handicapped driver services at…

Check if this car was fixed →
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2009-07-30Equipment adaptive/mobility09V326000 Quality vans is recalling certain model year 2004 through 2006 vans equipped with ricon platform style wheelchair lifts. These vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle…

Remedy: Quality vans is working with ricon to correct the wheelchair lifts free of charge (Please see 07E097). Owners may contact ricon at 1-818-267-3000 or quality vans at 1-480-464-7007.

Check if this car was fixed →
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2009-07-30Equipment adaptive/mobility09V325000 Quality vans is recalling certain model year 2004 through 2008 vans manufactured between August 2005 and November 2007, equipped with ricon platform style wheelchair lifts. These vehicles fail to…

Remedy: Quality vans is working with ricon to correct the wheelchair lifts free of charge (Please see 07E095). Owners may contact ricon at 1-818-267-3000 or quality vans at 1-480-464-7007.

Check if this car was fixed →
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2009-08-31Equipment adaptive/mobility09V298000 R&r mobility is recalling 7 vans equipped with ricon platform style wheelchair lifts. These lifts fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 403, "Platform…

Remedy: R&r mobility is working with ricon to correct the wheelchair lifts free of charge (Please see 07E097). Owners may contact ricon at 1-818-267-3000.

Check if this car was fixed →
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2009-08-31Equipment adaptive/mobility09V296000 Access mobility is recalling 3 model year 2004 Ford E-250 and model year 2006 Dodge sprinter vans equipped with ricon platform style wheelchair lifts. These lifts fail to comply with the…

Remedy: Access mobility is working with ricon to correct the wheelchair lifts free of charge (Please see 07E097). Owners may contact ricon at 1-818-267-3000.

Check if this car was fixed →
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2009-08-31Equipment adaptive/mobility09V297000 R&r mobility is recalling 7 vans equipped with ricon platform style wheelchair lift. These vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 404, "Platform…

Remedy: R&r mobility is working with ricon to correct the wheelchair lift free of charge (Please see 07E095). Owners may contact ricon at 1-818-267-3000.

Check if this car was fixed →
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2009-08-31Equipment adaptive/mobility09V295000 Access mobility is recalling 3 model year 2004 Ford E-250 and model year 2006 Dodge sprinter vans equipped with ricon platform style wheelchair lift. The vehicle fails to comply with the…

Remedy: Access mobility is working with ricon to correct the wheelchair lift free of charge (Please see 07E095). Owners may contact ricon at 1-818-267-3000.

Check if this car was fixed →
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2010-04-13Engineering analysisClosed 2012-03-05 HVAC Switch Failures
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2011-11-28Fuel system, gasoline11E047000 Ford is recalling certain replacement fuel tanks that could be installed into model year 2004 through 2008 E-150, E-250, and E-350 vans and wagons. The affected fuel tanks have an extra obdii…

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel tanks free of charge. The safety recall began on November 28, 2011. Owners may contact Ford motor company customer relationship center at…

Check if this car was fixed →
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Date not on fileEquipment adaptive/mobility04V562000 On certain vans equipped with sure-lok wheelchair securement systems, the sprocket teeth of the retractor assembly is out of alignment.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the wheelchair securement retractors as necessary. Sure-lok will handle the repairs for this campaign. Owners should contact sure-lock at 1-908-231-1804 or mobilityworks at 1-800-769-8267.

Check if this car was fixed →

Buy-smart checklist

2004 Ford E-250 — pre-purchase inspection

Inspect

Electrical system: 3 reports on file for this year.
Service brakes: 2 reports on file for this year.
Vehicle speed control: 1 report on file for this year.

Verify these recalls were completed

Recall 04V562000 · Equipment adaptive/mobility
Recall 04V589000 · Equipment adaptive/mobility
Recall 04V445000 · Engine and engine cooling
Recall 04V444000 · Electrical system
Recall 06E056000 · Fuel system, gasoline
Recall 09V100000 · Equipment adaptive/mobility
Recall 09V102000 · Equipment adaptive/mobility
Recall 09V303000 · Equipment adaptive/mobility
Recall 09V243000 · Equipment adaptive/mobility
Recall 09V304000 · Equipment adaptive/mobility
Recall 09V242000 · Equipment adaptive/mobility
Recall 09V326000 · Equipment adaptive/mobility
Recall 09V325000 · Equipment adaptive/mobility
Recall 09V298000 · Equipment adaptive/mobility
Recall 09V296000 · Equipment adaptive/mobility
Recall 09V297000 · Equipment adaptive/mobility
Recall 09V295000 · Equipment adaptive/mobility
Recall 11E047000 · Fuel system, gasoline

FAQ

Is the 2004 Ford E-250 reliable?: There isn't enough NHTSA complaint data on file yet to give this model year a verdict.
What are the most common problems with the 2004 Ford E-250?: The most-reported component is electrical system, accounting for 38% of complaints on file.
How many recalls does the 2004 Ford E-250 have?: 18 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-11-01 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.