Recalls (4)
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 1996 Ford F-250. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH/SUPPLEMENT
- Summary
- ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH SPEED CONTROL, GASOLINE OR NATURAL GAS ENGINES, THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH MAY OVERHEAT.
- Consequence
- OVERHEATING COULD RESULT IN SMOKE OR BURN AND AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.
- Remedy
- DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS INTO THE SPEED CONTROL SYSTEM FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 7, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-866-436-7332. (NOTE: ALSO SEE RECALLS 05V017 AND 05V388)
SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH
- Summary
- ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH SPEED CONTROL, THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH MAY OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.
- Consequence
- A FIRE AT THE SWITCH COULD OCCUR.
- Remedy
- BY LETTER DATED SEPTEMBER 12, 2005, OWNERS WERE INSTRUCTED TO RETURN THEIR VEHICLES TO THEIR DEALERS TO HAVE THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH DISCONNECTED. OWNERS WHO HAVE HAD THEIR SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATED ARE BEING NOTIFIED THAT PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE AND ADVISED TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TO RECONNECT THE SPEED CONTROL BEGINNING IN FEBRUARY 2006. OWNERS WHO DID NOT HAVE THEIR SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATED ARE BEING NOTIFIED TO HAVE THEIR SYSTEM REMEDIED BEGINNING IN FEBRUARY 2006. OWNERS ARE URGED TO AVAIL THEMSELVES OF THE FREE DISCONNECT SERVICE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE BECAUSE OF THE SIGNIFICANT RISK OF FIRE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673. (NOTE: ALSO SEE RECALLS 05V017 AND 06V286)
FORD/EQUIPMENT; CERTIFICATION LABEL
- Summary
- THE CERTIFICATION LABELS ON THE INVOLVED VEHICLES HAS INCORRECT REAR TIRE INFLATION PRESSURE DESIGNATIONS. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS NO. 120, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES OTHER THAN PASSENGER CARS."
- Consequence
- INCORRECT INFLATION PRESSURES COULD CAUSE PREMATURE WEAR OF THE REAR TIRES. .
- Remedy
- OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH CORRECT CERTIFICATION LABELS AND INSTRUCTIONS FOR INSTALLING THESE LABELS. DEALERS CAN INSTALL THIS LABEL IF THE OWNER SO DESIRES.
FORD/STRUCTURE; FRAME; MEMBERS AND BODY
- Summary
- THE CROSSMEMBER FRAME GUSSETS WERE INSTALLED WITH UNDERSIZED THREADED FASTENERS FOLLOWING A BREAKDOWN OF THE PRODUCTION RIVET GUN THAT IS GENERALLY USED. THIS GUSSET IS THE ATTACHMENT POINT FOR THE REAR STRAP OF THE MID-SHIP FUEL TANK.
- Consequence
- THE SUBJECT FASTENERS CAN SEPARATE CAUSING IN THE REAR STRAP OF THE AFFECTED FUEL TANK TO BECOME DISCONNECTED. A LOOSE OR DISCONNECTED REAR STRAP ALLOWS THE FUEL TANK TO POSSIBLY CONTACT THE ROAD SURFACE INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE FIRE.
- Remedy
- DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CROSSMEMBER GUSSET FASTENERS WITH THE SPECIFIED ALTERNATIVE FASTENERS (BOLTS).
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (176)
176 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The tires is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 176 |
|---|---|---|
| Tires | 35 | 19.9% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 28 | 15.9% |
| Power train | 19 | 10.8% |
| Steering | 17 | 9.7% |
| Vehicle speed control | 16 | 9.1% |
| Service brakes | 15 | 8.5% |
| Suspension | 14 | 8% |
| Electrical system | 11 | 6.3% |
| Fuel system | 10 | 5.7% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 5 | 2.8% |
How 1996 compares with other F-250 years
Best and worst F-250 years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 119 | 4 |
| 1993 | 130 | 6 |
| 1994 | 123 | 8 |
| 1995 | 184 | 3 |
| 1996 | 176 | 4 |
| 1997 | 304 | 10 |
| 1998 | 56 | 6 |
| 1999 | 581 | 14 |
| 2000 | 326 | 5 |
| 2001 | 220 | 4 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 14 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $4,800
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 635 g/mi
- EPA class
- Standard Pickup Trucks
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 14 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.9 L 6-cyl · 5-speed manual | Rear-Wheel Drive | 13 / 17 / 14 | $4,800 | 635 |
| 5 L 8-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Rear-Wheel Drive | 12 / 17 / 14 | $4,800 | 635 |
| 5 L 8-cyl · 5-speed manual | Rear-Wheel Drive | 13 / 17 / 14 | $4,800 | 635 |
| 4.9 L 6-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Rear-Wheel Drive | 12 / 16 / 13 | $5,150 | 684 |
| 5.8 L 8-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Rear-Wheel Drive | 11 / 16 / 13 | $5,150 | 684 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 1996 F-250 for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
1996 Ford F-250 FAQ
How many recalls does the 1996 Ford F-250 have?
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns: 06V286000 (vehicle speed control), 05V388000 (vehicle speed control), 96V161000 (equipment), 96V146000 (structure). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 1996 Ford F-250 problems?
Owners filed 176 complaints with NHTSA. Tires (35), Engine and engine cooling (28), Power train (19) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 1996 Ford F-250 get?
EPA rates the 4.9 L 6-cyl · 5-speed manual version at 13 city, 17 highway and 14 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
How does the 1996 F-250 compare with other years?
Among the 1992–2001 Ford F-250 model years at least five years old, the 1998 drew the fewest complaints (56) and the 1999 the most (581). The 1996 drew 176. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.