There are 4 owner-reported suspension complaints for the 2001 Ford E-450in NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
A CRACK IN THE DRIVERS SIDE SPRING TOWER FRAME ON A 2001 FORD E-450 AMBULANCE.
WE BELIEVE THIS MOTOR HOME WAS SOLD TO US WITH DEALERSHIP KNOWING OF AXLE PROBLEM, CAUSING RV UNABLE TO HAVE WHEEL ALIGNMENT CORRECTED. FRONT REAR AXLE HAS SLIPPED CAUSING DRIVING HAZARD. MAY HAVE CAUSED FURTHER DAMAGE TO VEHICLE MAKING IT UNSAFE TO OPERATE. RV HAD NUMEROUS SMALLER PROBLEMS WITH THIS LAST ONE BEING THE WORST. THIS HAS CAUSED US LOTS OF LOSS OF TIME TO TRAVEL AND ENJOY THE RV. WAS ADVISED NOT TO TAKE ANY LONG TRIPS BECAUSE OF PROBLEM. WAS ON A VACATION WHEN PROBLEM WITH SHOWER PAN OCCURED AND SHADE BROKE AND DRAWERS BROKE. AT SAME TIME REFRIGERATOR LEAKED WATER ONTO WOOD FLOOR, WHICH NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.IN ADDITION, THIS HAS CREATED AN IMPAIRMENT OF MARKET VALUE BECAUSE OF DEFECTS IN THIS VEHICLE.*AK
BODY DESIGN IS TOO LARGE FOR E450 VAN CUTAWAY, BRAKES CAN NOT HANDLE WEIGHT. STOPPING DISTANCE IS IMPAIRED. VEHICLE IS UNSTABLE IN TURNS AND CRASHS. BRAKES LAST 20,000 MILES TO 30,000 MILES, TIRES THE SAME.
DURING T WO TRIPS ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS WE ENCOUNTERED WINDS FROM 10 TO 30 MPH. ON THESE OCCASIONS I FOUND IT NECESSARY TO SLOW DOWN TO 40 TO 50 MPH SPEED IN ORDER TO CONTROL MOTOR HOME. I HAD TO KEEP THE STEERING WHEEL TURNED AT 45 TO 90 DEGREES TO KEEP THE UNIT GOING STRAIGHT. ADDITIONALLY EACH TIME A 18 WHEEL TRUCK PASSED I HAD TO HOLD THE WHEEL TIGHTLY, AS THE UNIT WAS PUSHED TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD AND SWAYED FROM SIDE TO SIDE. WHEN THE GAS TANK IS FILLED WITH 55 GALLONS (330 LBS) THE STEERING CHANGES COMPLETELY. THE FRONT END OF THE TRUCK FEELS LIGHT. THE TRUCK WANDERS FROM SIDE TO SIDE. SOME ONE IS GOING TO BE KILLED WHEN THEY OVER STEER ATTEMPTING TO KEEP THE UNIT GOING STRAIGHT EVEN IN MILD WINDS. WARRANTY STATEMENT BY WINNEBAGO: ITEMS NOT SUBJECT TO WARRANTY COVERAGE: CHASSIS. THESE ITEMS ARE COVERED UNDER THE MANUFACTURERS INDIVIDUAL WARRANTY. WARRANTY STATEMENT BY FORD: WARRANTY IS VOID IF: ALTERING OR MODIFYING THE VEHICLE-INCLUDING THE BODY CHASSIS OR COMPONENT - AFTER THE VEHICLE LEAVES FORDS'S CONTROL. THE POSSIBLE REASON FOR SWAYING AND LOOSE STEERING ARE. WINNEBAGO ADDED 4 FEET TO THE FORD CHASSIS. THE PURPOSE WAS TO ADD A SLIDE OUT BEHING THE REAR WHEELS. THIS ADDED ADDITIONAL WEIGHT BEHIND THE REAR WHEELS. WHEN FILLING THE GAS TANK ADDITIONAL WEIGHT IS ADDED BEHIND REAR WHEELS CAUSING STEERING TO CHANGE UNTIL GAS IS USED. WINNEBAGO DID NOT ALTER OR IMPROVE THE SUSPENSION PROVIDED BY FORD EVEN THOUGH THEY MODIFIED THE LENGTH OF THE CHASSIS.*AK
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026