There are 11 owner-reported powertrain & transmission complaints for the 1996 Ford F-350in NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
FRONT HUBS NOT LOCKING IN, CAUSING LOSS OF 4-WHEEL DRIVE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK CONSUMER STATED THAT THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE STUCK. ALSO THE TRANSFER CASE AND TRANSMISSION WERE GOING IN BUT NO POWER IN FRONT WHEELS. THE DEALER SAID THIS WAS A FACTORY DEFAULT. *YH
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK
COMING BACK FROM ALASKA, PULLED OVER TO A CAMP GROUND, WENT TO PUT VEHICLE GEAR INTO DRIVE, AND SHIFT LEVER WENT UP AND DOWN. CONTACTED THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER, AND WAS TOLD THAT HAD ROUTED THE CABLE WRONG, CABLE WAS LYING AGAINST EXHAUST PIPE, CAUSING THE CABLE TO BURN IN HALF AND WAS NOT ABLE TO SHIFT. *AK
WHEN OUR TRANSMISSION WENT OUT, WE HAD IT FIXED, BUT HAD TO KEEP RETURNING IT TO THE SHOP BECAUSE A VALVE WOULD STICK AFTER DRIVING A COUPLE OF DAYS. I CALLED MANY FORD DEALERS, AND THEY ALL SAID THE TRANSMISSION ON THAT TRUCK SHOULD NEVER GO OUT. I CONTA
4 WD NEVER WORKED, BUT DID NOT REALIZE UNTIL WARRANTY OUT; BALL JOINTS KEPT GOING OUT, HAD TO BE FIXED TWICE, AUTO TRANSMISSION WENT OUT SHORTLY AFTER WARRANTY OUT, WERE TOLD WAS FAULTY TRANS. AND AVE. OF 1 PER DAY THROUGHOUT US WERE GOING OUT, THAT FORD WAS SWITCHING TO DIFFERENT TYPE TRANSMISSION IN FUTURE. TRANS. REPAIR CONTACTED FORD TO SEE IF THEY WOULD FIX IT SINCE IT WAS CLOSE TO WARRANTY MILEAGE, THEY REFUSED. WE HAVE SINCE HEARD MANY STORIES OF OTHER OWNERS HAVING SAME PROBLEM.*AK
FRONT WHEEL LOCKING HUBS MALFUNCTIONED TWICE. *AK
AXEL SEALS FAILED.
OWNER PARKED VEHICLE ON SLIGHT INCLINE, SHIFTED TO PARK, SHUT OFF IGNITION AND LEFT VEHICLE, EMERGENCY BRAKES NOT ENGAGED, MOMENTS LATER VEHICLE ROLLED ABOUT 150 FT, CRASHED INTO POLE, VEHICLE WA SSTILL IN PARK WHEN POLICE ARRIVED. *AK
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED, CAUSING ACCIDENT.
VEHICLE THAT WAS PARKED IN 3RD GEAR WITH EMERGENCY BRAKE ON ROLLED AWAY, HIT NEIGHBOR'S GARAGE THAN STOOD AT A STAND STILL.*AK
CONSUMER IS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE SERPENTINE BELT. IT KEEPS OF COMING OFF AND AS A RESULT, THERE IS A LOST OF THE BRAKES AND STEERING. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. DEALER WAS CONTACTED. PH
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