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Ford E-250 Best and Worst Years

Recalls and crash-test ratings for every model year from 2000 to 2023, from official NHTSA data.

Model yearsData retrieved By Sources & methodology

Short answer

Among Ford E-250 model years through 2024, 2023 has the fewest NHTSA recall campaigns on record (1) and 2006 has the most (29). Recall counts are not a reliability score; they show how often a safety defect had to be corrected.

Quick read

Ford E-250: Key Facts

Model years with data
16 (2000–2023)
Distinct recall campaigns
71
Fewest recalls
2023 (1)
Most recalls
2006 (29)
Most recalled system
Equipment adaptive/mobility (151)

Ford E-250 Recalls and Ratings by Model Year

Ford E-250 — NHTSA recall campaigns and overall crash rating, model years 2000–2023
Model yearRecall campaignsOverall crash ratingMost recalled systems
2023 1 Not rated Equipment
2014 11 Not rated Equipment adaptive/mobility, Fuel system, other, Seats
2013 11 Not rated Equipment adaptive/mobility, Fuel system, other
2012 12 Not rated Equipment adaptive/mobility, Fuel system, other, Equipment
2011 16 Not rated Equipment adaptive/mobility, Fuel system, other, Equipment
2010 11 Not rated Equipment adaptive/mobility, Fuel system, other, Equipment
2009 17 Not rated Equipment adaptive/mobility, Equipment, Fuel system, other
2008 21 Not rated Equipment adaptive/mobility, Equipment
2007 26 Not rated Equipment adaptive/mobility, Equipment, Fuel system, gasoline
2006 29 Not rated Equipment adaptive/mobility, Equipment, Fuel system, gasoline
2005 9 Not rated Equipment adaptive/mobility
2004 16 Not rated Equipment adaptive/mobility, Electrical system, Engine and engine cooling
2003 7 Not rated Vehicle speed control, Electrical system, Engine and engine cooling
2002 5 Not rated Vehicle speed control, Equipment, Equipment adaptive/mobility
2001 3 Not rated Vehicle speed control
2000 5 Not rated Vehicle speed control, Equipment, Equipment adaptive/mobility

The scale of the difference

Recall Campaigns by Model Year

Distinct NHTSA recall campaigns per model year. Years after 2024 are recent and still collecting recalls.

  1. 20231 recall
  2. 201411 recalls
  3. 201311 recalls
  4. 201212 recalls
  5. 201116 recalls
  6. 201011 recalls
  7. 200917 recalls
  8. 200821 recalls
  9. 200726 recalls
  10. 200629 recalls
  11. 20059 recalls
  12. 200416 recalls
  13. 20037 recalls
  14. 20025 recalls
  15. 20013 recalls
  16. 20005 recalls

Ford E-250: Analysis

How to read recall counts

A recall campaign is a safety defect that the manufacturer or NHTSA required to be fixed. Counts depend on how long a model year has been on the road, so recent years look better than they will in time; this page therefore ranks only model years through 2024. A high count can also mean a manufacturer reacts quickly to small defects, so it says little about breakdowns or running costs.

What the recalls were about

Across all model years, the systems named most often in Ford E-250 recalls are equipment adaptive/mobility (151), equipment (15), fuel system, other (12), vehicle speed control (12) and electrical system (2). The number in brackets counts model-year entries, so one campaign that covers several years is counted in each.

FAQ: Ford E-250 Best and Worst Years

What are the best years for the Ford E-250?

By NHTSA recall campaigns, 2023 are the cleanest model years through 2024, with 1 each.

Which Ford E-250 model years have the most recalls?

2006 has the most, with 29 recall campaigns each.

Does a recall mean the car is unreliable?

No. A recall is a safety correction filed with NHTSA, usually repaired free of charge. It does not measure breakdowns or running costs, so use these counts together with a vehicle history report and an inspection.

Sources & methodology

Recalls and crash ratings come from the NHTSA datasets and APIs, retrieved on 2026-10-03. A record counts for this model when its make matches and its model name starts with the same words as "E-250", so variants such as body styles are included. Only model years from 2000 are used, and each recall campaign is counted once per model year. The data does not say whether an individual car was repaired, so check a specific car by VIN.

NHTSA, US Department of Transportation; this page is not endorsed by NHTSA. Maintained by . Editorial policy