FORD: ON SOME TRUCKS, THERE IS A NO CRANK SITUATION AND IF VOLTAGE ON TRANSMISSION RANGE SENSOR AT PIN 21, IS LESS THAN 5 VOLTS, DISCONNECT THE ENGINE COOLING FAN CLUTCH, ELECTRONICALLY, AND RECHECK VOLTAGE. MODEL 2003-2007 F SUPER DUTY, 2004-2010 E SERIES, 2003-2005 EXCURSION.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2006 Ford E-450 engine problems
severe 9 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $3,100 · see engine across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
9
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
1fire
When does it fail?
Of the 9 engine complaints filed for the 2006 Ford E-450, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Reported failure mileage clusters in the 0-25,000 mi band — 5 of 8 complaints with an odometer reading on file land there.
No new NHTSA engine complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 17 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering engine on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
FORD: THERE MAY BE A LACK OF RPM, HESITATION, OR ROUGH RUNNING CONCERNS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN IDLE. THERE MAY BE TWO TROUBLE CODES STORED. THE PROBLEM MAY BE CAUSED BY AFTERMARKET GENERATORS INSTALLED OR MODIFICATIONS TO THE FRONT END DRIVE. E-350/450.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗FORD: SOME VEHICLES WITH DIESEL ENGINES MAY EXPERIENCE NO STARTS, HARD STARTS OR ROUGH RUNNING WHEN COLD AND MAY BE ACCOMPANIED WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES (DTCS) P0611, P1378 AND/OR ALL 8 INJECTOR CIRCUIT CODES.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗FORD/MERCURY/LINCOLN: VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING SYMPTOMS: DRIVE AWAY HESITATION, LOSS OF RPM ON DECELERATION, DIFFICULTY STARTING, AND/OR IDLE RPM LESS THAN DESIRED. THE F53 MOTORHOME CHASSIS IS INCLUDED.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗FORD: SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 6.0L DIESEL ENGINE MAY EXHIBIT ANY ONE OR COMBINATION OF THE FOLLOWING CONCERNS-LACK OF POWER, WHITE/BLACK SMOKE OR A SURGE.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
What owners are reporting 9 most recent
The engine quite several times, the last time the vehicle was totally dead and wouldn't restart. Also, the emergency flashers were inoperative. *tr
Engine loss of power. Multiple times over the years requiring repairs that never resolved the issue. Ambulance service ended up having to pull from service because of frequency. *tr
Vehicle was started in garage, backed vehicle up and there was a loud explosion type noise. Mechanic said # 8 plug blew out causing major motor damage. *tr
Pulled up to stop sign. When making right turn, onto interstate frontage road, throttle quit working, wrench ligh and check engine light came on. Coasted to side of road. Vehicle had to be towed in to Ford dealer. Was told electronic throttle control shut down vehicle, and throttle body would have to be replaced. Had it happened another minute latter it would have failed in the middle of an…
The school bus was on parked at 10:00 am at 1:15 pm our shop noticed smoke coming from the parking yard. They found the engine compartment and front of bus was on fire. The van was a total loss. *tr
Twice the engine in this vehicle has quit without warning at highway speeds. 1st on 9/1/2008 @ 27,300 miles, 2nd on 6/23/2009 @ 35,400 miles. In both cases the vehicle was restarted as soon as safely possible. This issue could result in a serious injury and/or property damage since there is a loss of steering and brake controls when the engine quits. The dealer has tried to repair but cannot…
Tl*the contact owns a 2006 Ford e450. During rainy weather conditions, the engine will not turn on. The engine also stalls if it begins to rain while driving and will not restart. The speed was not a factor. Each time the failure occurred, the vehicle was towed to the Ford dealer and after a few days they were able to restart the engine. The mechanics have not been able to diagnose the failure.…
The contact owns a 2006 Ford E-450. The contact stated while driving 15 MPH there was a high-pressure oil leak. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed the failure to be high-pressure oil leak and EGR failure. The vehicle was repaired; however, failure reoccurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure…
(2) 2006 e450 series Ford ambulances, engine problems. *nm
Had engine trouble with your 2006 Ford E-450?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the engine problem on the 2006 Ford E-450?
It's a meaningful issue. 9 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $3,100.
At what mileage does the engine typically fail?
Across the 8 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most engine failures cluster between 14,377 and 64,000 miles, with the median around 24,731. A quarter of owners report trouble before 14,377; a quarter make it past 64,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $3,100 for engine repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to engine?
No active recalls currently cover engine issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2006/Ford/E-450.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.