The 2016 Ford E-450 has 17 NHTSA owner complaints and 4 recalls on file (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). The most-reported system is body at 5 complaints (~$1,500 to repair). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.
Solid reliability overall. Common issues are concentrated in a few systems.
0
Critical
4
Severe
0
Moderate
Should you avoid this 2016 E-450?
Acceptable — with caveats
Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy.
Reliability score 7.8/10 — above the segment average
4 recall campaigns on file
Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model —
not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.
Buying a used 2016 Ford E-450? Check these first
Here's what this model is known to do — so you can inspect for it, price it in, or
make the seller fix it before you sign.
What to inspect on this specific car
body — 5 owner reports
· ~$1,500 to fix
Recalls to confirm are done
Run the VIN from the listing — 4 active recalls on this model. Recall repairs are always free.
Verdict for buyers: 7.8/10 model. The priciest documented failure is
body (~$1,500) — get the
seller's service records for it or inspect closely. Otherwise an average-risk used buy at a fair price.
We tell you what this model is known for and what to inspect — a vehicle-history report
tells you what this exact car has been through. Smart buyers get both.
A noise, a warning light, a repair quote, "should I buy this?" — get an answer grounded in
this vehicle's actual NHTSA record, not generic advice.
Dash light, leak, worn part — snap it and we'll read it against this car's record.
Photo attached — type a question or just hit Ask.
Answers use this vehicle's NHTSA complaint & recall record — owner-reported and unverified, not a diagnosis. Verify anything safety-critical with a mechanic.
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What owners are saying
recent NHTSA-filed complaints · verbatim
2016 E-450· cruise controlCrash
The contact rented a 2016 U-Haul E450. The contact stated that while in the parking lot and placing the vehicle in drive, the contact tapped on the accelerator pedal, then when the brakes were applied and the vehicle suddenly accelerated. The contact removed her foot from the…
Tl* the contact owns a 2016 Ford e-450. When attempting to have the brake fluid service performed, it was discovered that the reservoir cap indicated DOT 3 brake fluid was in the vehicle. The owner's manual indicated that the brake fluid for that vehicle was type DOT 4 brake…
Tl* the contact owns a 2016 Ford e-450. The contact stated that while in reverse, the vehicle accelerated without any warning crashing into a mobile home. The contact stated no injuries were sustained. A police report was not filed. The contact stated as a result of the failure…
Tl* the contact owns a 2016 Ford e-450. The contact stated that the automatic transfer switch caught fire. The fire extinguished itself and a fire report was not filed. There were no injuries. The contact called an unknown dealer, but an appointment could not be scheduled for…
Had a problem with your 2016 Ford E-450?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free and official — owner filings are what build the federal safety record behind this page.
Estimate your repair exposure
Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
VCI Emergency Vehicle Specialists (VCI) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Ford F-550, 2014 E-350 and E-450, 2015 F-250 and F-450, 2016 E-450, 2017 E-350, F-450 and E-450, 2018 F-350, 2010 E-450, 2005-2006 E-450, 2009 E-450 and Chevrolet C4500-based Type I and Type III ambulances equipped with ASA Electronics Voyager monitors used to display the back-up camera image
The driver may inadvertently turn the wrong direction to avoid an object behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: VCI Emergency Vehicle Specialists will work with ASA to notify the owners, and remedy the displays, free of charge. The recall began May 9, 2019. Owners may contact ASA Electronics at 1-800-384-4400.
National Fleet Services of Ohio (National Fleet) is recalling certain 2016 Ford E-450 vehicles equipped with Roush, Generation 4, Propane Conversion Kits
An engine stall while driving increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: National Fleet will notify owners, and Roush dealers will replace the defective fuel control valve solenoid, free of charge. The recall began on April 21, 2017. Owners may contact National Fleet customer service at 1-440-903-5177, or Roush customer service at 1-800-597-6874. National Fleet's number for this recall is VR.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2016 E-350 and E-450 vehicles manufactured November 3, 2014, to December 10, 2015 and equipped with a 6
If the vehicle unexpectedly needs an extended braking distance, there would be an increased risk of a crash.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the powertrain control module, free of charge. The recall began on February 19, 2016. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16S01. Note: This recall supersedes 15V-710. Any vehicle previously repaired under 15V-710 will need to be repaired again.
Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 7.8 out of 10 based on 17 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2016 Ford E-450 is generally a sound vehicle. The areas to watch are listed in the top problem section above — most are budget items, not deal-breakers.
Should you avoid the 2016 Ford E-450?
The 2016 Ford E-450 is acceptable, with specific caveats. Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy. The record behind that call: Reliability score 7.8/10 — above the segment average; 4 recall campaigns on file. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.
What should I check before buying a used 2016 Ford E-450?
Inspect the body first — it's the most-reported issue on this model, with 5 owner complaints filed. Average repair cost runs about $1,500 at an independent shop. Also confirm any open recalls have been completed by running the VIN, and ask for service records covering the problem areas listed above.
Is the 2016 Ford E-450 a good used car to buy?
It scores 7.8 out of 10 on our NHTSA-based read of 17 owner complaints. The main thing to watch is body. Priced fairly and clean on inspection, it's a reasonable used buy. Our data covers what this model is known for — pair it with a vehicle-history report on the VIN to see what that specific car has been through.
What's the most common problem on the 2016 Ford E-450?
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is body, with 5 complaints filed. Average repair cost runs about $1,500 at an independent shop.
What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?
The body is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $1,500 at an independent shop. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.
How do I check if my Ford E-450 has open recalls?
Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.
Is an extended warranty worth it on a 2016 Ford E-450?
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 17 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $1,500, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans are not always better value.
Recall and complaint data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database, last synced 5 days ago. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2016/Ford/E-450.
Editorial commentary written by ProblemsByVin contributors and reviewed by ASE-certified mechanics.
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