The 2013 E-350 with the 6.8L V10 Triton is a workhorse chassis used in vans, cutaways, and specialty vehicles. The V10 is known for spark plug ejection issues and progressive piston wear that can require major bottom-end work at higher miles, while the transmission cooling system is a known weak point.
Spark Plug Ejection from Cylinder Head
Common · high severity
Typical onset: 60,000-150,000 mi
Symptoms: Sudden loud popping noise and loss of power, Check engine light with misfire codes (P0300-P030X), Hissing sound from engine bay under acceleration, One cylinder completely dead
Fix: The 2-valve Triton V10 has thin aluminum threads that strip out, launching the spark plug. Requires HeliCoil or TimeSert thread repair insert (2-3 hours per plug), but if multiple cylinders are affected or head damage is severe, you're looking at head removal and machine work (12-16 hours). Some techs recommend preemptively re-torquing plugs every 30k or installing inserts before failure.
Estimated cost: $400-800 per cylinder with inserts, $2,500-4,000+ if heads need R&R
Piston Ring Wear and Piston Skirt Cracking
Occasional · high severity
Typical onset: 150,000-250,000 mi
Symptoms: Heavy oil consumption (1 quart per 500-1000 miles), Blue smoke on startup or hard acceleration, Loss of compression on multiple cylinders, Loud piston slap when cold that may fade when warm
Fix: The V10's forged pistons can crack at the skirt, and ring land wear is common in high-mileage or overheated engines. Requires complete teardown, honing, new pistons, rings, bearings, and gaskets (25-35 hours). Some opt for a reman short block (18-24 hours swap). This is end-of-service-life territory for many commercial users.
Estimated cost: $5,000-8,500 in-frame rebuild, $6,500-9,500 with short block
Transmission Oil Cooler Failure
Common · high severity
Typical onset: 80,000-140,000 mi
Symptoms: Transmission fluid in coolant (strawberry milkshake in overflow tank), Coolant in transmission (burnt fluid, slipping, erratic shifts), Transmission overheating or erratic temp gauge readings, Sudden transmission failure after cooler breach
Fix: The internal cooler in the radiator develops pinhole leaks, mixing ATF and coolant. Requires new radiator, full transmission fluid flush (often multiple flushes), new cooler lines, and close monitoring. If coolant enters trans, you may need internal trans work or replacement (12-18 hours total). Do NOT ignore early signs—this kills transmissions fast.
Estimated cost: $1,200-2,000 if caught early, $3,500-5,500 if trans is damaged
Exhaust Manifold Studs Breaking and Leaks
Common · medium severity
Typical onset: 70,000-130,000 mi
Symptoms: Loud ticking or exhaust leak sound from engine bay, especially when cold, Smell of exhaust in cabin, Visible soot staining around manifold-to-head junction, Check engine light with O2 sensor or fuel trim codes
Fix: The V10 exhaust manifold studs corrode and snap off in the aluminum heads. Requires removing manifolds, drilling out broken studs, and re-tapping or HeliCoil installation (6-10 hours depending on how many studs broke). Both sides often need attention eventually. Upgraded stainless studs are recommended.
Estimated cost: $1,200-2,200 for both sides
Transmission Mount Failure
Common · low severity
Typical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi
Symptoms: Clunking when shifting from park to drive or reverse, Excessive vibration through floor at idle or under load, Visible sagging or torn rubber on mount during inspection
Fix: The rear transmission mount deteriorates from engine torque and weight of the 4R100 or TorqShift transmissions. Replacement is straightforward but requires supporting the transmission (1.5-2.5 hours). OEM or polyurethane upgrades available.
Estimated cost: $250-450
Fuel Pump Driver Module (FPDM) Failure
Occasional · medium severity
Symptoms: No-start condition with crank but no fuel pressure, Intermittent stalling or stumbling under load, Fuel pump runs constantly or not at all, No codes, or P0230 fuel pump circuit codes
Fix: The FPDM (mounted on the frame rail near the fuel tank) fails due to heat and corrosion. Module replacement is simple (0.5-1 hour), but diagnosis can be tricky if you don't check it first. Common enough that it should be on your checklist for fuel delivery issues.
Estimated cost: $200-400
EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY Recall Issues
Occasional · medium severity
Symptoms: Wheelchair lift or ramp malfunctions, Electrical faults in adaptive equipment, Door latch or step failures on mobility conversions
Fix: Many 2013 E-350s were sold as cutaway chassis for shuttle, ambulance, or wheelchair-accessible conversions. Ford issued 7 recalls related to third-party adaptive equipment integration. If buying used, verify all recalls completed via VIN check and inspect conversion equipment carefully—repairs can be expensive and parts sourcing difficult.
Estimated cost: Varies widely; often covered under recall
Owner tips
Check and re-torque spark plugs to spec every 30,000 miles—prevents ejection
Inspect coolant and trans fluid religiously for cross-contamination; external trans cooler is cheap insurance
Budget for exhaust manifold work if buying high-mileage—it's when, not if
Use quality synthetic oil and keep up with oil analysis if commercial use—helps catch piston wear early
Run a VIN check for open recalls, especially mobility equipment if it's a conversion
Buy it if under 100k miles with documented maintenance and no coolant/trans fluid mixing—but set aside $2-3k for inevitable spark plug and exhaust manifold work; avoid high-mileage examples unless you're ready for an engine rebuild.
AI-assisted summary drawn from NHTSA recall data, our labor-times database, and platform knowledge. Not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on a specific vehicle.
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New England Wheels (New England) is recalling certain model year 2006-2014 Ford E-250, E-350, and 2015 Ford Transit vans equipped with certain model S2005, S2010, S5005, S5010, S5505, and S5510 wheelchair lifts by Ricon. The platform side plate of the affected wheelchair lifts may crack. Additionally, the lifts are equipped with folding link arms that may have pivot holes that are too big, allowing the bearings to move out of position.
Consequence: If the platform side plates crack or the platform mounting fails from out-of-position bearings, the lift platform can separate from the lift and come to rest against the vehicle's lift door. When the vehicle's doors are opened, the platform may fall onto the lift operator, increasing their risk of injury.
Remedy: New England will notify owners, and Ricon dealers will inspect the link arms for damage or for displaced bearings. The platform will be inspected for cracks. Any damaged parts will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began on June 29, 2016. Owners may contact New England customer service at 1-800-886-9247. New England's number for this recall is 16E-020.
EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY · 15V779000
2015-11-20 · RQ15002
New England Wheels is recalling certain model year 2006-2014 Ford E-250, and E-350 cargo vans modified to be equipped with certain model S2005, S2010, S5005, S5010, S5505, and S5510 wheelchair lifts built by the Ricon Corporation. The affected lifts are equipped with folding link arms that may have pivot holes that are too big, allowing the bearings to move out of position.
Consequence: If the bearings move out of position, the stowed platform may have excessive movement resulting in failure of the platform mounting. This failure could cause the wheel chair lift platform to fall out of the vehicle when the doors are opened, increasing the risk of injury for the lift operator.
Remedy: New England Wheels will notify owners, and Ricon dealers will inspect the link arms for damage or for displaced bearings. The platform will be inspected for cracks. Any damaged parts will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began on January 5, 2016. Owners may contact New England Wheels customer service at 1-800-866-9247, or Ricon Customer Service at 1-800-322-2884. New England Wheels' number for this recall is 15E-068. Note: These vans and wheelchair lifts were subject to a similar recall in 2014. All vehicles that received that recall remedy are still affected by this recall as well.
EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY · 15V763000
2015-11-17
Mobility Specialists, Inc. (Mobility Specialists) is recalling certain model year 2006-2014 Ford E-250, and E-350 vehicles modified to be equipped with certain model S2005, S2010, S5005, S5010, S5505, and S5510 wheelchair lifts manufactured by Ricon Corporation. The platform side plate of the affected wheelchair lifts may crack. Additionally, the affected lifts are equipped with folding link arms that may have pivot holes that are too big, allowing the bearings to move out of position.
Consequence: If the platform side plates crack, the lift platform can separate from the lift and come to rest against the vehicle's lift door. When the doors are opened, the platform may fall out, increasing the risk of injury to the lift operator. Additionally, if the bearings move out of position, the stowed platform may have excessive movement resulting in failure of the platform mounting. This failure could cause the wheel chair lift platform to fall out of the vehicle when the doors are opened, increasing the risk of injury for the lift operator.
Remedy: Mobility Specialists will notify owners to take their vehicles to a Ricon dealer or service center who will install supplemental platform support bumpers. Any platform that has already started cracking will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began on November 13, 2015. Owners may contact Mobility Specialists customer service at 1-877-777-5438, or Ricon customer service at 1-800-322-2884.
EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY · 15V729000
2015-11-04
MobilityWorks (WMK Inc.) is recalling certain model year 2006-2014 Ford E-150, E-250, and E-350 vans modified by MobilityWorks to be equipped with certain model S2005, S2010, S5005, S5010, S5505, and S5510 wheelchair lifts manufactured by Ricon Corporation. The affected lifts are equipped with folding link arms that may have pivot holes that are too big, allowing the bearings to move out of position.
Consequence: If the bearings move out of position, the stowed platform may have excessive movement resulting in failure of the platform mounting. This failure could cause the wheel chair lift platform to fall out of the vehicle when the doors are opened, increasing the risk of injury for the lift operator.
Remedy: MobilityWorks will notify owners, and Ricon dealers will inspect the link arms for damage or for displaced bearings. The platform will be inspected for cracks. Any damaged parts will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began on December 15, 2015. Owners may contact MobilityWorks customer service at 1-800-769-8267, or Ricon Customer Service at 1-800-322-2884. Note: These vehicles and wheelchair lifts were subject to a similar recall in 2014. All vehicles that received that recall remedy are still affected by this recall as well.
EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY · 14V706000
2014-11-05 · EQ14013
Cummings Mobility Conversion & Supply (Cummings) is recalling certain model year 2006-2014 Ford E-150, E-250, E-350, Chevrolet Express, 2006-2008 Dodge Sprinter, and 2009-2014 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, and 2013 Ford Transit Connect vehicles manufactured January 1, 2006, to October 8, 2014, equipped with certain model S2005, S2010, S5005, S5010, S5505, and S5510 wheelchair lifts manufactured by Ricon Corporation after January 1, 2006. The platform side plate of the affected wheelchair lifts may crack.
Consequence: If the platform side plates crack, the lift platform can separate from the lift and come to rest against the vehicle's lift door. When the doors are opened, the platform may fall out, increasing the risk of injury to the lift operator.
Remedy: Cummings will notify owners to take buses to a Ricon dealer or service center who will install supplemental platform support bumpers. Any platform that has already started cracking will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began January 13, 2015. Owners may contact Cumming's customer service at 1-800-639-5438 or Ricon customer service at 1-800-322-2884. Cumming's number for this recall is 14E-041.
EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY · 14V617000
2014-10-03
New England Wheels (New England) is recalling certain model year 2006-2014 E-250, and E-350 vehicles modified by New England to be equipped with certain model S2005, S2010, S5005, S5010, S5505, and S5510 wheelchair lifts manufactured by Ricon Corporation. The platform side plate of the affected wheelchair lifts may crack.
Consequence: If the platform side plates crack, the lift platform can separate from the lift and come to rest against the vehicle's lift door. When the doors are opened, the platform may fall out, increasing the risk of injury to the lift operator.
Remedy: New England will notify owners to take vehicles to a Ricon dealer or service center who will install supplemental platform support bumpers. Any platform that has already started cracking will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began on November 17, 2014. Owners may contact New England customer service at 1-800-886-9247 or Ricon customer service at 1-800-322-2884. New England's number for this recall is 14E-041.
EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY · 14V595000
2014-09-24
Elkhart Coach (Elkhart) is recalling certain model year 2006-2014 Ford E-350 and Ford E-450 vehicles manufactured January 1, 2006, to May 1, 2014 and equipped with certain model S2005, S2010, S5005, S5010, S5505, and S5510 wheelchair lifts manufactured by Ricon Corporation. The platform side plate of the affected wheelchair lifts may crack.
Consequence: If the platform side plates crack, the lift platform can separate from the lift and come to rest against the vehicle's lift door. When the doors are opened, the platform may fall out, increasing the risk of injury to the lift operator.
Remedy: Elkhart will notify owners to take the vehicles to a Ricon dealer or service center who will install supplemental platform support bumpers. Any platform that has already started cracking will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began on October 1, 2014. Owners may contact Ricon customer service at 1-800-322-2884. Owners may also contact Elkhart customer service at 1-574-264-5179. This recall has been superseded by campaign 15V-768.
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE · 14V097000
2014-03-04
Landi Renzo USA is recalling certain model year 2011-2014 Ford E-150, E-250, and E-350 vehicles modified January 2, 2011, through February 24, 2014 to operate on compressed natural gas (CNG). In the affected vehicles, the left and right rear brackets that support the rear CNG cylinder may fail, allowing the cylinder to dislodge from the vehicle.
Consequence: If the cylinder dislodges, a CNG leak may result, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Landi Renzo USA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the side arm brackets, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on March 27, 2014. Owners may contact Landi Renzo USA at 1-855-526-3400.
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