The Lemon Index
200920114th generation
One of the most reliable · most complaints: electrical
Fewest complaints of its generation (4th generation).
8 owner complaints, first 3 years — combined, EPA
Similar cars, same year
2010 Chevrolet Express 172010 Ford Transit Connect 48
Lemon Index: 100 = the average car, lower is better.
When problems show up
Only 6 complaints listed a mileage: too few to say when problems show up.
Questions to ask the seller
- Were recalls 16V350000 (equipment adaptive/mobility), 15V779000 (equipment adaptive/mobility) and 15V763000 (equipment adaptive/mobility) done? It has 18 recalls in all. Ask for the dealer printout, or check the VIN.
- Do all the lights, screens and power features work? Has the battery, alternator or any wiring been replaced?
- Any clunks over bumps or uneven tire wear? Were struts, shocks or control arms replaced?
- Does it accelerate and hold speed smoothly, with no surging or stalling?
- Ford sent dealers 35 repair notes for this car. Was this one done: “Steering wander”?
From this year's own recalls, top problems, top repair bills and Ford's repair notes. Recall repairs are free at any dealer.
How serious. Out of all 8 owner complaints filed so far (every year since it was sold, not just the first 3), owners reported:
“Average car” = what the same number of complaints would include at the rate across every model year we track. Owners report these themselves; NHTSA doesn't confirm the cause.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
Check engine light on? Look up any code →
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 2K to 51K miles (3K to 82K km) on the car (6 of all 8 complaints filed so far listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
In owners' words
Brakes locked up and would not release nor slow the vehicle resulting in crash.
2010 Ford E-Series owner · NHTSA complaint 10519816
Problems Ford told dealers about
Ford sent dealers 35 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Steering wander
- This SKU is a front upper ball joint
- No start condition with an illuminated malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) and a DTC
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Recalls 18
- Equipment adaptive/mobility · recall issued 2016
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 …
- Equipment adaptive/mobility · recall issued 2015
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 …
- Equipment adaptive/mobility · recall issued 2015
The platform side plate of the affected wheelchair lifts may crack.
Show all 18 recalls
- Equipment adaptive/mobility · recall issued 2015
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 …
- Equipment adaptive/mobility · recall issued 2014
The platform side plate of the affected wheelchair lifts may crack.
- Equipment adaptive/mobility · recall issued 2014
The platform side plate of the affected wheelchair lifts may crack.
- Equipment adaptive/mobility · recall issued 2014
The platform side plate of the affected wheelchair lifts may crack.
- Equipment adaptive/mobility · recall issued 2014
The platform side plate of the affected wheelchair lifts may crack.
- Fuel system, other · recall issued 2014
A propane leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
- Equipment adaptive/mobility · recall issued 2014
Over time, and with frequent use, the roll stop latches on the outer barrier of the lifts in these vans may become bent or misaligned.
- Equipment adaptive/mobility · recall issued 2014
A wheelchair occupant may defeat or ride over the insufficiently latched roll stop. If this occurs when the lift platform is in an elevated position, the wheelchair's occupant could fall and sustain injury.
- Equipment · recall issued 2013
The vehicles are equipped with certain Ricon S series and K Series wheelchair lifts with an optional armored pendant cable.
- Equipment adaptive/mobility · recall issued 2012
PRIME-TIME SPECIALTY VEHICLES (PRIME-TIME) IS RECALLING ONE MODEL YEAR 2010 FORD E350 SUPER VAN EQUIPPED WITH A BRAUN CENTURY-2 WHEELCHAIR LIFT.
- Fuel system, other · recall issued 2011
ROUSH IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009-2011 FORD E-150, E-250, AND E-350 5.4L ENGIN VANS/WAGONS/CUTAWAYS, AND MODEL YEAR 2010-2011 FORD E-450 6.8L ENGINE CUTAWAY VEHICLES ALTERED BY ROUCH TO OPERATE USING THE ROUSH B…
- Fuel system, other · recall issued 2011
ROUSH IS RECALLING CERTAIN AFTERMARKET ROUSH CLEAN TECH LIQUID PROPANE AUTOGAS FUEL SYSTEM KITS USED FOR INSTALLATION ON THE FOLLOWING VEHICLES: MODEL YEAR 2007 AND 2008 FORD E-350 (DUEL REAR WHEEL), MY 2009-2011 FORD E-…
- Suspension · recall issued 2011
FRONTLINE IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006-2011 ELECTRONIC NEWS GATHERING (ENG) VEHICLES BUILT ON A FORD E-350 CHASSIS WITH AN AFTERMARKET REAR ANTI-SWAY BAR AND MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 31, 2006, THROUGH JULY 12, 2…
- Fuel system, other · recall issued 2011
ROUSH IS RECALLING CERTAIN AFTERMARKET ROUSH CLEAN TECH LIQUID PROPANE AUTOGAS FUEL SYSTEM KITS PRODUCED BETWEEN DECEMBER 17, 2010, AND MAY 6, 2011, USED FOR INSTALLATION ON FLEET VEHICLES MODEL YEAR 2009 THROUGH 2011 FO…
- Equipment · recall issued 2011
BRAUN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005 THROUGH 2011 PARATRANSIT VANS BUILT ON FORD E-350 CHASSIS FROM APRIL 27, 2005, THROUGH JULY 29, 2010, EQUIPPED WITH CARRIER GENV EM-1 EVAPORATOR UNITS (EM-1) MANUFACTURED FROM J…
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Canada? See recalls at Transport Canada
Every Ford E-Series year. 2010 is highlighted. Lower is better.
Newest year first. Red = worse than average, gray = about average, too new (2023+: a partial score, marked “partial”) or too few complaints to score.
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<iframe src="https://lemonindex.com/embed/cars/ford-e-series/?y=2010" title="Ford E-Series reliability by model year (The Lemon Index)" width="100%" height="698" style="border:0;max-width:720px" loading="lazy"></iframe><p style="font-size:13px;margin:4px 0 0">Data: <a href="https://lemonindex.com/cars/ford-e-series/2010/">Lemon Index</a> (2010 Ford E-Series reliability)</p>Quick answers
Is the 2010 Ford E-Series reliable?
Yes, it is one of the most reliable by government complaints. It drew less than a sixth as many complaints as the average car filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 7; 100 is average, lower is better).
What are the most common 2010 Ford E-Series problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are electrical (38%), suspension (25%) and speed control (25%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2010 Ford E-Series have?
18 safety recalls (latest: equipment adaptive/mobility). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Does the 2010 Ford E-Series have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues aren't among its top 5 complaint areas.
Is there a better Ford E-Series year than the 2010?
Not nearby: the 2010 drew the fewest complaints per car sold of the Ford E-Series years within 3 model years of it.
The Lemon Index counts owner complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model years (100 = average, lower is better). It measures complaints, not crash safety. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works