FordE-4502016Overview/ford/e-450/2016/base/
450 platform

2016 Ford E-450

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2016 E.

The 2016 Ford E-450 is a heavy-duty vehicle built on the 450 platform to accommodate rigorous fleet and commercial demands. With only eight total owner complaints and a single recall on record, the model's primary documented issue centers on the service brakes. When viewed against the broader complaint history spanning 1992 to 2027, the 2016 sits far closer to the lowest-complaint year of 1996—which saw just one complaint—than the troubled 1999 peak of 80 complaints. Ultimately, this places the 2016 model year on the highly reliable end of the vehicle's historical spectrum, indicating a notably stable and low-risk track record for researchers evaluating the platform.

Model year2017201620152014

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

Tire sizeLT225/75R16EOEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length174 in
Overall width72 in
Overall height63.8 in
Wheelbase104.3 in
Curb weight3858 lb
Track (front / rear)60.6 / 60.2 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)59/41

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine DOT 4 brake fluid. Torque the oil drain plug to 10.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-6-5-10-2-7-3-8-4-9.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity18.8
Brake FluidDOT 4
Power Steering FluidATF

Engine torques

Engine Flywheel Bolts59 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug10.0 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug10.0 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs7 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Leaf Spring to Chassis Bracket258.0 ft-lbs
Leaf Spring to Rear Shackle98.0 ft-lbs
Leaf Spring Rear Shackle to Chassis Bracket98.0 ft-lbs
Steering Track (Rod End) Bolts66.0 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-7-2-6-5-4-8
Cylinder Firing Order1-6-5-10-2-7-3-8-4-9

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46

Brakes

Brake Caliper Bolt to Carrier TorqueFront: 27; Rear: 45
Brake Caliper Carrier to Hub Bolt TorqueFront: 195; Rear: 166
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.118; Rear: 0.039 in
Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness for ReplacementFront: 1.511; Rear: 1.590
Maximum Rotor Runout.002

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
132 ft. lbs., Step 2: 10532 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; spark plugs every 97,500 mi; coolant every 45,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 45,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 7,500 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 15,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Brake Line (inspect) · Brake Linings (inspect) · Brake Rotor (inspect) · Driveshaft (inspect) · Driveshaft U-Joint (inspect)
Every 30,000 miCabin Air Filter (replace) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace)
Every 45,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 60,000 miWheel Bearing (repack)
Every 97,500 miSpark Plugs (replace)
At 105,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Drive Axle Assembly (drain & refill) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
At 150,000 miDrive Belt (replace) · Transmission Fluid & Filter (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2016 Ford E-450 sits in a period of relatively low complaint and recall activity compared to the generation’s peak in the mid-2000s, when annual complaints often exceeded 20 and recalls reached double digits. With 17 complaints and 4 recalls, 2016 shows a slight uptick from the 5–6 complaints seen in 2014 and 2015, but remains well below the 27 complaints recorded in 2021. The top complaint areas for 2016 are service brakes, exterior lighting, and electrical system, with no crash or fire complaints reported, indicating no severe safety trends. Recalls for 2016 are moderate at 4, consistent with the 2–4 range seen in most years from 2013 onward, and investigations are zero. The data does not specify root causes for the complaints, so the increase cannot be attributed to a known systemic issue. Overall, the 2016 model year appears to be a solid choice within the E-450 lineup, as it avoids the high-risk years of the mid-2000s and maintains a stable, low-severity record.

1
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
14
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
8
Owner complaints
0 involved a crash · 0 a fire

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 8 complaints on record, top 7 components.

Service Brakes2
Exterior Lighting1
Steering,Service Brakes1
Electrical System,Unknown Or Other1
Unknown Or Other1
Fuel/Propulsion System1
Steering,Seats1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

19V271000Equipment Adaptive/MobilityReported 03/04/2019

Mobility Specialists, Inc. (Mobility Specialists) is recalling certain 2014-2017 Ford E-150 and Transit vans modified to be equipped with Ricon S-Series and K-Series wheel chair lifts. The wheelchair lift positioning… Remedy: Mobility Specialists, working with Ricon, has notified the owners. Ricon will provide instructions and materials for replacing defective parts. Owners may contact Ricon customer…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 14 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
SSM 481302019-08-09VisibilitySome 2010-2020 vehicles may exhibit distorted glass with a subtle orange peel pattern or…
SSM 481232019-08-07Electrical SystemFor Ford and Lincoln vehicles that require positive or negative battery terminal…
SSM 479762019-05-10Power TrainOn vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission it is imperative that the converter…
SSM 478502019-04-26Electrical SystemSome 2013-2019 vehicles equipped with a EVDC air conditioning (A/C) compressor may…
SSM 478232019-02-22Power TrainVarious 2013-2019 vehicles may exhibit an illuminated malfunction indicator lamp (MIL)…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific E. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

Does the 2016 E have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.