vehicle signal
U.S. public vehicle records

Ford ECONOLINE problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

646 owner complaints analyzed

58 distinct recall campaigns

82,320 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1967 to 2026 model years. Data snapshot: . 148 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Vehicle Speed Control is the most frequently named component, appearing in 65 of 646 complaints (10.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior12519.3%
Steering behavior528.0%
Fuel system concerns446.8%
Electrical and battery issues325.0%
Engine operation253.9%
Transmission and shifting172.6%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Vehicle Speed Control
65
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
59
Tires
40
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
30
Tires:Tread/Belt
29
Vehicle Speed Control:Cruise Control
26
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
25
Engine And Engine Cooling
23
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Vehicle Speed Control65
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip59
Tires40
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine30
Tires:Tread/Belt29
Vehicle Speed Control:Cruise Control26
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline25
Engine And Engine Cooling23

Vehicle Speed Control: 65; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 59; Tires: 40; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 30; Tires:Tread/Belt: 29; Vehicle Speed Control:Cruise Control: 26; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 25; Engine And Engine Cooling: 23

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
23
25,000 to 49,999
14
50,000 to 74,999
23
75,000 to 99,999
31
100,000 to 149,999
33
150,000 and above
24
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00023
25,000 to 49,99914
50,000 to 74,99923
75,000 to 99,99931
100,000 to 149,99933
150,000 and above24

Under 25,000: 23; 25,000 to 49,999: 14; 50,000 to 74,999: 23; 75,000 to 99,999: 31; 100,000 to 149,999: 33; 150,000 and above: 24

100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (33). 498 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

1995
75
1996
43
2000
131
2001
84
2002
52
2003
34
2004
23
2005
29
2006
15
2007
30
2008
48
2009
11
2010
13
2011
12
2012
10
2013
5
2014
11
2015
3
2016
4
2017
2
2018
3
2019
2
2020
3
2023
1
2024
1
2025
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
199575
199643
2000131
200184
200252
200334
200423
200529
200615
200730
200848
200911
201013
201112
201210
20135
201411
20153
20164
20172
20183
20192
20203
20231
20241
20251

1995: 75; 1996: 43; 2000: 131; 2001: 84; 2002: 52; 2003: 34; 2004: 23; 2005: 29; 2006: 15; 2007: 30; 2008: 48; 2009: 11; 2010: 13; 2011: 12; 2012: 10; 2013: 5; 2014: 11; 2015: 3; 2016: 4; 2017: 2; 2018: 3; 2019: 2; 2020: 3; 2023: 1; 2024: 1; 2025: 1

Pattern summary

Vehicle Speed Control leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 125 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 52 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 44 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 966428 · 1995-06-07 (June 7, 1995)

ROTORS IN FRONT NEEDS REPLACING, REAR AXLE BEARING PROBLEMS, CRUISE CONTROL , MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER DO NOT WORK PROPERLY. TT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 966428 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 480970 · 1995-01-20 (January 20, 1995)

PREMATURE WEAR OF FRONT BRAKE PADS/ROTORS, CAUSING RIGHT FRONT END NOISE. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 480970 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 504094 · 1996-05-06 (May 6, 1996)

STEERING COLUMN LOCKS UP WHEN ENGAGING EMERGENCY BRAKE. *DSH

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 504094 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10031938 · 2003-08-01 (August 1, 2003)

PROBLEMS WITH HEATING SYSTEM, STEERING, AND PARKING BRAKE. *MR *SCC *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10031938 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 967960 · 1995-06-29 (June 29, 1995)

THE DUAL FUEL TANK SELECTOR VALVE MALFUNCTION AND CAUSED AN OVERFILL CONDITION IN ONE OF THE FUEL TANKS, RESULTING IN AN OVERFLOW OF FUEL PAST THE FILLER CAP.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 967960 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 968591 · 1995-07-11 (July 11, 1995)

GAS TANK FAILURE, EQUIPPED WITH DUAL GAS TANK, PRIMARY TANK IS LEAKING GAS DUE TO HOLES IN WELDS. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 968591 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 983569 · 1996-04-26 (April 26, 1996)

WHILE DRIVING AFTER VEHICLE WAS PARKED 45 MINUTES, ENGINE QUIT, SMOKE STARTED COMING IN FROM UNDERHOOD;OPENED HOOD, DISCONNECTED BATTERY. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 983569 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 801097 · 1996-08-20 (August 20, 1996)

AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CAUSED THE ENGINE TO CATCH ON FIRE WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. PLEASE DESCRIBE.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 801097 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 556115 · 2000-10-16 (October 16, 2000)

THE VEHICLE STALLS SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE DRIVING IN HOT WEATHER, THE DEALER HAS REPLACED MANY CONPONENTS (AIR AND FUEL FILTER, TFI MODULE, VAPOR SEPARATOR AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER)BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO STALL. NLM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 556115 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 730562 · 2000-09-07 (September 7, 2000)

THIS VEHICLE HAS A SERIOUS DRIVEABILITY PROBLEM (THE ENGINE STALLS WITHOUT WARNING REPEATEDLY) AND FORD EITHER DOES NOT KNOW HOW OR DOES NOT CARE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR MANY YEARS NOW AND FINALLY A JUDGE IN CALIFORNIA IS PREPARED TO DEMAND A RECALL. NOW WHY HAVEN'T YOU ALREADY DONE SO? IS IT BECAUSE NOT ENOUGH PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED YET? OR HAVEN'T YOU RECEIVED ENOUGH LETTERS OR COMPLAINTS? THERE HAVE BEEN MANY PROBLEMS THAT I AM AWARE OF FROM MY SUBSCRIPTION TO MOTORHOME MAGAZINE. I AM SENDING YOU A LETTER IN THE…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 730562 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 504461 · 1996-04-26 (April 26, 1996)

TRANSMISSION GEAR SHIFT SLIPPED INTO REVERSE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO 2 PARKED CARS. *SD

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 504461 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 968910 · 1995-07-17 (July 17, 1995)

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE, THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED OUT OF PARK INTO REVERSE. TT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 968910 at NHTSA ↗

Compare model years

Recalls by model year

All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.

Recall campaigns

Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.

2010
1
2011
1
2012
1
2013
1
2014
1
2015
1
2016
1
2017
1
2018
2
2019
2
2026
1
Recall campaigns data
CategoryCount
20101
20111
20121
20131
20141
20151
20161
20171
20182
20192
20261

2010: 1; 2011: 1; 2012: 1; 2013: 1; 2014: 1; 2015: 1; 2016: 1; 2017: 1; 2018: 2; 2019: 2; 2026: 1

Year-by-year records

Ford ECONOLINE model-year comparison
Model yearComplaintsRecallsChange in recalls
196701Not available
196903Not available
197101Not available
1972010
197501Not available
1976010
197702+1
197801-1
197917+6
198013-4
198101-2
198202+1
198325+3
198446+1
198585-1
1986650
198784-1
1988140-4
1989182+2
1990124+2
1991123-1
19925030
19934030
1994854+1
19954740
1996563-1
1997482-1
19983620
1999765+3
2000393-2
20012830
2002232-1
20032220
200502Not available
2006020
2007020
200911Not available
2010110
2011010
2012110
2013010
2014010
2015010
2016310
2017310
201802+1
2019120
202601Not available