1984 Ford E350: complaints, problems and recalls

OUR 1984 FORD E-350 TYPE II 4X4 AMBULANCE WAS RSEPONDING NON-EMERGENT BACK TO OUR STATION FROM A STANDBY. THE DRIVER HAD JUST LEFT THE STANDBY AND WAS DRIVING ABOUT 55 MPH AND HAD TRAVELED ABOUT 3 MILES WHEN HE HEARD A RUBBING NOISE IN THE FRONT END AND 2 SECONDS LATER THE LEFT FRONT TIRE ON THE AMBULANCE BLEW OUT WITH TREAD FLYING OFF ONTO THE ROAD AND THE AMBULANCE PULLING HARD INTO THE ONCOMING LANE OF TRAFFIC. HE MANAGED TO CONTROL THE AMBULANCE AND GET IT BACK INTO HIS LANE AND OFF THE SHOULDER. IF THERE WAS TRAFFIC IN THE ONCOMING LANE H…

Owner-reported narrative. 61,845 miles reported. Look up ODI 10088790 at NHTSA ↗

1984 FORD E350. CONSUMER WAS DRIVING 55 MPH WHEN THE LEFT AXLE BROKE. *MC (OHIO TRAFFIC REPORT) *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10190056 at NHTSA ↗

I HAD A 1984 E350 ECONOLINE. IT WAS A FLEETWOOD , JAMBOREE MOTORHOME. IN MAY 2010. I WAS ON THE BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY NORTH BOUND. THE MOTOR STARTED MAKING A NOISE FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I PULLED INTO AN OVERLOOK AND STOPPED AS SOON AS I STOPPED FLAMES SHOT OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD IMMEDIATELY BURNING OFF THE PAINT WHEN I TRIED TO OPEN THE HOOD IT WAS TO HOT TO GET UP. I TRIED TO USE MY FIRE EXTINGUISHER THROUGH THE CRACK I HAD AVAILABLE TO PUT OUT THE FIRE. IF I COULD HAVE GOTTEN THE HOOD UP I BELIEVE I COULD HAVE PUT OUT THE FIRE. IN ABOUT 3 MINUTE…

Owner-reported narrative. 45,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10342901 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 1983-09-21 (September 21, 1983)

FUEL SUPPLY TUBES INSTALLED IN THE AFFECTED VEHICLES ARE TOO SHORT. CONSEQUENTLY, FLEXIBLE HOSES THAT ATTACH TO THE TUBES MAY BE TAUT AND THIS WOULD HAVE AN ADVERSE EFFECT ON THE DURABILITY OF HOSE CONNECTIONS. IN THE EVENT OF HOSE SEPARATION, SOME FUEL SPILLAGE WOULD OCCUR.

Remedy: UPON INSPECTION, DEALER WILL INSTALL A NEW FUEL HOSE OF THE CORRECT LENGTH.

Reported: 1984-01-07 (January 7, 1984)

SOME VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN BUILT WITH IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED WHEELS. THE WELDS SECURING THE CENTER SECTIONS TO THE RIMS MAY CRACK FROM FATIGUE.

Remedy: AFFECTED WHEELS WILL BE REPLACED.

Reported: 1984-03-23 (March 23, 1984)

ATTACHING BOLTS ON FUEL TANK SUPPORTS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN ADEQUATELY TIGHTENED; ALSO, THE SUPPORTS ARE TOO THIN. HIGH LEVELS OF STRESS, WHICH COULD OCCUR UNDER NORMAL OPERATING CONDITIONS, COULD CAUSE CRACKS TO DEVELOP IN THE SUPPORT STRAPS. IF THE FUEL TANK SUPPORTS FRACTURE, THE FUEL TANK WILL SLIP FROM THE NORMAL POSITION, AND FUEL LEAKAGE COULD RESULT.

Remedy: FUEL TANK SUPPORTS AND FASTENERS WILL BE REPLACED WITHOUT CHARGE.

Reported: 1984-10-02 (October 2, 1984)

THE SECONDARY THROTTLE SHAFT MAY, WITH ACCUMULATED MILEAGE, BECOME CONTAMINATED AND MAY STICK IN A PARTIALLY OPEN POSITION WHILE DRIVING.

Consequence: CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: THIS STICKING COULD RESULT IN A FASTER SPEED THAN INTENDED, POSSIBLY RESUTLING IN AN ACCIDENT.

Remedy: THE PRIMARY TO SECONDARY THROTTLE CLOSURE LINK ON THE CARBURETOR WILL BE REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE.

Reported: 1985-05-14 (May 14, 1985)

WHEN FRONTALLY IMPACTED INTO A FIXED BARRIER AT 30 MPH, AS SPECIFIED IN FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD (FMVSS) NO. 301, THE LEFT FRAME RAILS OF SUCH VEHICLES MAY DISPLACE INBOARD, PINCHING THE FUEL/WATER SEPARATOR CANISTER BETWEEN THE FRAME RAIL AND ENGINE SUFFICIENTLY TO DISPLACE THE FUEL/WATER SEPARATOR DRAIN ROD, ALLOWING THE CONTENTS OF THE CANISTER TO DRAIN. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: FUEL LEAK DURING OR AFTER A CRASH INCREASES THE POSSIBILITY OF A FIRE.

Remedy: INSTALL A CANISTER SHIELD, A REVISED DESIGN DRAIN ROD SHIELD, AND MODIFY FUEL/WATER SEPARATOR MOUNTING BRACKET.

Reported: 1986-07-14 (July 14, 1986)

COMPOSITE GRAPHITE DRIVESHAFTS ARE SUBJECT TO OVERHEATING WHILE IDLING, WHICH MAY RESULT IN THE DRIVESHAFT TWISTING AND SHORTENING CAUSING THE SLIP YOKE TO DISCONNECT FROM THE TRANSMISSION. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: IF THE DRIVESHAFT DISCONNECTS FROM THE TRANSMISSION THE VEHICLE WOULD BECOME IMMOBILE WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy: INSTALL METAL DRIVESHAFT.

Reported: 1987-07-16 (July 16, 1987)

FUEL LEAK AT THE TOP OF THE FRONT FUEL TANK IN THE AREA OF THE VAPOR VALVE GROMMET. GROMMET MAY SPLIT DUE TO COMPRESSIVE LOAD WHEN INSTALLED IN THE FUEL TANK.

Consequence: FUEL MAY LEAK FROM VAPOR VALVE AND BECOME THE SOURCE OFFUEL FOR A FIRE.

Remedy: INSTALLATION OF A NEWLY DESIGNED VAPOR VALVE GROMMET.

Reported: 1987-07-21 (July 21, 1987)

EXPULSION OF FUEL DUE TO OVERPRESSURIZATION.

Consequence: FUEL OR FUEL VAPORS IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITIONSOURCE CAN CAUSE A FIRE.

Remedy: MODIFICATION OF THE BASE FUEL VENTING AND EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM TO REDUCE OPERATING TEMPERATURES AND FUEL SYSTEM PRESSURES.

Reported: 1987-09-09 (September 9, 1987)

VEHICLES ARE SUBJECT TO EXCESSIVE UNDERHOOD TEMPERATURES AND FUEL SYSTEM PRESSURES IN SEVERE DUTY APPLICATIONS.

Consequence: THIS CREATES POTENTIAL FOR FUEL EXPULSION FROM THE FUELFILLER PIPE WHICH IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN AFIRE.

Remedy: INSTALL MODIFICATION KITS TO MINIMIZE POSSIBILITY OF FUEL EXPULSION AND TO SHIELD UNDERBODY COMPONENTS FROM EXHAUST SYSTEM HEAT.

Reported: 1988-08-09 (August 9, 1988)

EXTREME OPERATING CONDITIONS COULD CAUSE PREMATURE DETERIORATION OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT HEATER HOSES OR ENGINE BYPASS HOSES.

Consequence: ENGINE COOLANT COULD DISCHARGE ONTO THE ENGINE AND ITSEXHAUST MANIFOLD CREATING THE POTENTIAL FOR A FIRE DUE TO THE HIGH ENGINEEXHAUST MANIFOLD TEMPERATURES.

Remedy: REPLACE HOSES AND RADIATOR CAPS; INSTALL HIGH HEAT RESISTANCE ALUMINIZED STAINLESS STEEL MUFFLERS.

Reported: 1989-04-17 (April 17, 1989)

NYLON TIES THAT SUPPORT THE MAIN WIRING HARNESS TO THE CHASSIS COULD WEAR AND BREAK DUE TO EXCESSIVE VIBRATION. THUS, WIRING HARNESS COULD FALL ON ENGINE COMPONENTS AND SHORT CIRCUIT.

Consequence: THIS COULD CAUSE LOSS OF ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WHICH COULDRESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.

Remedy: INSTALL RETROFIT RIT OF PLASTIC-COATED METAL CLAMPS, LOOM FOR POSITIVE BATTERY CABLES AND RE-ROUTE WIRING.

Reported: 1989-08-15 (August 15, 1989)

HEATER HOSE MAY BE INCORRECTLY ROUTED.

Consequence: HOSE COULD WEAR THROUGH AND LEAK WHICH COULD RESULT INAN UNDERHOOD FIRE.

Remedy: REROUTE AND REPAIR HOSE AS NECESSARY.