1994 FORD ECONOLINE Recalls, Complaints & Safety

seat belt not pulling out e40d trans starts out going in 3ed gear

WHILE PULLING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE TURN WHEEL TO LEFT HARD AT LOUD CRACKING SOUND AS IF SOMETHING WAS BREAKING. STOPPED GOT OUT AND LOOKED UNDER AND NOTICED A BOLT PULLED THROUGH AND BROKE THE FRAME WHERE THE BOTTOM BOLT WAS. GRABBED THE OTHER TWO AND THEY PULLED RIGHT OUT AND WE'RE SNAPPED OFF. HAD TO GET ANOTHER GEARBOX PUT ON WITH ALL THREE BOLTS AND 4 DAYS LATER WHILE PULLING OUT OF PARKING LOT HARD LOUD POP AND LOOKED AND TOP RIGHT BOLT WAS SNAPPED OFF COMPLETELY. STEERING WAS WAY LOOSER AND MADE IT TO MY DESTINATION. NEXT MORNING TRIED TO PULL OUT OF PARKING SPACE AND LOUD POP ONCE AGAIN. THIS TIME THE GEARBOX WAS HANGING ALL THE WAY OFF. STEERING WHEEL JUST KEPT TURNING BUT WHEELS WERE NOT. COULDN'T PARK IT BACK OUT OF STREET BECAUSE OTHERS CARS WERE CLOSE HAD TO LEAVE IT HALFWAY HANGING OUT IN STREET TILL PEOPLE GOT OFF WORK AND MOVED OTHER CARS AWAY SO I COULD GET IT BACK TO CURB. NOW I'M AT A LOST HOW DID THIS HAPPEN TWICE. OR EVEN HAPPEN AT ALL. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 FORD ECONOLINE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE MULTI-FUNCTION TURN SIGNAL SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,000. UPDATED 10/8/14*CN UPDATED 3/24/2015 *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 FORD ECONOLINE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD CONSTANTLY VEER TO THE RIGHT AND THE STEERING WHEEL WOBBLED. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC STATED THAT THE STEERING BOX NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000.

YOU DON'T HAVE THE NINETIES! WHAT'S WITH THAT? I'D LIKE TO LOOK TO SEE IF THE CAR I HAVE WAS EVER RECALLED BEFORE I BOUGHT IT

PLEASE REOPEN NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10254031. AFTER THIS INCIDENT I POSTED A WEB SITE DETAILING THE PROBLEM. SINCE THEN, I HAVE RECEIVED DOZEN OF INQUIRIES FROM PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD THE IDENTICAL ISSUE. THE LATEST ONE CAME TODAY 12/31/2013, 5 YEARS AFTER MY EVENT. SEVERAL HAVE RESULTED IN ACCIDENTS. THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT PEOPLE HAVE DIED BECAUSE OF THIS FAILURE, WITH THE FAILURE BEING INCORRECTLY DETERMINED TO HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY AN ACCIDENT, RATHER THAN BEING DETERMINED TO HAVE BEEN THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 FORD ECONOLINE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 3 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE BOLTS IN THE STEERING BOX FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 181,000.

MOVING TO NORTH CAROLINA IN A FORD ECONOLINE VAN, 1994. THE VAN STARTED SMOKING AND WHEN WE PULLED OVER ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY THE SMOKE BECAME SO THICK THAT WE STARTED TO WALK AWAY TO OUR SECOND VEHICLE PARKED THE VAN. WHEN WE TURNED AROUND WE SAW AN EXTREME AMOUNT OF SMOKE AND REALIZED THE VAN HAD CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME TO EXTINGUISH THE FLAMES BUT NONE OF THE CONTENTS WITHIN COULD BE SAVED. *TR

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 FORD ECONOLINE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BOLTS THAT HOLD THE BUMPER IN PLACE HAVE RUSTED AND CAUSED THE FRONT BUMPER TO FALL OFF. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING THE FAILURE AND BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IF HE WAS DRIVING THE FAILURE COULD HAVE CAUSED A CRASH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 FORD ECONOLINE VAN. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, IT EXHIBITED A NO-START CONDITION. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNDER 100,000.

FIRE TO VEHICLE CAUSED BY DEFECTIVE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH. *TR

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 FORD ECONOLINE VAN. THE VEHICLE HAS COOPER WINTERMASTER TIRES, SIZE 235/75/R15. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD POPPING AND GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. HE PULLED OVER TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE WAS BLOWN. THERE WAS TREAD SEPARATION AND A LARGE PORTION OF THE STEEL BELT WAS EXPOSED. THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF NOTIFYING THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 74,800.

FIRE CAUSED BY A 1994 FORD ECONOLINE 150 CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH IGNITED. *TR

THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH CAUGHT ON FIRE AND BURNT THE BRAKE FLUID BOTTLE AND SOME SCORED PAINT UNDER THE HOOD AND SOME WIRING. WHEN WE CONTACTED FORD THEY SAID THIS VEHICLE DIDN'T FALL UNDER THIS RECALL. NOW FORD SAYS IT DOES AND WE HAD ALREADY REPAIRED IT AT OUR EXPENSE. WHEN WE LOOKED THIS UP ON THE NET IT SAID IT WAS ALREADY DONE IN 1996, BUT HOW COULD IT WHEN THEY SAID IT DIDN;T FALL INTO THE RECALL SINCE IT WAS A E150. *TR

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THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH CAUGHT ON FIRE AND BURNT THE BRAKE FLUID BOTTLE AND SOME SCORED PAINT UNDER THE HOOD AND SOME WIRING. WHEN WE CONTACTED FORD THEY SAID THIS VEHICLE DIDN'T FALL UNDER THIS RECALL. NOW FORD SAYS IT DOES AND WE HAD ALREADY REPAIRED IT AT OUR EXPENSE. WHEN WE LOOKED THIS UP ON THE NET IT SAID IT WAS ALREADY DONE IN 1996, BUT HOW COULD IT WHEN THEY SAID IT DIDN;T FALL INTO THE RECALL SINCE IT WAS A E150. *TR

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ACCELERATOR PEDAL STICKS ON HIGH RPMS WHEN VERY COLD/REAR SEAT BELTS RETRACTOR WILL NOT FEED OUT FREQUENTLY. *TR

1994 FORD ECONOLINE VAN; MY OIL PAN RUSTED OUT. THIS WAS FOUND WHEN THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR FAILED,AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. I HAD IT TOWED FOR SERVICE, AND TOLD THEM I NOTICED A PUDDLE OF OIL AFTER THE TOW TRUCK REMOVED IT. THEY FOUND THE OIL PAN HAD RUSTED OUT. THIS WAS A COSTLY REPAIR AS THE ENGINE HAD TO BE PULLED FORWARD TO CHANGE THE PAN. WHILE IT WAS BEING SERVICED THREE OF THE PEOPLE I KNOW TOLD ME THEY HAD THE SAME THING HAPPEN ON THEIR FORDS; ONE PERSON USED JB WELD ON HIS VAN, THEN SOLD IT. AS I AM ON SS/DISABILITY, I CANNOT AFFORD TO PURCHASE A NEW VEHICLE, AND I DO LIKE THIS ONE. I DO THINK THIS IS A POTENTIAL HAZARD AS OIL COULD START FIRE ON A HOT ENGINE, AND IF THE ENGINE FROZE UP ON THE INTERSTATE COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. I WAS LUCKY TO FIND THE PROBLEM BEFORE MY ENGINE FROZE UP. HOWEVER, HAVING TO PULL THE ENGINE FORWARD TO CHANGE THE OIL PAN IS SOMEWHAT POOR DESIGN AND VERY COSTLY. *TR

TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 FORD ECONOLINE 150. WHILE TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE. THE CONTACT OBSERVED THAT THE CENTER BOLT HAD COME OUT OF THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME. THE FRAME WAS SPLIT. *AK UPDATED 02/27/07. *JB

TL*- THE CONTACT CALLED ABOUT NHTSA CAMPAIGN 06V286000. HE STATES THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN DRIVEWAY AND CAUGHT ON FIRE, AT THE TIME OF THE FIRE VEHICLE WAS NOT RUNNING. THE VEHICLE'S THE SPEED CONTROL DE-ACTIVATION SWITCH WAS THE SOURCE OF THE FIRE. AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT THERE WASN'T A RECALL ON THE VEHICLE SO THE CONTACT PAID FOR THE REPAIR DONE ON VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ONCE THE RECALL WAS POSTED, HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY VERIFIED THAT THE REPAIR ON VEHICLE HAD BEEN DONE PREVIOUSLY. ONCE THE DEALERSHIP CONFIRMED THAT REPAIR WAS DONE ON VEHICLE, THE CONTACT CALLED MANUFACTURER SO HE COULD GET REIMBURSED FOR REPAIR. MANUFACTURER REIMBURSED HIM FOR 50 PERCENT OF WHAT HE PAID FOR, NOW CONTACT IS LOOKING TO GET REIMBURSED IN FULL. THE CONTACT CAN PROVIDE A COPY OF INVOICE FOR REPAIRS DONE BY SHOP, LETTER THAT FORD SEND HIM AND ALSO A COPY OF THE CHECK THAT FORD SENT HIM.

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1994 FORD ECONOLINE REAR AXLE BEGAN TO SMOKE AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. *KB *JB

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1994 FORD ECONOLINE REAR AXLE BEGAN TO SMOKE AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. *KB *JB

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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED OUTSIDE A CHURCH. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED, AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DETERMINED THE FIRE ORIGINATED FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND WAS LIKELY AN ELECTRICAL WIRING PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. THE CONTACT SAW A RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID # 06V86000 REGARDING THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, BUT THE CONTACT HAD NOT YET RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER.

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1) NO PREVIOUS INDICATION WAS GIVEN OF ANY PROBLEM. 2) AT 3 AM ON AUGUST 8TH, 2005, I WAS AWAKEN BY A NEIGHBOR, WHO HAVING SMELLED SMOKE, LOOKED OUT THE WINDOW AND SAW MY VAN ON FIRE. THE FIRE WAS IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, IN THE AREA OF THE BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR, THIS ITEM HAVING BURNED, AS WELL AS THE WIRE HARNESSES BEHIND THE RESERVOIR, AND ALSO THE BATTERY CABLES. THE VAN HAD BEEN PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY WITH THE ENGINE OFF, AND NO ACCESSORIES WERE ON AT THE TIME. THE VAN IS INOPERATIVE AT THIS TIME. 3) I HAVE NOT DONE NOTHING TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, SINCE IT IS AN OBVIOUS MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT OF SOME COMPONENT ON THE VEHICLE, THIS SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED, AND I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE FORD MOTOR COMPANY ASSUME THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE SUBSEQUENT REPAIR. *NM

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DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE GASOLINE HOSE CRACKED. THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING GASOLINE BECAUSE OF THE CRACK IN THIS LINE THAT WAS GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. THE HOSE WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THIS SPECIFIC VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER EXAMINED SEVERAL OF THESE VEHICLES AND THEY ALL HAD A SIMILAR CRACK IN THE HOSE WERE DEVELOPING A CRACK. *AK

THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON THE SIDE OF THE HOUSE. WHILE ALL THE RESIDENCE WERE GONE FOR THE DAY, THE VEHICLE MYSTERIOUSLY CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOTIFIED. THE FIRE DESTROYED THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE OWNER CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER, AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY WERE NOT LIABLE FOR THE DEFECT. *AK *SC *JB

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THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON THE SIDE OF THE HOUSE. WHILE ALL THE RESIDENCE WERE GONE FOR THE DAY, THE VEHICLE MYSTERIOUSLY CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOTIFIED. THE FIRE DESTROYED THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE OWNER CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER, AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY WERE NOT LIABLE FOR THE DEFECT. *AK *SC *JB

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STEERING COLUMN: ANTI-LOCK BRAKE LIGHT ON ALL THE TIME, AIRBAG LIGHT BLINKS IN A PATTERN, HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL QUIT WORKING AT THE SAME TIME. TRANSMISSION: TRANSMISSION SHUDDERS WHEN SHIFTING GEARS IN THE HIGHER GEARS.*AK

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING THE MOTOR WOULD START TO MAKE A LOUD NOISE CAUSING A DISTRACTION TO THE CONSUMER. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS

ENGINE NEEDS REPLACED. AT AROUND 62,000 MILES, THIS ISN'T NORMAL. FORD WON'T GIVE ME "HELP" WITH THE COST. MY WARRANTY EXPIRED IN APRIL OF THIS YEAR! (5 MONTHS BEFORE THEY TOLD ME IT NEEDED REPLACED) ANY IDEAS? DT

ABS LIGHT HAD COME ON, AND THE WILL STAY ON FOR A WHILE BEFORE TURNING OFF. CONTACTED DEALER. *AKI

HEARD THUMPING AND STARTED TO SLOW WHEN TIRE BLEW AND VAN BECAME HARD TO CONTROL. VAN PULLED ONTO DIRT SHOULDER (OF TWO LANE HIGHWAY) AND ALMOST FLIPPED.MANAGED TO GET BACK ONTO ROAD, SLOWED DOWN AND STOPPED. CHANGED TIRE. IT WAS DESTROYED. THE TREAD WAS SEPARATED, AND THE SIDEWALL BLOWN APART IN SEVERAL PLACES ON BOTH SIDES. THE RIM WAS UNDAMAGED TO MY EYE, AND THE BEAD NEAR THE RIM WAS ALSO UNDAMAGED. THE TIRE SHOP REMOVED THE TIRE, LOOKED FOR A CAUSE OF THE BLOW OUT BUT COULD FIND NONE. THE STEEL BELTS AND TREAD WERE COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM CARCASS AROUND 80% OF CIRCUMFERENCE AND PARTIALLY AROUND THE REST.THE "NYLON" CORDS WERE EXPOSED WHERE EVER THE BELTS HAD SEPARATED AND WERE SHREDDED AND PROBABLY CAUSED THE SUDDEN TIRE FAILURE WITH ONLY A FEW MINUTES OF THUMPING AS A WARNING OF IMPENDING FAILURE.WHOLE EVENT PROBABLY TOOK LESS THAN 2 MINUTE. I HAVE MORE OF THESE TIRES IN THE CAR NOW.*AK

TWO HEATER SWITCHES WERE REPLACED WITHIN TWO YEARS. DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

HEAT SWITCH BOUNCES IN ONE POSITION,CANNOT TURN SWITCH OFF OR ON. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER REPLACED PART 4 TIMES. PROBLEM STILL OCCURRING. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND APPLYING GAS A LOUD NOISE COMES FROM MOTOR, AND BACK MANIFOLD IS LEAKING FUEL. CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM.*AK

WHEN FILLING UP TANK CAN SMELL GAS INSIDE THE CAB. TOOK VEHICLE TO MECHANIC, MECHANIC STATED THAT FUEL WAS LEAKING AROUND RETAINER STRAP DRIVE THAT HOLDS TANK TO VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFOMATION.*AK

WHILE OPERATING VEHICLE AT LOW SPEEDS THROTTLE STARTED TO STICK, CAUSING A GRADUAL ACCELERATION TO 45 MPH. IN AN ATTEMPT TO RELEASE THROTTLE, DRIVER PRESSED ON ACCELERATOR PEDAL ONCE WHICH ONLY CAUSED THROTTLE TO STICK AT A HIGHER SPEED, DRIVER WAS ABLE TO STOP VEHICLE BY TURNING IGNITION OFF. DEALERSHIP HAS NOT EXAMINED THE VEHICLE. *AK *SLC

WHEN APPLYING BRAKES THEY WILL SHUDDER, AND PULSATE. REPLACED ROTORS BECAUSE THEY WERE WARPED. VEHICLE WAS HAVING BRAKE PROBLEMS AGAIN. THIS TIME CONSUMER COULD SMELL SOMETHING BURNING UNDERNEATH VEHICLE. REPLACED CALIPERS. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE IN SEVERAL TIMES FOR BRAKES WITHIN WARRANTY PERIOD,AND PROBLEM STILL WAS NOT REMEDIED. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER STATED NOTHING COULD BE DONE. *AK

PROBLEM GETTING KEY IN AND OUT OF IGNITION SWITCH. *AK

ABS WARNING LIGHT COMES ON DURING OPERATION, NO SET PATTERN. I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE SERVICED NUMEROUS TIMES SINCE IT WAS NEW, EACH TIME IT IS OK FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, THEN THE SITUATION CONTINUES. I HAVE SPOKEN TO SEVERAL FORD SERVICE MANAGERS, HAD THE VEHICLE SERVICED LAST AT MAGIC CITY FORD WHERE SEVERAL PARTS WAS REPLACED IN AN ATTEMP TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. TO THIS DAY THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM IN THAT YOU CAN NEVER TELL IF THE ABS SYSTEM IS REALLY FAILING OR IF THIS IS A FALSE ALARM. ANY ASSISTANCE WILL BE APPRECIATED.*AK

THIS IS THIRD TRANSMISSION THAT HAS BEEN INSTALLED INTO THIS VEHICLE. *AK

WHEN TANK IS FULL AND VEHICLE IS ON AN INCLINE OR HILL FUEL WILL START TO LEAK, CAUSING FIRE HAZARD. *AK

WAS MAKING A TURN & HAD LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC ALL 3 BOLTS THAT HELD STEERING BOX TO CHASSIS HAD SHEARED COMPLETELY OFF. *AK

WHEN WEATHER IS OVER 90 DEGREES VEHICLE WILL STALL IN TRAFFIC. PRIVATE SERVICE SHOP AND DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE CAUSE. VEHICLE WILL EVENTUALLY RESTART ONCE ENGINE HAS COOLED DOWN.*AK