RoadVitals

1994 Ford E-150 Driver assistance Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the driver-assistance system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Driver assistance reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
20
Latest Jul 14, 2008
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
17%
of 121 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
5
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1

What this page shows

Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1994 Ford E-150 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 20 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming driver-assistance

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

BrakesDriver assistanceElectrical
Filed Jul 14, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 FORD E-150 ECONOLINE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS LIGHT WAS FLASHING AND THE BRAKE FLUID WAS VERY LOW. IN ADDITION, THE SPEED CONTROL LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING AND FAILED WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH. THE GEAR WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF PARK WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, AND THE ODOMETER AND SPEEDOMETER STOPPED WORKING. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEED BRAKE FLUID AND THAT THE SPEED CONTROL FAILED DUE TO DEFECTIVE BRAKES. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WOULD CHARGE THE CONTACT $110 FOR OVERAGE DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHILE REPAIRING THE VEHICLE UNDER RECALL. THE CONTACT HAS HANDICAPPED TRIPLETS AND THE BRAKES AND SPEED CONTROL ARE A SAFETY ISSUE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 52,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000. UPDATED 08/18/08 *BF THE VEHICLE ALSO HAD AN ELECTRICAL SHORT. UPDATED 08/19/08 *JB

NHTSA ID
10234288
Incident
Jul 1, 2008
Mileage
50,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed May 21, 2008
Fire reported

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 FORD E150. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A FORD RECALL NOTICE IN AUGUST OF 2007 FOR THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL: CRUISE CONTROL. THE PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. WHILE PARKED IN THE GARAGE, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. AFTER THE CONTACT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE OUT OF THE PARK POSITION. THE DEALER STATED THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO FIRST INSTALL A FUSE TO MOVE THE VEHICLE OUT OF PARK BEFORE BRINGING IT TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. AFTER HE INSTALLED THE FUSE AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, THEY REFUSED TO MAKE THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER REFERRED HIM TO HIS STATE'S ATTORNEY GENERAL OFFICE. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 110,009.

NHTSA ID
10228528
Incident
May 7, 2007
Mileage
110,009 mi
Driver assistance
Filed May 14, 2008
Fire reported

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 FORD E150. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A FORD RECALL NOTICE FOR THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL: CRUISE CONTROL IN DECEMBER OF 2007. HE CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS FOR THE RECALL REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. ON MAY 7, 2008, HIS VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE AND BURNED THE WIRING HARNESS FUSE. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE IS STUCK IN THE PARK POSITION. THE DEALER STATED THAT BECAUSE THE HARNESS WAS ALREADY MELTED, THEY WOULD NOT ASSUME ANY FINANCIAL LIABILITY, NOR WOULD THEY ATTEMPT TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF NOTIFYING THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 108,000. UPDATED 5/30/08 *CN

NHTSA ID
10227744
Incident
May 7, 2008
Mileage
108,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Apr 9, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 FORD E-150. AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH ON APRIL 6, 2007 THE VEHICLE'S ACCELERATION AUTOMATICALLY INCREASED, EVEN AS THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL. THERE WAS A NATIONAL SAFETY RECALL ON THE CRUISE CONTROL OF THIS VEHICLE AND THE REMEDY WAS PERFORMED ONE YEAR AGO. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THE REMEDYWAS CONTRIBUTING TO THE VEHICLE'S FAILURE TO STOP. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 129,000.*AK

NHTSA ID
10187324
Incident
Apr 6, 2007
Mileage
129,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Feb 6, 2006
Fire reported

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE AND BURNED. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR 8 HOURS PRIOR TO THE FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED IN A WRITTEN REPORT THE FIRE STARTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. ADDITIONAL PROPERTY DAMAGE WAS SUSTAINED TO 4 OTHER VEHICLES. THE INSURANCE COMPANY INVESTIGATED AND DEEMED THE VEHICLE A TOTAL LOSS.

NHTSA ID
10149552
Incident
Sep 16, 2005
Mileage
120,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Oct 18, 2005

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 FORD E-150 CONVERSION VAN. WHEN SHE STARTED TO USE THE CRUISE CONTROL IT WOULD NOT WORK. ABOUT A MONTH AFTER THE CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR, THE ODOMETER STOPPED WORKING, AND THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT KEPT FLASHING ON AND OFF. UPON INSPECTION BY A LOCAL SERVICE DEALER IT WAS DETERMINED THAT IT WAS THE SAME PROBLEM THAT AFFECTED THE FORD VEHICLES THAT WERE UNDER RECALL FOR VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT THERE WAS A FUSE BLOWN , CAUSING THE INSTRUMENT PANEL NOT WORK. THIS WAS CAUSED BY BRAKE FLUID LEAKING ONTO THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH AND THE CRUISE CONTROL SERVO. THE MANUFACTURER STATED SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL THAT THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO COVER THE COST OF THE REPAIRS. FOR FUTURE REFERENCE SHE WOULD NEED TO KEEP THE RECEIPTS FOR THE REPAIRS IN CASE THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS VEHICLE AND SHE WANTED TO SEEK REIMBURSEMENT. *AK UPDATED 01/11/06. *JB

NHTSA ID
10140118
Incident
Sep 30, 2005
Driver assistanceElectrical
Filed Sep 13, 2005
Fire reported

ON SEPTEMBER 12, 2005 WHILE THE FAMILY WAS AWAY FROM HOME, OUR 1994 FORD E 150(ECONOLINE) VAN SPONTANEOUSLY STARTED ON FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND NOT RUNNING AS WE WERE NOT HOME. UPON RETURN AND FOLLOWING COMMUNICATION WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND WITNESSES, THE VEHICLE STARTED SMOKING AND THEN BURST INTO FLAMES WITH NO ONE NEAR THE VEHICLE. THE HOOD AND ENGINE AREA WERE A MASS OF MELTED WIRES AND PLASTIC. THE FOCUS OF DAMAGE WAS ON THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE ENGINE. WE WERE TOLD BY A NEIGHBOR AT THAT TIME ABOUT A RECALL FORD WAS SUPPOSE TO HAVE ON THEIR VEHICLES. AFTER LOOKING UP THE CRUISE CONTROL RECALL AND COMPARING PICTURES, THE BURN EVIDENCE APPEARS TO BE THE SAME. THE VEHICLE IS TOTALED. I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM THE FORD COMPANY AS THEY ONLY RECALLED THE VEHICLES THAT THE MEDIA WAS AWARE OF AND NOT THE OTHER VEHICLES WITH THE SAME FAULTY EQUIPMENT. (RECALLED F 150 NOT E 150 WITH SAME CRUISE CONTROL THAT REMAINS HOT EVEN WHEN THE ENGINE IS OFF AND VEHICLE IS PARKED OVER NIGHT.)

NHTSA ID
10136393
Incident
Sep 12, 2005
Driver assistance
Filed Aug 5, 2005
Fire reported1 injury reported

UNDERHOOD FIRE STARTING IN THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH ON THE MASTER CYLINDER, WHICH I SAVED FOR INVESTIGATION. I HAPPENED TO BE OUTSIDE, SAW THE SMOKE AND FLAMES AND WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH IT BEFORE MAJOR DESTRUCTION OCCURRED. THE FLAMES WERE COMING FROM THAT SWITCH. *NM

NHTSA ID
10131770
Incident
Aug 5, 2005
Mileage
130,020 mi
Driver assistanceElectrical
Filed Apr 5, 2005

1994 FORD E150 HAS PROBLEMS WITH BATTERY EQUIPMENT. *MR THERE WAS A SERIES OF DEAD BATTERY INCIDENTS. WHILE CONNECTING A NEW BATTERY WITH THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION, A CONSIDERABLE SPARK OCCURRED AT THE BATTERY TERMINAL FOLLOWED BY A PLUME OF SMOKE WHICH EMITTED FROM THE SPEED CONTROL SWITCH ASSEMBLY. *SC

NHTSA ID
10117437
Incident
Sep 17, 2004
Mileage
82,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Nov 28, 2004

1)NORMAL OPERATION, 2)THROTTLE STUCK IN OPEN POSITION. BRAKE WOULD NOT STOP VEHICLE. PLACED IN NEUTRAL JUST IN TIME TO AVOID ENTERING BUSY INTERSECTION. 3)NO PARTS REPLACED. WAITING FOR WEATHER TO WARM. DID MANUALLY OPERATE THROTTLE AT THROTTLE BODY AND THROTTLE STICKS IN OPEN POSITION SUGGESTING THAT IT IS NOT A CABLE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
10100643
Incident
Nov 23, 2004
Mileage
210,000 mi
AirbagsBody & structureBrakes+5 more
Filed May 13, 2001

MULTIPLE SYSTEMS FAILURES; CURRENTLY ABS LIGHT STAYS ON, AIR BAG LIGHT FLASHES, FUEL SMELL, SLOPPY STEERING, FRONT SUSPENSION NOISES, POWER DOOR LOCKS INOPERATIVE, CRUISE CONTROL INOPERATIVE, HORN INOPERATIVE. *AK

NHTSA ID
745269
Incident
Mar 18, 1999
Driver assistance
Filed Mar 29, 2000

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN AND UNWANTED ACCELERATION WHILE USING THE CRUISE CONTROL, THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT DISENGAGE PROPERLY. *MJS

NHTSA ID
551604
BrakesDriver assistanceElectrical
Filed Jul 16, 1999

ABS BRAKES - ABS LIGHTS COMES ON AND STAYS ON. / SPEED CONTROL - STOPPED WORKING AT SAME TIME THAT HORN STOPPED WORKING. STEERING COLUMN PROBLEM??

NHTSA ID
708707
Incident
Aug 16, 1998
Driver assistance
Filed Jun 7, 1999

UPON TRAVELING 40 MPH, COMING OFF THE INTERSTATE AND REDUCING SPEED VEHICLE SUDDLY ACCELERATED. CONSUMER FOOT WAS DEPRESSED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, AND VEHICLE CONTINUED TO MANEUVER.CONSUMER THEN REMOVED KEY FROM IGNITION IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. DEALER HAS YET TO REPLACE ANY PARTS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID
838956
Driver assistance
Filed Feb 17, 1999

VEHICLE IDLES TOO FAST, MUST BE PLACED IN NEUTRAL PRIOR TO STOPPING. DEALER SAYS THAT TSB FROM FORD STATES THE PROBLEM IS IN THE COMPUTER AND CANNOT BE SOLVED. *AK *ML

NHTSA ID
834939
Incident
Dec 14, 1998
Driver assistanceEngineFuel system+2 more
Filed Jul 9, 1998

ENGINE FAILED, REPLACED WITH NEW ONE AND FAILED AGAIN, THIRD ENGINE LEAKING OIL AND NEEDS REPLACEMENT.

NHTSA ID
537483
Driver assistanceEngine
Filed Jun 13, 1998

ENGINE FAILED.

NHTSA ID
526044
Driver assistance
Filed May 12, 1998

WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, CRUISE CONTROL BECAME STUCK IN THE ACCELERATION MODE AND WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN AND VEHICLE ACCELERATED UP TO 85 MPH. JAMMED BRAKES, PULLED VEHICLE OFF THE HIGHWAY, PUT IT IN NEUTRAL AND STOPPED THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID
535467
Incident
May 8, 1998
Driver assistance
Filed Jan 12, 1995

RPMS ARE HIGH WITH TRUCK RUNNING @ 30 MPH. DEALERS AWARE AND ADJUSTED WITHOUT DRIVING. HIGH RPMS STILL EXSIST. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT

NHTSA ID
958651
Driver assistance
Filed Jan 9, 1995

HAS HAD PROBLEM WITH SUDDEN ACCELERATION SINCE DECEMBER OF LAST YEAR. TT

NHTSA ID
958443
Incident
Jan 12, 1994

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .