RoadVitals

1983 Ford Econoline

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints 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.
2
Latest Jul 9, 2013
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
6
Latest Aug 27, 2007
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0

Overview

Our database contains 2 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1983 Ford Econoline, most frequently naming the tires & wheels category. 6 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 4 manufacturer communications are on file.

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

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Tires & wheels2100.0%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

6 campaigns cover this model year

View all 6

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
07E064000

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

Aug 27, 2007
34,000 units potentially affected
The defect: CERTAIN FEDERAL-MOGUL AFTERMARKET FUEL PUMPS SOLD UNDER THE BRAND NAMES OF CARTER, ACCUFLOW, NAPA, TRUFLOW, PARTS DEPO, AND PARTS MASTER, SHIPPED BETWEEN AUGUST 2006 AND JULY 2007 FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE FUEL PUMP DIAPHRAGM IN CERTAIN PRODUCTION RUNS MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY INSTALLED OR INADEQUATELY TESTED WHICH MAY CAUSE THE FUEL PUMP TO LEAK.
The risk: A LEAKING FUEL PUMP COULD CREATE A VEHICLE FIRE HAZARD.
The remedy: FEDERAL-MOGUL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 15, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FEDERAL-MOGUL AT 248-354-7700.
FEDERAL-MOGUL CORPORATIONView on NHTSA.gov
87V144000

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL

Sep 9, 1987
188,000 units potentially affected
The defect: VEHICLES ARE SUBJECT TO EXCESSIVE UNDERHOOD TEMPERATURES AND FUEL SYSTEM PRESSURES IN SEVERE DUTY APPLICATIONS.
The risk: THIS CREATES POTENTIAL FOR FUEL EXPULSION FROM THE FUELFILLER PIPE WHICH IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN AFIRE.
The remedy: INSTALL MODIFICATION KITS TO MINIMIZE POSSIBILITY OF FUEL EXPULSION AND TO SHIELD UNDERBODY COMPONENTS FROM EXHAUST SYSTEM HEAT.
FORD MOTOR COMPANYView on NHTSA.gov
87V113000

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL

Jul 21, 1987
16,000 units potentially affected
The defect: EXPULSION OF FUEL DUE TO OVERPRESSURIZATION.
The risk: FUEL OR FUEL VAPORS IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITIONSOURCE CAN CAUSE A FIRE.
The remedy: MODIFICATION OF THE BASE FUEL VENTING AND EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM TO REDUCE OPERATING TEMPERATURES AND FUEL SYSTEM PRESSURES.
FORD MOTOR COMPANYView on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Tires & wheels
Filed Jul 9, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1983 FORD ECONOLINE VAN, EQUIPPED WITH COOPER LIFELINER CLASSIC II TIRES, SIZE 255/70/R15. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WERE CRACKS AND BLISTERS IN THE SIDEWALL OF THE FOUR TIRES. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SEE THE METAL INSIDE THE TIRE. THE FAILURE WAS REPORTED TO THE MANUFACTURER, WHO REFUSED TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000. THE CURRENT VEHICLE MILEAGE WAS 110,000. KMJ UPDATED 8/26/13 *CN THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED CRACKS IN THE TIRE EXPOSING THE INSIDE WIRES.

NHTSA ID
10523905
Incident
May 1, 2013
Mileage
5,000 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Aug 30, 2000

VAN WAS BOUGHT USED FROM DEALER BUT I KNEW PREVIOUS OWNER. VAN HAD 4 LIKE NEW TIRES. VAN WAS IN NEAR MINT CONDITION DESPITE AGE AND MILEAGE. WHILE ON VACATION, RIGHT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT. BIG HOLE, STEEL BELT SHREDDED. WAS ABLE TO CHANGE SPARE DESPITE VERY HAZARDOUS LOCATION. MADE IT INTO DOUGLAS GEORGIA, EVERYTHING CLOSED EXCEPT WAL-MART. REPLACED TIRE WITH GOODYEAR TIRE. ABOUT 1 MONTH LATER WAS NEAR DOTHAN ALABAMA AND ABOUT 45 MILES FROM HOME WHEN I NOTICED SAME SYMPTOMS OTHER TIRE HAD DISPLAYED BEFORE BLOWING OUT. TRIED TO MAKE IT HOME BUT TIRE BLEW OUT EXACTLY LIKE FIRST ONE ON THE CHOCTAWHATCHEE RIVER BRIDGE. TIRE WAS AGAIN REPLACE AT WAL-MART. ABOUT 2 WEEKS LATER I NOTICED TREAD ON RIGHT FRONT WAS SHOWING STEEL BELT THROUGH BREAK IN TREAD. I PHONED FIRESTONE HEADQUARTERS AND ASKED IF THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH TIRES. WAS TOLD NO BUT THEY WOULD GIVE ME AN ADJUSTMETN ON THE 2 WHICH WERE STILL ON VEHICLE. I TOOK VAN TO RON'S FIRESTONE IN GENEVEA, ALA. RONS HAD SOD TIRES ORIGINALLY AND WAS VERY FAMILIAR WITH VAN AS HE HAD DONE ALL MAINTENANCE ON IT. RONS REPLACED BOTH TIRES ALTHOUGH THE ADJUSTMENT WAS SO POOR THAT I COULD HAVE JUST GONE TO WAL-MART AND BOUGHT 2 NEW COMPARABLE OR BETTER TIRES FOR SAME PRICE. WHEN NEWS OF LATEST RECALL CAME OUT I PHONED FIRESTONE TOLL FREE NUMBER. WAS TOLD TO CALL ANOTHER NUMBER. DID SO AND WAS TOLD THEY WOULD CALL ME BACK. THEY NEVER DID. HAVE ATTEMPTED SEVERAL TIMES TO CALL THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE NUMBER AND HAVE BEEN PUT ON HOLD EACH TIME FOR OVER AND HOUR (YES THAT'S RIGHT) AND STILL DIDN'T GET THROUGH. TRIED TO PHONE REGULAR CORPORATE NUMBER BUT THEY REFUSED TO PUT ME THROUGH TO ANYONE. IT APPEARS FIRESTONE HAS ERECTED A TOTAL WALL AROUND COMPANY EXCEPT FOR ONE TOLL FREE NUMBER WHICH CAN ONLY GIVE ADVICE ABOUT CERTAIN THINGS AND ARE NOT ALLOWED TO BE DISCUSSED. FRANKLY AM FED UP WITH THE COMPANY AND THEIR REFUSAL TO DEAL WITH PROBLEM.( DOT NUMBER: UNKNOWN TIRE SIZE: 235 75R15 )

NHTSA ID
729578
Incident
Nov 24, 1999

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

98246

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS RELEASED A NEW ELECTRICAL GREASE ( F8AZ - 19G208-AA ) TO REDUCE THE POSSIBILITY OF MOISTURE CORROSION AT THE TERMINALS. *YC

9888

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

INFORMATION ON A NEW TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE CHART. *YC

97511

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

FLUID- TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE CHARTS. *JD

9747

STRUCTURE

FRAME- RIVET REPLACEMENT WITH BOLTS- SERVICE TIPS. *JD

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Ford Econoline by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2026010—
2025000—
2019120—
2018020—
2017310—
2016311—
2015011—
2014011—
2013011—
2012111—
2011011—
2010111—
2009111—
2007020—
2006020—
2005020—
2003224154.9
2002234155.8
2001285155.5
2000395157.8
1999847158.0
1998464148.3
1997794157.7
1996815161.9
1995736158.3
19941246364.3
1993655054.1
1992835264.1
1991243254.5
1990304055.4
1989322155.2
1988220042.6
1987155053.9
1986760—
1985106060.3
1984770—
1983Viewing260—
1982130—
1981020—
1980140—
1979180—
1978020—
1977030—
1976020—
1975020—
1972010—
1971010—
1969030—
1967010—

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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.