Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Our database contains 22 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1988 Ford Econoline, most frequently naming the electrical, engine and fuel system categories. 24 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.
When owners filed reports about this model year
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Jun 1995 | 1 | 1 |
| Jul 1995 | 1 | 2 |
| Aug 1995 | 2 | 4 |
| Feb 1996 | 1 | 5 |
| Apr 1996 | 2 | 7 |
| Aug 1996 | 1 | 8 |
| Sep 1996 | 1 | 9 |
| Dec 1996 | 1 | 10 |
| Oct 1997 | 1 | 11 |
| Dec 1997 | 1 | 12 |
| Jan 1998 | 2 | 14 |
| Sep 1998 | 1 | 15 |
| May 1999 | 1 | 16 |
| Sep 2000 | 2 | 18 |
| Feb 2001 | 1 | 19 |
| May 2002 | 1 | 20 |
| Sep 2002 | 1 | 21 |
| Mar 2010 | 1 | 22 |
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
No recalls in our database for this model year
That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
TL*THE CONTACT OWNED A 1988 FORD ECONOLINE VAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HE WAS SITTING IN THE VEHICLE, IT CAUGHT FIRE. HE WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VIN, FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 04/09/10. *LJ UPDATED 05/17/10
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT WARNING OIL IS LEAKING AND THE CONSUMER WILL HAVE TO REFILL MORE OFTEN. DEALER NOTIFIED. NLM
THE DRIVER SIDE TAILLIGHT FAILED. *SLC
ADAPTIVE EQUIPMENT FROM TOM STOWERS AT CCI MICHIGAN >AK
THE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE WHILE DRIVING COMSUMER TOOK THE TIRE TO FIRESTONE DEALER WHO ACCUSED CONSUMER OF PUNCTURING THE TIRE IN SOME WAY THUS CAUSING THE TREAD TO COME OFF (FIRESTONE STEELTEX RADIAL R4S LT215/85R16 M/S VDOP 1WU493). NLM
TIRE HAD BEEN SPARE BLEW OUT AR 60MPH TREAD SEPARATED, STEEL BLETS SHREDDED, TIRE BODY SPLIT TRASVERSLY. TIRE HAD GOOD TREAD AND WAS FULLY INFLATED BEFORE THE BLOW-OUT. THE TIRE MAY HAVE BEEN ORRIGINAL EQUIPMENT FROM FORD AS IT WAS THE SPARE. OTHER NUMBERS ON TIRE: DOT: VDHL ILM 048 F08R MADIE IN USA 14476 URBD 86120-2 EXTRA LOAD SE985J. *AK( DOT NUMBER: VDHL ILM 0 TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )
ONGOING / INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH ENGINE STALLING. MANUFACTURER/DEALER NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. *AK
LEFT WHEEL CAME OFF OF VEHICLE CAUSING MINOR DAMAGE TO VEHICLE. (OHIO STATE POLICE REPORT).
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE
SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT HEATER CORE LEAKS. *SLC
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
INFORMATION REGARDING THE NEW TRANSMISSION COOLER FLUSHER- SERVICE TIP. *MJS
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
SUBJECT ON A WIRE HARNESS TERMINAL REPAIR KIT AVAILABLE FOR REPAIRING ELECTRICAL WIRING HARNESSES. *TT
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
INFORMATION ON IDENTIFYING NON-APPROVED / ALTERNATE REFRIGERANTS WHICH COULD CAUSE SAFETY, AND PERFORMANCE CONCERNS IF INSTALLED IN FORD A/C SYSTEMS. *TT
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
INFORMATION ON THE NEW FLUSH AND FILL TOOL AVAILABLE THROUGH ROTUNDA. *TT
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
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.
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Investigations | Issue Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2025 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2019 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 2018 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 2017 | 3 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2016 | 3 | 1 | 1 | — |
| 2015 | 0 | 1 | 1 | — |
| 2014 | 0 | 1 | 1 | — |
| 2013 | 0 | 1 | 1 | — |
| 2012 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — |
| 2011 | 0 | 1 | 1 | — |
| 2010 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — |
| 2009 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — |
| 2007 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 2006 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 2005 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 2003 | 22 | 4 | 1 | 54.9 |
| 2002 | 23 | 4 | 1 | 55.8 |
| 2001 | 28 | 5 | 1 | 55.5 |
| 2000 | 39 | 5 | 1 | 57.8 |
| 1999 | 84 | 7 | 1 | 58.0 |
| 1998 | 46 | 4 | 1 | 48.3 |
| 1997 | 79 | 4 | 1 | 57.7 |
| 1996 | 81 | 5 | 1 | 61.9 |
| 1995 | 73 | 6 | 1 | 58.3 |
| 1994 | 124 | 6 | 3 | 64.3 |
| 1993 | 65 | 5 | 0 | 54.1 |
| 1992 | 83 | 5 | 2 | 64.1 |
| 1991 | 24 | 3 | 2 | 54.5 |
| 1990 | 30 | 4 | 0 | 55.4 |
| 1989 | 32 | 2 | 1 | 55.2 |
| 1988Viewing | 22 | 0 | 0 | 42.6 |
| 1987 | 15 | 5 | 0 | 53.9 |
| 1986 | 7 | 6 | 0 | — |
| 1985 | 10 | 6 | 0 | 60.3 |
| 1984 | 7 | 7 | 0 | — |
| 1983 | 2 | 6 | 0 | — |
| 1982 | 1 | 3 | 0 | — |
| 1981 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 1980 | 1 | 4 | 0 | — |
| 1979 | 1 | 8 | 0 | — |
| 1978 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 1977 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — |
| 1976 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 1975 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 1972 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1971 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1969 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — |
| 1967 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
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.