1988 Ford Econoline Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1988 Ford Econoline, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Electrical619.4%
- Engine516.1%
- Fuel system39.7%
- Other / unspecified39.7%
- Brakes26.5%
- Powertrain (other)26.5%
- Seat belts26.5%
- Tires & wheels26.5%
- Visibility26.5%
- Interior & seats13.2%
- Exterior lighting13.2%
- Heating & air conditioning13.2%
- Suspension13.2%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
THE DRIVER SIDE TAILLIGHT FAILED. *SLC
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
HEAD BOLT BROKE.
GAS TANK FAILURE, EQUIPPED WITH DUAL GAS TANK, PRIMARY TANK IS LEAKING GAS DUE TO HOLES IN WELDS. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE DRIVER SIDE TAILLIGHT FAILED. *SLC
LEFT WHEEL CAME OFF OF VEHICLE CAUSING MINOR DAMAGE TO VEHICLE. (OHIO STATE POLICE REPORT).
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE DRIVER SIDE TAILLIGHT FAILED. *SLC
BRAKES FAILED COMPLETELY WHILE DRIVING DOWNHILL; BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR; VEHICLE HIT TREE; INJURIES CAUSED BY NO RESTRAINT SYSTEM IN SHUTTLE BUS. TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
DRIVELINE: UNIVERSAL JOINT FAILED TWICE. *AK
HEAD BOLT BROKE.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE DRIVER SIDE TAILLIGHT FAILED. *SLC
SEAT BELT PROBLEMS.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
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 )
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE DRIVER SIDE TAILLIGHT FAILED. *SLC
BLOWER SWITCH FOR HEATER AND A/C CAME OFF.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE VAN WOULD NOT CUT OFF ONCE IT WAS STARTED AND THE WIRING HARNESS BURNED OUT. *AK CONSUMER STATES HE TURNED OFF IGNITION, TOOK KEY OUT VEHICLE WOULD NOT TURN OFF. *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE DRIVER SIDE TAILLIGHT FAILED. *SLC
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Heating & air conditioning
Reports naming the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system.
From owner reports, verbatim
RESISTOR ON BLOWER MOTOR OVERHEATED ONLY ON SLOW SPEED, SMOKE CAME OUT OF A/C VENTS. TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
HEAD BOLT BROKE.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .