RoadVitals

1989 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.
32
Latest Dec 4, 2002
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.
2
Latest Sep 4, 1991
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.
1
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.
4

Overview

Our database contains 32 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1989 Ford Econoline, most frequently naming the fuel system, brakes and engine categories. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 1 NHTSA investigation names it; and 37 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

  • Fuel system718.4%
  • Brakes615.8%
  • Engine513.2%
  • Electrical410.5%
  • Transmission37.9%
  • Driver assistance37.9%
  • Heating & air conditioning37.9%
  • Interior & seats25.3%

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

2 campaigns cover this model year

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
91V146000

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:AUXILLARY TANK:SELECTOR DEVICES

Sep 4, 1991
350,000 units potentially affected
The defect: THE DUAL FUEL TANK SELECTOR VALVE MAY MALFUNCTION AND CAUSE AN OVERFILL CONDITION IN ONE OF THE FUEL TANKS, RESULTING IN AN OVERFLOW OF FUEL PAST THE FILLER CAP.
The risk: THE OVERFLOW OF FUEL PAST THE FILLER CAP CAUSES A FUELLEAKAGE, WHICH CAN RESULT IN A FIRE WHEN EXPOSED TO A SOURCE OF IGNITION.
The remedy: REPLACE THE DUAL FUEL TANK SELECTOR VALVE.
FORD MOTOR COMPANYView on NHTSA.gov
90V101000

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)

Jun 1, 1990
111,000 units potentially affected
The defect: UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, THE SNAP RING THAT LOCATES THE PARK GEAR ON THE OUTPUT SHAFT OF THE TRANSMISSION MAY FRACTURE.
The risk: WHEN THE GEAR IS PLACED IN PARK, THE PARK GEAR WOULD NOTENGAGE, ALLOWING THE TRUCK TO ROLL FREELY IF THE PARKING BRAKE IS NOT PROPERLYSET. THIS COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.
The remedy: INSTALL IMPROVED SNAP RING AND REVISED TRANSMISSION EXTENSION HOUSING.
FORD MOTOR COMPANYView on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

EA91031ClosedEngineering Analysis

FUEL EXPULSION

Opened Jun 26, 1991
Closed Nov 1, 1991

There is no summary currently available

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGESLed to recall 91V146000

Recent owner complaints

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

View all 32
Driver assistance
Filed Dec 4, 2002

DIFFCULTY SLOWING DOWN FROM HIGHWAY SPEED, HAD TO TURN OFF IGNITION TO STOP VEHICLE. DISCONNECTED CRUISE CONTROL, BUT THIS WAS NOT THE PROBLEM. DEALERSHIP SERVICE SAYS IT WAS THE ACCELEROMETER CABLE. DT

NHTSA ID
770450
Incident
Nov 25, 2002
Electrical
Filed Sep 19, 2001
Fire reported

VAN CAUGHT FIRE AND WAS DESTROYED AFTER BEING PARKED TWO HOURS. FIRE INVESTIGATORS DETERMINED CAUSE WAS AN ELECTRICAL DEFECT IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT ON DRIVER'S SIDE. FIRE DAMAGED ADJACENT HOUSE AND NEARBY VEHICLE.*AK

NHTSA ID
752385
Incident
Sep 17, 2001
Engine
Filed Aug 17, 2001

CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILED 3 OUT OF 4 TIMES. THREE OF THE FOUR TIMES THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS ACCURRED FORD HAS TAKEN REPLACE THE PART MOSTLY FREE OF CHARGE. THIS TIME IN 2001 FORD WILL NOT FIX THE PROBLEM AND TELLS US TO BAD. WE FILL THAT BEING A REPEATED PROBLEM FORD MOTOR COMPANY SHOULD IN GOOD FAITH TAKE CARE OF THIS PROBLEM COMPLETELY ONCE AND FOR ALL. WE WOULD LIKE TO BE REIMBURSED FOR OUR REPAIR COST. WE DID HAVE THIS PROBLEM FIXED AT OUR EXPENSE. WHEN WE WENT TO PICK UP OUR RV WILSON CORNELIUS FORD OF VALLEJO CA WHEN ASKED IF WE WOULD HAVE CONTINUIUS PROBLEMS TOLD US NOT TO USE THE GAS WHEN GONG UP HILL. THE ALSO CHARGED US FOR A REPAIR AND PERTS THAT WERE NOT COMPLETE AND REFUSED TO REFUND US THAT AMOUNT. WE HAVE HAD MORE THEN ENOUGH PROBLEM WITH FORD OUR RV AND THE SERVICE TECH NOT DOING THE REPAIRS PROPERLY. PLEASE HELP US..... ANY QUESTIONS PLEASE CALL. *AK

NHTSA ID
750691
Incident
Apr 25, 1994
Tires & wheels
Filed Jul 3, 2001

FULLY TREADED TIRE THAT HAD BEEN MOUNTED AS A SPARE TIRE WAS USED AND LASTED FOR 2 WEEKS BEFORE THE TREAD COMPLETELY SEPARATED AT 55 MPH. TREAD DEPARTED TIRE CARCASS IN ONE PEICE, DAMAGING SEVERAL COMPONENTS IN THE LEFT REAR QUARTER OF MY VEHICLE. MY WIFE WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE OTHERWISE. I HAVE CONTACTED CONTINENTAL GENERAL TIRE. *AK (TIRESIZE: P235/75R15)

NHTSA ID
747728
Fuel system
Filed Nov 28, 2000

CONSUMER SMELLED GASOLINE. STARTED TO OPEN GAS CAP, AND GASOLINE STARTED GUSHING OUT. SINCE THEN GASOLINE MILEAGE HAS GONE DOWN. *AK *SLC

NHTSA ID
875567
Incident
Mar 1, 2000
Engine
Filed Oct 16, 2000

THE VEHICLE STALLS SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE DRIVING IN HOT WEATHER, THE DEALER HAS REPLACED MANY CONPONENTS (AIR AND FUEL FILTER, TFI MODULE, VAPOR SEPARATOR AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER)BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO STALL. NLM

NHTSA ID
556115
Incident
Aug 1, 1992
Engine
Filed Sep 7, 2000

THIS VEHICLE HAS A SERIOUS DRIVEABILITY PROBLEM (THE ENGINE STALLS WITHOUT WARNING REPEATEDLY) AND FORD EITHER DOES NOT KNOW HOW OR DOES NOT CARE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR MANY YEARS NOW AND FINALLY A JUDGE IN CALIFORNIA IS PREPARED TO DEMAND A RECALL. NOW WHY HAVEN'T YOU ALREADY DONE SO? IS IT BECAUSE NOT ENOUGH PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED YET? OR HAVEN'T YOU RECEIVED ENOUGH LETTERS OR COMPLAINTS? THERE HAVE BEEN MANY PROBLEMS THAT I AM AWARE OF FROM MY SUBSCRIPTION TO MOTORHOME MAGAZINE. I AM SENDING YOU A LETTER IN THE MAIL WITH A COPY OF A LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT OF FORD AND COPIES OF SOME OF THE ARTICLES FROM MOTORHOME MAGAZINE FROM PEOPLE WITH THE SAME VEHICLE TYPE AND THE SAME SERIOUS STALLING PROBLEM. I WOULD HOPE YOU LOOK INTO THIS MOST SERIOUS PROBLEM AND REQUIRE FORD TO RECALL THESE VEHICLES AND FIX THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE STALLS WITHOUT WARNING WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED IN HOT WEATHER. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN KNOWN FOR MANY YEARS NOW AND FORD IS DOING NOTHING ABOUT IT. FINALLY A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT MAY FORCE FORD TO RECALL THESE VEHICLES. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS PROBLEM AND I HOPE YOU WILL ISSUE A RECALL. THANK YOU. GREG EVANS

NHTSA ID
730562
Incident
Aug 8, 2000
Fuel system
Filed May 30, 2000

WHEN CONSUMER FILLS UP GAS TANK GASOLINE COMES OUT THROUGH THE FILLER CAP AND FALLS ONTO THE GROUND. *AK

NHTSA ID
862722
Incident
Feb 1, 2000

Manufacturer communications

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

01156

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE

SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT HEATER CORE LEAKS. *SLC

002310

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES

SUBJECT REGARDING CONTAMINATION FROM PRIOR TRANSMISSION CONCERNS OR EXCESS WEAR MAY BE TRAPPED IN THE TRANSMISSION FLUID COOLING SYSTEM. *TT

98168

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION- E40D/4R100-1989-99-MAIN CONTROLS, SEPARATOR PLATES AND SEPARATOR PLATE GASKETS USAGE CHART. YD

0038

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES

VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE SOLID PARTICLE CONTAMINANTS FROM PRIOR TRANSMISSION CONCERNS OR EXCESS WEAR, MAY BE TRAPPED IN THE TRANSMISSION FLUID COOLING SYSTEM IS NOT PROPERLY FLUSHED, FLUID IN-LINE FILTER KIT. *MJS

0015

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

INFORMATION REGARDING THE NEW TRANSMISSION COOLER FLUSHER- SERVICE TIP. *MJS

99222

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

SUBJECT ON A WIRE HARNESS TERMINAL REPAIR KIT AVAILABLE FOR REPAIRING ELECTRICAL WIRING HARNESSES. *TT

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
1989Viewing322155.2
1988220042.6
1987155053.9
1986760—
1985106060.3
1984770—
1983260—
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.