1994 Ford Econoline

EA05-005 IS CLOSED WITH FORD?S ACTIONS IN RECALLS 05V-017, 05V-388, AND 06V-286, RECALLING APPROXIMATELY 6.7 MILLION VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH TEXAS INSTRUMENTS SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCHES (SCDS).THE BRAKE SYSTEMS IN THESE RECALLED VEHICLES GENERATE A VACUUM THAT CAN POTENTIALLY CAUSE THE SCDS TO FAIL AND, IN CERTAIN SWITCH INSTALLATION ORIENTATIONS, CATCH FIRE.FORD IS ALSO INCLUDING THE ENTIRE POPULATION OF 1998 EXPLORERS.FORD HAS INFORMED ODI THAT TESTING TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURES IN THE 1998 EXPLORERS WILL CONTINUE AFTER THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.ODI BELIEVES THAT THE VEHICLES EXHIBITING THE FACTORS CAUSING SCDS FAILURE DESCRIBED IN THIS REPORT CORRELATE WELL WITH THE OBSERVED FAILURE RATES ON THESE VEHICLES BY MODEL AND MODEL YEAR.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST IN THE NON-RECALLED VEHICLES MANUFACTURED WITH SCDS THAT ARE NOT INCLUDED IN FORD?S RECALLS.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE NON-RECALLED POPULATION FOR INCIDENCE OF ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.SEE ATTACHED CLOSING REPORT FOR DETAILS.

THE BOLTS WHICH SECURE THE STEERING GEAR TO VEHICLE STRUCTURE MAY FAIL, ALLOWING THE STEERING GEAR TO SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE FRAME AND CAUSE INACCURATE STEERING AND/OR LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL.

FORD HAS ACKNOWLEDGED A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE ACCESSORY DRIVE BELT SYSTEM (SERPENTINE BELT) IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.SEVERAL SERVICE BULLETINS HAVE BEEN ISSUED TO ADDRESS CONCERNS RELATED TO BELT TRACKING OR WEAR.FORD MAINTAINS THAT THE SUBJECT CONDITION DOES NOT PRESENT AN UNREASONABLE RISK TO HIGHWAY SAFETY, ARGUING THAT THE LOW INCIDENCE OF FAILURES ALLEGING SAFETY CONSEQUENCES (I.E., FIRES, FLUID LEAKS, AND/OR ACCIDENTS) IS STRONG EVIDENCE IN SUPPORT OF THIS CLAIM.FORD HAS INDICATED RECEIPT OF 4,445 FIELD REPORTS AND 46891 WARRANTY CLAIMS CONCERNING THE SUBJECT CONDITION. FORD MAINTAINS THAT THE LOW NUMBER OF REPORTED HOSE RUPTURES AND/OR FIRES, RELATIVE TO TOTAL BELT FAILURES, SHOWS THAT THE PROBLEM IS A DURABILITY CONCERN THAT PRESENTS VERY LITTLE RISK TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY.FORD INTENDS TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEMIN A SERVICE BULLETIN SCHEDULED FOR PUBLICATION THE WEEK OF MARCH 13, 1995.ODI HAS RECEIVED SEVERAL CLAIMS ALLEGING THAT INCIDENTS OF BELT FAILURE ARE CAUSING COLLATERAL DAMAGE TO ADJACENT FLUID SYSTEMS (E.G., POWER STEERING HOSE, COOLANT HOSE, AND AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER HOSE).RELEASE OF THESE FLUIDS WITHIN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE, IF EXPOSED TO A SUFFICIENTLY HOT SURFACE AREA.THE AUTOIGNITION TEMPERATURE FOR TRANSMISSION OIL MAY BE AS LOW AS 300 C (570 F), WHILE POWER STEERING FLUID AND ENGINE COOLANT ARE GENERALLY HARDER TO IGNITE (CLOSER TO 500 DEGREE C (900 DEGREEF)).DAMAGE TO BATTERY CABLE INSULATION HAS ALSO BEEN ALLEGED AS A CONSEQUENCE OF SERPENTINE BELT FAILURE.ODI HAS RECEIVED FOUR REPORTS ALLEGING FAILURE OF ADJACENT FLUID SYSTEM HOSES FROM CONTACT WITH A BROKEN SERPENTINE BELT.ONE REPORT INVOLVED AN ECONOLINE RV CUTAWAY CHASSIS WITH A 7.3L V-8 NAVISTAR ENGINE, USED IN THE TRANSPORT OF DISABLED CHILDREN.AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE DESTROYED THE VEHICLE IN NOVEMBER 1994.THE FIRE IS ALLEGED TO HAVE BEEN CAUSED WHEN THE SERPENTINE BELT BROKE AT HIGHWAY SPEED AND RUPTURED A TRANSMISSION COLLER LINE. THE REPORT ALLEGES FINDING BELT FRAGMENTS AND TRACES OF TRANSMISSION FLUID UP THE ROAD FROM THE FIRE SCENE, NEAR WHERE THE DRIVER HAD HEARD A POP JUST PRIOR TO THE FIRE.THE DRIVER REPORTEDLY SUSTAINED MINOR BURN INJURIES WHILE EVACUATING PASSENGERS.OWNER REPORTS ALSO ALLEGE SOME LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL OCCURS WITH THE BELT FAILURES, DUE TO THE LOSS OF POWER ASSIST CAPABILITY TO THE BRAKING AND STEERING SYSTEMS.THE SERPENTINE BELT DRIVES THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND THE VACUUM PUMP FOR THE BRAKE BOOSTER IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.AS STATED IN FORD BULLETIN 93-23-27: SOME DIESEL POWERED VEHICLES ARE EXPERIENCING DRIVE BELT TRACKING CONCERNS.THIS IS CAUSED BY FRONT END ACCESSORY DRIVE (FEAD) MISALIGNMENT, WHICH MAY RESULT IN THE BELT COMING OFF THE ACCESSORY DRIVE PULLEYS.IF THIS OCCURS, SEVERAL WARNING LIGHTS WILL ILLUMINATE AND THE VEHICLE WILL LOSE ALTERNATOR AND A/C FUNCTION AND WATER PUMP CIRCULATION.IN ADDITION, STEERING EFFORTS WILL INCREASE AND, AFTER ONE OR A FEW BRAKE APPLICATIONS, BRAKE EFFORTS WIL PROGRESSIVELY INCREASE. THERE ARE THREE ODI COMPLAINTS AND FIVE FORD COMPLAINTS, NOT INCLUDED IN THE FAILURE REPORT SUMMARY OF THIS RESUME, ALLEGING THAT THE REDUCTIONIN VEHICLE CONTROL ASSOCIATED WITH ACESSORY DRIVE BELT FAILURE RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT.THIS INVESTIGATION IS BEING UPGRADED TO FURTHER ANALYZE THE POTENTIAL SAFETY CONSEQUENCES OF SERPENTINE BELT FAILURE IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.

seat belt not pulling out e40d trans starts out going in 3ed gear

NHTSA ID

11504082

Incident

Jan 27, 2021

WHILE PULLING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE TURN WHEEL TO LEFT HARD AT LOUD CRACKING SOUND AS IF SOMETHING WAS BREAKING. STOPPED GOT OUT AND LOOKED UNDER AND NOTICED A BOLT PULLED THROUGH AND BROKE THE FRAME WHERE THE BOTTOM BOLT WAS. GRABBED THE OTHER TWO AND THEY PULLED RIGHT OUT AND WE'RE SNAPPED OFF. HAD TO GET ANOTHER GEARBOX PUT ON WITH ALL THREE BOLTS AND 4 DAYS LATER WHILE PULLING OUT OF PARKING LOT HARD LOUD POP AND LOOKED AND TOP RIGHT BOLT WAS SNAPPED OFF COMPLETELY. STEERING WAS WAY LOOSER AND MADE IT TO MY DESTINATION. NEXT MORNING TRIED TO PULL OUT OF PARKING SPACE AND LOUD POP ONCE AGAIN. THIS TIME THE GEARBOX WAS HANGING ALL THE WAY OFF. STEERING WHEEL JUST KEPT TURNING BUT WHEELS WERE NOT. COULDN'T PARK IT BACK OUT OF STREET BECAUSE OTHERS CARS WERE CLOSE HAD TO LEAVE IT HALFWAY HANGING OUT IN STREET TILL PEOPLE GOT OFF WORK AND MOVED OTHER CARS AWAY SO I COULD GET IT BACK TO CURB. NOW I'M AT A LOST HOW DID THIS HAPPEN TWICE. OR EVEN HAPPEN AT ALL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10662526

Incident

Nov 24, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 FORD ECONOLINE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE MULTI-FUNCTION TURN SIGNAL SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,000. UPDATED 10/8/14*CN UPDATED 3/24/2015 *JS

NHTSA ID

10629323

Incident

Jul 2, 2014

Mileage

22,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 FORD ECONOLINE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD CONSTANTLY VEER TO THE RIGHT AND THE STEERING WHEEL WOBBLED. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC STATED THAT THE STEERING BOX NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000.

NHTSA ID

10626357

Incident

Aug 19, 2013

Mileage

72,000 mi

YOU DON'T HAVE THE NINETIES! WHAT'S WITH THAT? I'D LIKE TO LOOK TO SEE IF THE CAR I HAVE WAS EVER RECALLED BEFORE I BOUGHT IT

NHTSA ID

10565376

Incident

Feb 20, 2014

PLEASE REOPEN NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10254031. AFTER THIS INCIDENT I POSTED A WEB SITE DETAILING THE PROBLEM. SINCE THEN, I HAVE RECEIVED DOZEN OF INQUIRIES FROM PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD THE IDENTICAL ISSUE. THE LATEST ONE CAME TODAY 12/31/2013, 5 YEARS AFTER MY EVENT. SEVERAL HAVE RESULTED IN ACCIDENTS. THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT PEOPLE HAVE DIED BECAUSE OF THIS FAILURE, WITH THE FAILURE BEING INCORRECTLY DETERMINED TO HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY AN ACCIDENT, RATHER THAN BEING DETERMINED TO HAVE BEEN THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10557998

Incident

Nov 29, 2008

Mileage

165,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 FORD ECONOLINE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 3 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE BOLTS IN THE STEERING BOX FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 181,000.

NHTSA ID

10446974

Incident

Feb 1, 2012

Mileage

181,000 mi

MOVING TO NORTH CAROLINA IN A FORD ECONOLINE VAN, 1994. THE VAN STARTED SMOKING AND WHEN WE PULLED OVER ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY THE SMOKE BECAME SO THICK THAT WE STARTED TO WALK AWAY TO OUR SECOND VEHICLE PARKED THE VAN. WHEN WE TURNED AROUND WE SAW AN EXTREME AMOUNT OF SMOKE AND REALIZED THE VAN HAD CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME TO EXTINGUISH THE FLAMES BUT NONE OF THE CONTENTS WITHIN COULD BE SAVED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10334458

Incident

May 30, 2010

Mileage

200,000 mi

This SKU is a front upper ball joint. The Customer communication requested return of unsold inventory to inspect for ball studs with excessive rotational friction in the ball joint assembly. Excessive friction in the ball joint assembly may cause a perceptible increase in steering effort.

ENGINE OR FUEL SYSTEM CONCERNS WHEN USING FUEL WITH GREATER THAN 5% BIODIESEL CONCENTRATION. *TT

A HARD START OR NO START CONDITION IN EXTREME COLD WEATHER. *TT

DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE (DTC) P0340, POSSIBLE FALSE CODE. VARIOUS MODELS INCLUDING 1994-1996 FORD EXCURSION. *TT

NEW TRANSMISSION COOLER FLUSHER - SERVICE TIPS. 2003 ESCORT AND SUPER DUTY F SERIES INCLUDED. *TT

AN OIL LEAK AT THE TURBOCHARGER PEDESTAL AROUND THE EXHAUST BACKPRESSURE ACTUATOR. *TT