RoadVitals

1994 Ford Econoline Brakes Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Brakes reportsComplaints 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.
29
Latest Aug 12, 2004
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
23%
of 124 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
2
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1994 Ford Econoline submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 29 reports on file name it.

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

Owner reports naming brake

The 25 most recent of 29, in the owner's own words

BrakesSteering
Filed Aug 12, 2004

STEERING COLUMN: ANTI-LOCK BRAKE LIGHT ON ALL THE TIME, AIRBAG LIGHT BLINKS IN A PATTERN, HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL QUIT WORKING AT THE SAME TIME. TRANSMISSION: TRANSMISSION SHUDDERS WHEN SHIFTING GEARS IN THE HIGHER GEARS.*AK

NHTSA ID
10086751
Incident
May 30, 2003
Mileage
40,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Aug 13, 2002

ABS LIGHT HAD COME ON, AND THE WILL STAY ON FOR A WHILE BEFORE TURNING OFF. CONTACTED DEALER. *AKI

NHTSA ID
8016131
Incident
Aug 2, 2002
Brakes
Filed Sep 24, 2001

WHEN APPLYING BRAKES THEY WILL SHUDDER, AND PULSATE. REPLACED ROTORS BECAUSE THEY WERE WARPED. VEHICLE WAS HAVING BRAKE PROBLEMS AGAIN. THIS TIME CONSUMER COULD SMELL SOMETHING BURNING UNDERNEATH VEHICLE. REPLACED CALIPERS. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE IN SEVERAL TIMES FOR BRAKES WITHIN WARRANTY PERIOD,AND PROBLEM STILL WAS NOT REMEDIED. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER STATED NOTHING COULD BE DONE. *AK

NHTSA ID
896721
Incident
Sep 24, 2001
Brakes
Filed Aug 30, 2001

ABS WARNING LIGHT COMES ON DURING OPERATION, NO SET PATTERN. I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE SERVICED NUMEROUS TIMES SINCE IT WAS NEW, EACH TIME IT IS OK FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, THEN THE SITUATION CONTINUES. I HAVE SPOKEN TO SEVERAL FORD SERVICE MANAGERS, HAD THE VEHICLE SERVICED LAST AT MAGIC CITY FORD WHERE SEVERAL PARTS WAS REPLACED IN AN ATTEMP TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. TO THIS DAY THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM IN THAT YOU CAN NEVER TELL IF THE ABS SYSTEM IS REALLY FAILING OR IF THIS IS A FALSE ALARM. ANY ASSISTANCE WILL BE APPRECIATED.*AK

NHTSA ID
751431
Incident
Oct 24, 1995
Brakes
Filed May 15, 2000

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 45 MPH AND WHEN APPLYING BRAKES PEDAL, BRAKES STARTED MAKING NOISE, LIKE METAL TO METAL GRINDING. *AK

NHTSA ID
861925
Incident
May 15, 2000
AirbagsBrakesDriver assistance+2 more
Filed Apr 21, 2000

STEERING COLUMN: ANTI-LOCK BRAKE LIGHT ON ALL THE TIME, AIRBAG LIGHT BLINKS IN A PATTERN, HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL QUIT WORKING AT THE SAME TIME. TRANSMISSION: TRANSMISSION SHUDDERS WHEN SHIFTING GEARS IN THE HIGHER GEARS. *AK

NHTSA ID
721769
Incident
Feb 15, 2000
Brakes
Filed Feb 1, 2000

FAILED ABS,DIAGNOSTIC CODE C1206. *AK

NHTSA ID
718164
Incident
Jan 31, 2000
BrakesSuspension
Filed Jan 22, 2000

VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR SERVICE DUE TO BRAKE FAILURE & NOTICED THE BALL JOINTS WERE LOOSE. *AK

NHTSA ID
852373
Incident
Oct 28, 1999
BrakesElectricalFuel system+3 more
Filed Oct 12, 1999

THIS VAN WOULD BE CONSIDERED A LEMON IF ALL OF THIS HAPPENED WITHIN TWO YEARS. FIRST THE DOOR LOCK FELL OUT, THEN THE REARVIEW MIRROR FELL OFF, THEN THE WRONG FUSE SIZE HAD BEEN INSTALLED AND THE THE CAR COULD NOT STARTED AND ALL ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS FAILED. THIS ALL HAPPENED IN THE FIRST YEAR OF OWNERSHIP. AFTER THAT ALL THE BALL JOINTS HAD TO BE REPLACES THE FOLLOWING YEAR. AFTER THAT THE BRAKES FAILED DUE TO TOO LIGHT A DUTY BRAKE BEING INSTALLED ON A CONVERSION VAN. IN 1998 THE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO GO OUT, IT HAS NOT COMPLETELY GONE OUT YET. IT SHUDDERS ON LIGHT TO MODERATE ACCELERATION. THE DEALER SAYS IT IS PROBABLY THE THRUST CONVERTER. IN JUNE 1999 THE FUEL PUMP WENT OUT. THE DEALER SAID THAT IT HAD BEEN IMPROPERLY INSTALLED AT THE FACTORY BECAUSE OF CORROSION. THE CAR PUMP WENT OUT ON A TWO LANE 6% GRADE GOING DOWN HILL CAUSING THE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES TO PRACTICALLY FAIL DO TO NO POWER. THE COURTESY LIGHTS HAVE NOW FAILED AND WE ARE UNABLE TO TURN ANY OF THEM ON. WE ARE WORRIED ABOUT AN ELECTRICAL FIRE DUE TO THE SHORT. WE WANT FORD TO OFFER TO PAY FOR FIXING THESE ITEMS. THERE ARE MANY SERVICE BULLETINS REGARDING ALL OF THESE THINGS.

NHTSA ID
713211
Incident
May 15, 1999
Brakes
Filed Mar 1, 1999

ABS BRAKES FAIL TO WORK. EVERY TIME BRAKES ARE APPLIED THEY DO NOT GRAB. HAVE TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER & INFORMED THE COMPUTER CHIP IS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ID
835386
Incident
Nov 21, 1998
Brakes
Filed Jan 18, 1999

MECHANIC INDICATES ABS COMPUTER MODULE HAS FAILED

NHTSA ID
702332
Incident
Aug 15, 1998
AirbagsBrakesDriver assistance
Filed Dec 8, 1998

ABS BRAKING LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY, AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT HAS REMAINED ON SINCE 30K MILES. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. ALSO PROBLEMS WITH HAND BRAKES. CRUISE CONTROL DOESN'T ALWAYS ENGAGE, BUT WHEN IT DOES, IT IS DIFFICULT TO RETURN IT TO THE ORIGINAL POSITION. *AK *ML

NHTSA ID
832000
Incident
Feb 1, 1995
Brakes
Filed Aug 25, 1998

ABS LIGHT COMES ON VERY INTERMITTENTLY, THE DEALER CONTACTED, AND STATED THE SYSTEM SHOULD BE REPLACED, AND CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
827176
Incident
May 25, 1998
BrakesPowertrain (other)
Filed Aug 15, 1998

WHEN BRAKE ARE APPLIED, THE ABS LIGHT COMES ON. IT TOOK SIX TRIES FOR THE DEALER TO LOCATE AND CORRECT AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH THE ABS. ALSO, EXPERIENCE TWO TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WHERE THE VEHICLE GETS STUCK IN LOW GEAR AND THE ENGINE OVERHEATS.

NHTSA ID
539863
BrakesTires & wheels
Filed Apr 14, 1998

ABS BRAKES; WHEN APPLYING BRAKES IN A PANIC STOP, BRAKES FAIL TO STOP THE VEHICLE. MECHANIC AT DEALERSHIP BLAMED THE BRAKES FAILING ON UNEVEN TIRE WEAR FRPM WHEN TIRES WERE ROTATED. *AK

NHTSA ID
821972
Incident
Mar 13, 1998
Brakes
Filed Dec 17, 1997

WHILE BRAKING VEHICLE USING ABS BRAKES, VEHICLE WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN; IT WOULD PICK UP SPEED. ALTHOUGH THIS HAPPENS AT LOW SPEEDS ONLY (30MPH OR LESS). TOOK TO DEALER 3TIMES & NOTHING WAS FOUND. *AK

NHTSA ID
820911
Incident
Sep 24, 1997
Brakes
Filed Dec 17, 1997

ABS: BRAKING ON WET/DAMP PAVEMENT, VEHICLE WOULD PICK UP SPEED; DID NOT SLOW DOWN. HAPPENS AT 25 MPH OR LESS. TOOK TO DEALER & NOTHING WAS FOUND. *AK

NHTSA ID
820801
Incident
Sep 24, 1997
Brakes
Filed Oct 28, 1997

BRAKES FAILED.

NHTSA ID
524042
Incident
Jul 25, 1997
Brakes
Filed Oct 16, 1997

WHILE DRIVING THE REAR BRAKE PADS BECAME UNGLUED FROM THE BRAKES SHOES AND JAMMED UP THE BRAKES, MAKING THE BRAKES HOT AND SMELLY. WHEN TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP, DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT CORRECT PROBLEM. DEALER STATED THAT THIS WAS NORMAL WEAR ON BRAKES. THE OWNER REPLACED THE BRAKE SHOES ON 10/8/97. *AK

NHTSA ID
817172
Incident
Oct 2, 1997
BrakesOther / unspecified
Filed Sep 24, 1997

WHILE BACKING UP THE LEFT REAR WHEEL LOCKED, CONSUMER PULLED THE BRAKE DRUM AND FOUND THE THE BONDED LINING WAS NOT ATTACHED TO THE BRAKE SHOE CAUSING LOSS OF BRAKING ABILITY.

NHTSA ID
522430
Brakes
Filed Jun 20, 1997

DEFECTIVE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS, CAUSING BRAKES TO VIBRATE. *AK

NHTSA ID
517824
Incident
Apr 1, 1997
Brakes
Filed Jul 1, 1996
Crash reported

ABS: WHOLE FRONT END OF VAN SHAKES VIOLENTLY AND PULLS TO RIGHT WHEN APPLYING BRAKES. *AK

NHTSA ID
986358
Incident
Jan 25, 1995
Brakes
Filed Jun 3, 1996

WARPED FRONT BRAKE ROTORS, CAUSING SEVERE PULSATION/VIBRATION WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED. *AK

NHTSA ID
504962
Incident
May 1, 1996
Brakes
Filed Oct 30, 1995
Crash reported

APPLIED BRAKES, THEY GRABBED SHORTLY, THEN PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. TT *SLC

NHTSA ID
974125
Incident
Oct 24, 1995
Brakes
Filed Oct 24, 1995

BRAKES SQUEAL, ALSO GRAB WHEN APPLIED. *SD

NHTSA ID
487395
Incident
Oct 24, 1995

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .