1994 Ford Econoline Owner Complaints

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

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 FORD ECONOLINE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BOLTS THAT HOLD THE BUMPER IN PLACE HAVE RUSTED AND CAUSED THE FRONT BUMPER TO FALL OFF. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING THE FAILURE AND BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IF HE WAS DRIVING THE FAILURE COULD HAVE CAUSED A CRASH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.

NHTSA ID

10313652

Incident

Feb 5, 2008

Mileage

150,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 FORD ECONOLINE VAN. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, IT EXHIBITED A NO-START CONDITION. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNDER 100,000.

NHTSA ID

10291617

Incident

Oct 10, 2008

Mileage

100,000 mi

FIRE TO VEHICLE CAUSED BY DEFECTIVE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH. *TR

NHTSA ID

10272911

Incident

May 23, 2009

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 FORD ECONOLINE VAN. THE VEHICLE HAS COOPER WINTERMASTER TIRES, SIZE 235/75/R15. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD POPPING AND GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. HE PULLED OVER TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE WAS BLOWN. THERE WAS TREAD SEPARATION AND A LARGE PORTION OF THE STEEL BELT WAS EXPOSED. THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF NOTIFYING THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 74,800.

NHTSA ID

10262746

Incident

Mar 22, 2009

Mileage

74,800 mi

FIRE CAUSED BY A 1994 FORD ECONOLINE 150 CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH IGNITED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10250441

Incident

Aug 6, 2008

THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH CAUGHT ON FIRE AND BURNT THE BRAKE FLUID BOTTLE AND SOME SCORED PAINT UNDER THE HOOD AND SOME WIRING. WHEN WE CONTACTED FORD THEY SAID THIS VEHICLE DIDN'T FALL UNDER THIS RECALL. NOW FORD SAYS IT DOES AND WE HAD ALREADY REPAIRED IT AT OUR EXPENSE. WHEN WE LOOKED THIS UP ON THE NET IT SAID IT WAS ALREADY DONE IN 1996, BUT HOW COULD IT WHEN THEY SAID IT DIDN;T FALL INTO THE RECALL SINCE IT WAS A E150. *TR

NHTSA ID

10227948

Incident

Jun 20, 2005

ACCELERATOR PEDAL STICKS ON HIGH RPMS WHEN VERY COLD/REAR SEAT BELTS RETRACTOR WILL NOT FEED OUT FREQUENTLY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10220214

Incident

Feb 1, 2008

Mileage

60,000 mi

1994 FORD ECONOLINE VAN; MY OIL PAN RUSTED OUT. THIS WAS FOUND WHEN THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR FAILED,AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. I HAD IT TOWED FOR SERVICE, AND TOLD THEM I NOTICED A PUDDLE OF OIL AFTER THE TOW TRUCK REMOVED IT. THEY FOUND THE OIL PAN HAD RUSTED OUT. THIS WAS A COSTLY REPAIR AS THE ENGINE HAD TO BE PULLED FORWARD TO CHANGE THE PAN. WHILE IT WAS BEING SERVICED THREE OF THE PEOPLE I KNOW TOLD ME THEY HAD THE SAME THING HAPPEN ON THEIR FORDS; ONE PERSON USED JB WELD ON HIS VAN, THEN SOLD IT. AS I AM ON SS/DISABILITY, I CANNOT AFFORD TO PURCHASE A NEW VEHICLE, AND I DO LIKE THIS ONE. I DO THINK THIS IS A POTENTIAL HAZARD AS OIL COULD START FIRE ON A HOT ENGINE, AND IF THE ENGINE FROZE UP ON THE INTERSTATE COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. I WAS LUCKY TO FIND THE PROBLEM BEFORE MY ENGINE FROZE UP. HOWEVER, HAVING TO PULL THE ENGINE FORWARD TO CHANGE THE OIL PAN IS SOMEWHAT POOR DESIGN AND VERY COSTLY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10220213

Incident

Feb 7, 2008

Mileage

89,600 mi

TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 FORD ECONOLINE 150. WHILE TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE. THE CONTACT OBSERVED THAT THE CENTER BOLT HAD COME OUT OF THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME. THE FRAME WAS SPLIT. *AK UPDATED 02/27/07. *JB

NHTSA ID

10181746

Incident

Jun 1, 2006

Mileage

192,000 mi

TL*- THE CONTACT CALLED ABOUT NHTSA CAMPAIGN 06V286000. HE STATES THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN DRIVEWAY AND CAUGHT ON FIRE, AT THE TIME OF THE FIRE VEHICLE WAS NOT RUNNING. THE VEHICLE'S THE SPEED CONTROL DE-ACTIVATION SWITCH WAS THE SOURCE OF THE FIRE. AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT THERE WASN'T A RECALL ON THE VEHICLE SO THE CONTACT PAID FOR THE REPAIR DONE ON VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ONCE THE RECALL WAS POSTED, HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY VERIFIED THAT THE REPAIR ON VEHICLE HAD BEEN DONE PREVIOUSLY. ONCE THE DEALERSHIP CONFIRMED THAT REPAIR WAS DONE ON VEHICLE, THE CONTACT CALLED MANUFACTURER SO HE COULD GET REIMBURSED FOR REPAIR. MANUFACTURER REIMBURSED HIM FOR 50 PERCENT OF WHAT HE PAID FOR, NOW CONTACT IS LOOKING TO GET REIMBURSED IN FULL. THE CONTACT CAN PROVIDE A COPY OF INVOICE FOR REPAIRS DONE BY SHOP, LETTER THAT FORD SEND HIM AND ALSO A COPY OF THE CHECK THAT FORD SENT HIM.

NHTSA ID

10176377

Incident

Apr 13, 2005

Mileage

151,320 mi

1994 FORD ECONOLINE REAR AXLE BEGAN TO SMOKE AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. *KB *JB

NHTSA ID

10169108

Incident

Aug 16, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED OUTSIDE A CHURCH. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED, AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DETERMINED THE FIRE ORIGINATED FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND WAS LIKELY AN ELECTRICAL WIRING PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. THE CONTACT SAW A RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID # 06V86000 REGARDING THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, BUT THE CONTACT HAD NOT YET RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER.

NHTSA ID

10164681

Incident

Aug 6, 2006

Mileage

136,000 mi

1) NO PREVIOUS INDICATION WAS GIVEN OF ANY PROBLEM. 2) AT 3 AM ON AUGUST 8TH, 2005, I WAS AWAKEN BY A NEIGHBOR, WHO HAVING SMELLED SMOKE, LOOKED OUT THE WINDOW AND SAW MY VAN ON FIRE. THE FIRE WAS IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, IN THE AREA OF THE BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR, THIS ITEM HAVING BURNED, AS WELL AS THE WIRE HARNESSES BEHIND THE RESERVOIR, AND ALSO THE BATTERY CABLES. THE VAN HAD BEEN PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY WITH THE ENGINE OFF, AND NO ACCESSORIES WERE ON AT THE TIME. THE VAN IS INOPERATIVE AT THIS TIME. 3) I HAVE NOT DONE NOTHING TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, SINCE IT IS AN OBVIOUS MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT OF SOME COMPONENT ON THE VEHICLE, THIS SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED, AND I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE FORD MOTOR COMPANY ASSUME THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE SUBSEQUENT REPAIR. *NM

NHTSA ID

10132523

Incident

Aug 8, 2005

Mileage

146,000 mi

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE GASOLINE HOSE CRACKED. THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING GASOLINE BECAUSE OF THE CRACK IN THIS LINE THAT WAS GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. THE HOSE WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THIS SPECIFIC VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER EXAMINED SEVERAL OF THESE VEHICLES AND THEY ALL HAD A SIMILAR CRACK IN THE HOSE WERE DEVELOPING A CRACK. *AK

NHTSA ID

10129415

Incident

Jun 1, 2005

THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON THE SIDE OF THE HOUSE. WHILE ALL THE RESIDENCE WERE GONE FOR THE DAY, THE VEHICLE MYSTERIOUSLY CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOTIFIED. THE FIRE DESTROYED THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE OWNER CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER, AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY WERE NOT LIABLE FOR THE DEFECT. *AK *SC *JB

NHTSA ID

10111259

Incident

Sep 2, 2000

Mileage

93,000 mi

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

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING THE MOTOR WOULD START TO MAKE A LOUD NOISE CAUSING A DISTRACTION TO THE CONSUMER. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS

NHTSA ID

10001377

Incident

Nov 29, 2002