RoadVitals

1994 Ford Econoline Steering Problems

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

Data refreshed

Steering 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.
13
Latest Dec 6, 2014
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.
10%
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.
0
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 the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage. 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. 13 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 steering

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Body & structureSteering
Filed Dec 6, 2014

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
Steering
Filed Aug 19, 2014

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
Steering
Filed Dec 31, 2013

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
Steering
Filed Feb 7, 2012

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
Steering
Filed Feb 6, 2007

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
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
Steering
Filed Nov 24, 2000

WAS MAKING A TURN & HAD LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC ALL 3 BOLTS THAT HELD STEERING BOX TO CHASSIS HAD SHEARED COMPLETELY OFF. *AK

NHTSA ID
875443
Incident
Oct 7, 2000
Steering
Filed Aug 18, 2000

WHILE MAKING A TURN TO PARK, STEERING BOX RIPPED OFF THE FRAME, AND CONSUMER HAD TO HAVE VEHICLE TOWED TO A MECHANIC. HOME # 732-613-1292, W# 212-272-0207. *AK

NHTSA ID
868103
Incident
Aug 13, 2000
Steering
Filed Jul 10, 1997

VEHICLE WOULD PULL LEFT OR RIGHT ON ITS OWN. DEALER HAS CHANGED STEERING BOX. *AK

NHTSA ID
814040
Steering
Filed Feb 3, 1997

POWER STEERING FAILED. VEHICLE WOULD NOT STEER. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

NHTSA ID
808560
Incident
May 1, 1995
Steering
Filed Dec 13, 1995

THE GEAR BOX IS HELD BY 3 BOLTS AND THEY ARE ALL SHEARED OFF AND COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT

NHTSA ID
976505
Incident
Nov 13, 1995
Steering
Filed Oct 23, 1995

THREE BOLTS HOLDING STEERING GEAR BOX IN PLACE AGAINST FRONT LEFT FRAME OF VEHICLE SHEARED OFF, CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING. *SLC

NHTSA ID
973778
Incident
Oct 23, 1995
EngineSteering
Filed Jan 10, 1995

RADIATOR FAILED. *AK

NHTSA ID
477454
Incident
Jan 10, 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 .