RoadVitals

1996 Ford Econoline Engine Problems

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

Data refreshed

Engine 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.
12
Latest Jun 4, 2008
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.
15%
of 81 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.
3
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 engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1996 Ford Econoline submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 12 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 engine

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

Engine
Filed Jun 4, 2008
Fire reported

TL*THE CONTACT OWNED A 1996 FORD ECONOLINE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE ON JANUARY 14, 2008 WHILE PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY. SMOKE APPEARED FROM THE ENGINE AND FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND FILED A REPORT. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED FORD RECALL NOTICE NUMBER 05S28 THE FIRST WEEK IN MAY OF 2008. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 122,000.

NHTSA ID
10229871
Incident
Jan 14, 2008
Mileage
122,000 mi
Heating & air conditioningDriver assistanceElectrical+2 more
Filed Sep 20, 2006

1996 FORD ECONOLINE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM REPEATEDLY CAUSED THE VAN TO BREAK DOWN. *KB THE AIR CONDITIONING COMPRESSOR SEIZED AND THE SERPENTINE BELT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE IGNITION MODULE WAS REPLACED. THE TIE RODS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED WHICH FAILED WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING. THE CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING AND THE ABS, AIR BAG AND ENGINE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. *JB

NHTSA ID
10170132
Incident
Jan 1, 1901
Mileage
20,000 mi
Engine
Filed Oct 4, 2005
Fire reported

ON SUNDAY MORNING AT ABOUT 6 AM THE ALARM OF OUR VAN WENT OFF. IT WOKE US UP. THE ENGINE OF THE VAN WAS ON FIRE. WE CALLED THE 911 AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME. MY HUSBAND TRIED TO USE THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER BUT HE COULD NOT OPEN THE HOOD. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT PUT OUT THE FIRE.THE LAST TIME I DROVE THE VAN WAS ABOUT 8:30 PM ON SATURDAY NIGHT. IT WAS FINE THEN WHILE IT WAS BURNING IT SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS TRYING TO START. ONE FIREMAN SAID THAT SOUND WAS FROM THE WIRES BURNING OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. IT IS A 1996 FORD [XXX] FORD E 350 LIMITED REGENCY THE MILEAGE WAS ABOUT79362. A STICKER ON THE WINDSHIELD SAYS BUILT WITH PRIDE ECONOLINE BY LORAIND OHIO ASSEMBLY UAW 425 2000. WE ARE VERY THANKFUL FOR THE CAR ALARM. WE WERE NOT DUE TO WAKE UP UNTIL AN HOUR LATER. WE THINK IT IS TOTALED BECAUSE THE WHOLE FRONT SIDE IS BURNED AND THE WINDSHIELD BROKE. ALL THE SEATS ARE STILL IN GOOD SHAPE. THE POLICE CAME TO THE SCENE BUT WHEN WE WENT TO GET THE REPORT WE FOUND THAT THE POLICE MAN DID NOT MAKE A REPORT. HE DIDN'T EVEN SPEAK TO US. LATER WE LEARNED THAT SHIFT CHANGE HAPPENS THAT TIME OF MORNING. (A POLICE MAN WHO GOES TO OUR CHURCH TOLD US ABOUT THE SHIFT CHANGE) HE DIDN'T KNOW WHY A REPORT WAS NOT TAKEN. *NM UPDATED 07/18/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID
10138588
Incident
Sep 18, 2005
Mileage
79,362 mi
Engine
Filed Oct 18, 2000

A REOCCURRING FAILURE OF A TIMING GEAR AT 64,000 MILES. FIRST, OCCURRED AT 55,000 MILES. REPAIRED AT AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WITH DEALER'S PART. BELIEVED NHTSA SHOULD LOOK INTO AT THIS AS A DEFECTIVE PARTS. *AK

NHTSA ID
873316
Incident
Oct 6, 2000
Engine
Filed Jun 2, 2000

VEHICLE STALLS DUE TO A DEFECTIVE ENGINEERING PART. DEALER HAS TOLD CONSUMER THE PART AT FAULT IS CALLED A 3-WAY TEE. IT REGULATES FUEL FUMES FROM THE GAS TANK. IT CAUSES THE MIXTURE TO BECOME TOO RICH WHICH SLOWS THE ENGINE DOWN. DEALER HAS REPAIRED THE VEHICLE.*AK VEHICLE STOPS RUNNING SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING AND CUSTOMER BELIEVES IT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS PROBLE. *YH

NHTSA ID
862956
Incident
May 23, 2000
Engine
Filed Apr 25, 2000

REPORTED TO FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE THAT THE OIL PAN IN THE VANS AND TRUCKS ARE STARTING TO RUST OUT FROM THE INSIDE. FORD WILL DO NOTHING ABOUT THE PROBLEM. THEY ADMITTED ON THE PHONE (GREG TREDWELL) IN VESTAL, NY THAT IN 96 AND 97 THEY WERE MADE OUT OF RECYCLED MATERIAL AND THAT IS WHY THEY ARE RUSTING OUT AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. WHY HASN'T THERE BEEN A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM? *AK

NHTSA ID
721931
Engine
Filed Nov 30, 1999

DEALER CAN'T (WON'T) REPRODUCE OR FIX PROBLEM. TAKES ALL DAY, BUT DOES NOTHING. VERY FRUSTRATING. NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED IN SUMMARY. *AK

NHTSA ID
715444
Incident
Jun 15, 1999
Engine
Filed Nov 17, 1999
Fire reported

WHILE PARKED ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUGHT FIRE. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. COMSUMER WANTS TO BE COMPENSATED FOR LOSSES. *AK *ML

NHTSA ID
853057
Incident
Oct 29, 1999
Engine
Filed Jun 7, 1998

ENGINE STALLS WHEN STOPPING DURING THE SUMMER HEAT, ESPECIALLY IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC.

NHTSA ID
536698
Incident
Jul 1, 1997
EngineTires & wheels
Filed Sep 10, 1997

ENGINE STALLS WHILE IN STOPPED POSITION.

NHTSA ID
606074
Engine
Filed Jun 12, 1997

INTERMITTENT STALLING. *AK

NHTSA ID
517609
EngineVisibility
Filed Jan 29, 1997

EXHAUST FUMES ENTER INSIDE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID
514303
Incident
Jan 23, 1997

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

Brakes20Tires & wheels13Driver assistance12Electrical8

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .