1996 Ford Econoline Problems

ON JUNE 25TH I CHANGED THE BATTERY ON MY 1996 FORD E150 BECAUSE THE BATTERY WAS DEAD. ABOUT A HALF AN HOUR LATER I HEARD THE ALARM GOING OFF. WHEN I WENT OUTSIDE THERE WAS WHITE SMOKE COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I RAISED THE HOOD AND THE SENDING UNIT ON THE MASTER CYLINDER FOR THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS SMOKING AND THE WHITE SMOKE WAS INCREASING BY THE SECOND. I PULLED THE WIRES THAT WERE LEADING TO IT AND THE SMOKED STARTED TO DISAPATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT RUNNING AND THE IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF. ON JUNE 29, I WAS WATCHING THE JANE PAULY SHOW ON CNN. THEY WERE REPORTING ABOUT A PROBLEM WITH THIS SAME PART ON THE FORD F150 PICKUPS. I BELIEVE THAT IF MY ALARM HAD NOT SOUNDED MY VEHICLE WOULD HAVE CAUGHT ON FIRE LIKE THE PICKUP TRUCKS IN THE REPORT. AS OF YET I STILL HAVE NOT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE AND ALL PARTS ARE AS THEY WERE ON THE DAY OF THE INCEDENT. IF YOU WOULD LIKE I WILL LEAVE THE VEHICLE THIS WAY SO YOU CAN INSPECT THE PROBLEM IF YOU WOULD LIKE. PLEASE CONTACT ME ASAP SO I KNOW HOW TO PROCEED.

THE ABS WILL NOT ENGAGE WHEN BRAKING DURING A EMERGENCY SITUATION OR A SUDDEN STOP. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO A REPAIR SHOP ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE FRONT PADS AND BOTH FRONT ROTORS AND THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. *JB

DT: THE CONTACT BOUGHT 4 NEW TIRES AROUND JUNE-2002. 3 FAILED. THE FIRST ONE FAILED IN 6-04, THE SECOND ONE BLEW OUT IN 3-05, AND THE THIRD ONE FAILED ON 8-15-05. NOTICED THE BUBBLES BEFORE THE OTHER TWO BLEW OUT. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THEM AT NO COST; BUT WAS WORRIED ABOUT OTHER PEOPLE WHO MAY HAVE THE SAME TIRE. THE TIRE BRAND NAME IS BIG O. THE DOT NUMBERS ARE B4KV3800; UTRK-266E R-44448 K-9184 1914. THE TIRE LINE IS: LT235/75R15. *AK *JB

THREE OUT OF FOUR GOODYEAR TIRES HAD A LARGE AIR BUBBLE ON SIDEWALLS. BUBBLE WAS THE SIZE OF A TENNIS BALL. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. TS. *AK

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD ECONOLINE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL NOTICE FOR THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL IN FEBRUARY OF 2008. SINCE THAT TIME, HE HAS CALLED THE DEALER FIVE TIMES AND WAS INFORMED TO CALL BACK THE FOLLOWING WEEK. ON APRIL 2, 2008, HE WAS INFORMED TO CALL BACK IN AUGUST. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE PURCHASE DATE, POWERTRAIN, AND RECALL NUMBER WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 124,000. UPDATED 04/16/08 *BF UPDATED 04/16/08 *TR

1996 FORD ECONOLINE WITH FUSED JUMPER HARNESS RECALL. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE DEALER KEEPS TELLING HIM THAT THE PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE. CONSUMER IS VERY UPSET WITH THE UNSATISFACTORY WAY THIS RECALL IS BEING TAKEN CARE OF. *KB

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.

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

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD ECONOLINE. AFTER THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED FOR 24 HOURS, IT BURST INTO FLAMES. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE INSURANCE INVESTIGATOR STATED THAT THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY SOMETHING ELECTRICAL IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. PERSONAL ITEMS THAT WERE IN THE YARD WERE BURNED AND DAMAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED LAST NOVEMBER FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 06V286000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE CRUISE CONTROL NEVER WORKED PROPERLY AFTER THE REPAIR WAS MADE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 157,000. UPDATED 02-19-08 *BF

THE MORNING OF 23 DEC 2006 AROUND 5:00 AM, MY 1196 FORD ECONOLINE CONVERSION VAN CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT FOR NO APPARENT REASON. DUE TO THE INTENSE HEAT MY HOME SUFFERED FIRE DAMAGE AS WELL. THERE WERE NO KNOWN MECHANICAL OR ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE VAN. IT WAS RUNNING LIKE A CHAMP UNTIL THIS INCIDENT.

CONSUMER STATES HE WAS TOLD BY DELAERSHIP THAT FRONT END BALL JOINTS WERE DESIGNED AND PUT IN WITHOUT A LUBRICATION POINT WHICH CAUSED THE TIE ROD ENDS, STEERING LINKAGE AND TIRES TO WEAR DOWN AND HAVE TO BE REPLACED, DEALERSHIP REPLACED BALL JOINTS WITH A GREESE FITTING. *JB

WHILE TRAVELING AT 45 MPH, I LOST THE ABILITY TO STEER THE VEHICLE. THIS TRUCK WAS A 4WD CONVERSION WHICH WAS DONE BY A COMPANY CALLED QUIGLEY, IN MANCHESTER, PA. THIS CONVERSION WAS APPROVED BY FORD AND THE TRUCK WAS PURCHASED WITH THE CONVERSION. AFTER THE STEERING FELL APART, I WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL TRUCK AND HAD AN ACCIDENT. APPROXIMATELY SIX MONTHS LATER, THE TRUCK, AGAIN, WENT OUT OF CONTROL AFTER HITTING A SLIGHT DIP IN THE ROAD. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION WITH THE DEALER, WHO CALLED QUIGLEY, QUIGLEY SAID THEY KNEW ABOUT THE PROBLEM AS IT HAD HAPPENED ON THEIR AMBULANCE 4WD CONVERSIONS. THERE WAS A KIT THEY COULD SUPPLY THAT WOULD FIX THIS PROBLEM. I PURCHASED THE KIT , WHICH WAS A STABILIZER KIT, AND HAD THE DEALER INSTALL IT AND HAVE NOT HAD A PROBLEM SINCE. I MET SOME EMT'S FROM RIDDLE MEMORIAL HOSPITAL, OUTSIDE MEDIA, PA. AND THEY WERE DRIVING A 4WD AMBULANCE CONVERSION VAN FROM FORD AND QUIGLEY. I ASKED THEM IF THEY EVER EXPERIENCED WHAT I DID AND THEY SAID THEY DID, THAT THEIR SUPERVISOR HAD TO SEND THE AMBULANCES BACK TO QUIGLEY, AND FINALLY, QUIGLEY WAS ABLE TO FIND OUT THE PROBLEM AND INSTALL A STABILIZER KIT. I HAVE SINCE MET OTHER PEOPLE WITH FORD VANS AND QUIGLEY 4WD CONVERSIONS, WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS. SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE ABOUT THIS AS I WAS LUCKY AND WASN'T KILLED, BUT IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE QUIGLEY CONVERSION. ITS EVEN MORE OF A DANGER WHEN AMBULANCES, FULL OF PEOPLE, GO OUT OF CONTROL BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. THE LOSS OF CONTROL OF MY VAN CAUSED AN ACCIDENT IN WHICH SIX PEOPLE COULD HAVE DIED. THE DISTURBING THING ABOUT THIS IS THAT QUIGLEY KNEW OF THIS PROBLEM BUT DID NOT LET ANYONE KNOW. THE STABILIZER KIT COST ME ABOUT $ 400.00. A SMALL PRICE TO PAY FOR VEHICLE SAFETY..

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD ECONOLINE. THE CONTACT STATED THE DOOR LATCH WOULD NOT RELEASE OPEN IN ORDER TO GAIN ACCESS OR EXIT THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE FAULTY DOOR CABLE. THE FAILURE INVOLVED BOTH SIDE DOORS AND REAR DOOR. THE CONTACT PURCHASED THE DOOR CABLE KIT AND PERFORMED THE REPAIR HIMSELF. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000. UPDATED 01/20/12*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS A FLAW IN THE MECHANICS THAT OPERATES THE DOORS THAT CAN BECOME INOPERABLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE CABLES OPERATING THE LATCHES CAN AND DO FAIL BECAUSE THEY ARE MADE OF VINYL AND IN TIME FAIL. UPDATED 01/20/12

SEAT BRACKETS ON DRIVER'S SEAT SNAPPED, VEHICLE WAS STOPPED, CONSUMER'S FOOT ON BRAKE, SEAT WENT ALL THE WAY BACK. FORD TAKES NO RESPONSIBILITY SINCE OUT OF WARRANTY, AND VEHICLE BEING CONVERSION VAN. FORD DEALER OFFERED TO PAY 2/3 OF COST OF REPAIR. *AK

WHEN VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT FLASHED ON AND OFF. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

STRONGLY FEEL FORD IS RESPONSIBLE FOR FIXING THIS AIR BAG MALFUNCTIONING INDICATOR LIGHT SAFETY ISSUE. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER, THE CAR HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED WITH NO ACCIDENTS. THIS CONCERNS ME GREATLY THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. THE LOCAL FORD DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND SAID THE PROBLEM IS OUT OF WARRANTLY (5 YRS OR 50K MILES). THEY SAID IT WOULD COST $80 TO TROUBLE SHOOT LET ALONE FIX. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND MANUFACTURERS DEFECT PROBLEM THAT FORD SERVICE DEPARTMENT SHOULD COVER. YOUR ADVICE AND INPUT IS GREATLY APPRECIATED.*AK

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

FIRST TIME: PULLING OUT OF PARKING LOT. STEERING WHEEL JUMPED OFF CENTER. AT DEALER WHEN MECHANIC SAID NOTHING WRONG. AT HOME WHEN STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT. STEERING GEAR STARTED TO MOVE. MANAGED TO GET TO DEALER & MECHANIC SAW 2 OF 3 BOLTS SHEARED OFF & REPAIRED IT. SECOND TIME: LEAVING PARKING LOT WHEN A LOUD SNAP WAS HEARD. PULLED OVER. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER. HAD NO STEERING CONTROL. TOWED TO DEALER. MECHANIC SAID NO BOLTS AT ALL ON STEERING WHEEL. *AK

THE ROOF ON MY 1996 FORD ECONOLINE WITH MOUNTED RACK HAS PAINT THAT HAS PEELED OFF AND BEGINNING RUST, ESPECIALLY AROUND THE RACK AND EDGES OF ROOF. IT IS A BLUE METALLIC PAINT AND IS SEPARATING FROM THE PRIMER, WHICH I UNDERSTAND IS A DEFECT KNOWN AS DELAMINATION CAUSED BY DEFECTIVE PRIMER AND NORMAL ENVIRONMENT CONDITION OF ULTRAVIOLET EXPOSURE, A DEFECT THAT WAS LATENT FROM THE DATE IT WAS PAINTED AND HAS NOW BECOME VERY APPARENT. ESTIMATE TO REPAIR ROOF IS $1220.80 MILEAGE IS 55,834.*JB

CONSUMER WAS HAVING A PROBLEM KEEPING THE VEHICLE ALIGNED BECAUSE THE FRAME CRACKED NEAR THE STEERING BOX WHERE MOTOR MOUNT ARE ATTACHED. *AK *NLM

DEPENDING ON THE ROAD CONDITIONS, REAR OF THE VAN IS UNCONTROLLABLE.

EXHAUST FUMES ENTER INSIDE VEHICLE.

WITHOUT ANY WARNING THE VEHICLE STALLED ON THE HIGHWAY WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH. THE INCIDENT OCCURRED FOUR TIMES SINCE THE CONSUMER HAS OWNED THE VEHICLE. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHO INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE INJECTOR DRIVER MODULE WAS THE PROBLEM. THIS MODULE WAS POSITIONED IN A WAY THAT MOISTURE COULD SEEP IN, CAUSING THE IPM MODULE TO FAIL. *AK RESPONSE FROM DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WAS POOR. *PH

MY FORD E-150 VAN, AFTER BEING DRIVEN ABOUT 1 HOUR EARLIER, BURST INTO FLAMES WHILE PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY. A FORENSIC INVESTIGATION IDENTIFIED THE SPEED DEACTIVATION CONTROL SWITCH LOCATED ON THE MASTER BRAKE CONTROL CYLINDER. THIS IS THE SAME SWITCH AS IN 93 LINCOLN TOWNCARS AND MANY OTHER FORD CARS AND TRUCKS. IT WAS DESIGNED BY TEXAS INSTURMENTS TO BE WIRE AS SWITCHED BUT FORD INSTALLED IT AS WIRED ALWAYS HOT. PLEASE INVESTIGATE. THIS WILL CAUSE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF PROPERTY DAMAGE AND COULD INJURE MANY PEOPLE. THESE VEHICLES CAN BURST INTO FLAMES AT ANY TIME OR IN ANYBODY'S GARAGE. PLEASE CONTACT ME IF YOU WOULD LIKE A COPY OF THE FORENSIC REPORT I PAID FOR. THANKS, AND PLEASE DON'T PARK YOUR FORD IN YOUR GARAGE.*AK

UPPER SEAT BELT ANCHORS ON THE FRONT SEATS ARE LOCATED SUCH THAT THE SHOULDER BELT CROSSES THE NECK INSTEAD OF THE SHOULDER.

WHILE PULLING OVER TO CHANGE DRIVERS VEHICLE WAS PLACED IN PARK, AS THE DRIVER EXITED VEHICLE JUMPED INTO GEAR, CAUSING THE DOOR TO KNOCK THE DRIVER UNDER THE VEHICLE. DRIVER BROKE RIGHT ANKLE AND LEG, AND SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES ON LEFT ANKLE. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

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