RoadVitals

1997 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.
20
Latest Oct 25, 2010
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.
25%
of 79 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.
4
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 1997 Ford Econoline submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 20 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

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

Brakes
Filed Oct 25, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD ECONOLINE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY THE BRAKES SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE THEY WOULD ENGAGE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER, WHEN CALLED, STATED THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER MAY HAVE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 89,400. UPDATED 01/04/11*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS REPLACED. HOWEVER, THAT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER WAS THEN INFORMED THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE BLOCK WAS BAD. UPDATED 01/11/11.*JB

NHTSA ID
10362297
Incident
Jun 10, 2009
Mileage
89,400 mi
Brakes
Filed Jan 23, 2003
Crash reported

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHEN APPLYING THE ANTI LOCK BRAKES AT 40 MPH THE BRAKES WILL LOCK UP CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO HAVE A VEHICLE ROLLOVER. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS

NHTSA ID
10004481
Incident
Jun 16, 1999
Brakes
Filed Nov 30, 2000
Crash reported

WAS DRIVING VEHICLE WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE STOPPED SHORT SUDDENLY. APPLIED BRAKES (ABS) & BRAKES FAILED. REARENDED OTHER VEHICLES. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER & MECHANIC CHANGED MASTER CYLINDER, BUT IT DID NOT SOLVE PROBLEM.*AK BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR WHEN ABS ARE PUMPING. *SLC

NHTSA ID
875792
Incident
Aug 2, 2000
Brakes
Filed Aug 18, 2000

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE BRAKES PAD & ROTORS. BRAKES WERE MAKING A GRINDING NOISE AND THERE WAS NO WARNING WHEN FADING. DEALER SAID IT JUST HAPPENED SOMETIMES FROM ALOT OF WEIGHT. CONSUMER REPLACED THEM AGAIN ON 11-AUG-2000. *AK

NHTSA ID
868099
Incident
Jul 8, 1999
Brakes
Filed Jul 17, 2000

THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD MULTIPLE BRAKE FAILURES. BEFORE THE WARRANTY RAN OUT AT 36K, THE DEALER REPLACED THE FRONT BRAKES TWO TIMES. SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD THE PADS REPLACED AND/OR ROTORS TURNED AT LEAST THREE TIMES MORE. NOW, ONLY 2K MILES AFTER THE LAST ROTOR REPLACEMENT, THE BRAKES ARE FAILING AGAIN - I.E., THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATES WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED, PARTICULARLY FROM SPEEDS GREATER THAN 45 MPH. *AK

NHTSA ID
725553
Brakes
Filed Jan 28, 2000
Crash reported

WHILE MAKING A TURN AT LOW SPEEDS AND APPLYING THE BRAKES IN ICY CONDITIONS , REAR BRAKES BECAME INOPERABLE, RESULTING IN A MINOR COLLISION. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID
855732
Incident
Jan 28, 2000
Brakes
Filed Nov 16, 1999

SINCE WE'VE HAD THE VAN. THE BRAKES HAVE GIVEN US PROBLEMS, AND THE DEALER WORKED ON THE VEHICLE MULTIPLE TIMES. IT IS EVIDENT THAT THEY HAD NO CLUE HOW TO FIX THE PROBLEM! THE FIRST MAJOR REPAIR WAS DONE ON 1/28/98 AND 12362 MILES.. THE DEALER HAS NOW BEEN BOUGHT OUT BY CLASSIC, AND THEY HAVE BEEN NO HELP AT ALL!!! I'VE TALKED TO OTHER PEOPLE WITH E-150S WHO REPORT SIMILAR PROBLEMS! I'VE REPLACED THE ROTORS/CALIPERS, SHOES ,AND CONTINUE TO HAVE PROBLEMS GETTING THE VEHICLE ANTILOCK SYSTEM TO WORK PROPERLY! *AK

NHTSA ID
714854
Incident
Oct 15, 1999
Brakes
Filed Oct 12, 1999

BRAKE PEDAL NEEDS TO BE PRESSED HARD TO BRING VEHICLE TO A STOP. THIS RESULTS IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER NOTIFIED ON THREE OCCASIONS, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT WAS NORMAL CONDITION OF THAT TYPE OF VEHICLE. SEEKING ANSWERS IN THIS MATTER FROM NHTSA. *AK

NHTSA ID
850527
Incident
Sep 1, 1998
BrakesSuspension
Filed Jun 10, 1999

THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES DO NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. I NOTED THE FIST OCCURRENCE ONLY, THERE HAVE BEEN 4 ADDIONAL OCCURRENCES OF THE SAME PROBLEM. THE ANTI-LOCK SYSTEM ENGAGES, CLAMPS HARD ONE TIME AND THEN RELEASES. THIS LEAVES YOU FREE ROLLING UNTIL IT DECIDES TO CONTINUE OR YOU TAKE YOUR FOOT UP AND REAPPLY THE BRAKES. WHEN IT DOES CONTINUE ON ITS OWN THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES VIOLENTLY. *AK

NHTSA ID
707407
Incident
Oct 8, 1998
BrakesDriver assistanceElectrical+2 more
Filed Apr 19, 1999
Crash reported

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 4-5 MPH, MADE A U-TURN AND PRESSED HAND BRAKE AND VAN ACCELERATED TO HIGH SPEED, CONSUMER REARENDED VEHICLE IN FRONT. ALSO, HAD TO REPLACE MASTER CYLINDER/ HEATER CORE/PREMATURE WORN OUT TIRES, AND STARTER. *AK

NHTSA ID
836841
Incident
Apr 8, 1999
BrakesSteering
Filed Mar 11, 1999

STEERING LOCKS UP ON OCCASIONS DUE TO FAILURE OT THE LOWER STEERING SHAFT AND STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY.

NHTSA ID
544285
Incident
Aug 10, 1998
BrakesVisibility
Filed Feb 1, 1999

HEATER CORE FAILED. YH

NHTSA ID
608954
Incident
Jan 20, 1998
Brakes
Filed Dec 1, 1998

LEFT SIDE BRAKE SHOE WORE THROUGH THE ROTOR, AND THE RIGHT SIDE WAS NOT DAMAGED. NO BRAKE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED. A LOUD SCRAPPING NOISE WAS HEARD.DEALER WAS CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ID
831477
Incident
Nov 29, 1998
Brakes
Filed Jun 12, 1998

CONTINUALLY FAILURE OF THE REAR BRAKES.

NHTSA ID
536593
Brakes
Filed Jun 9, 1998

WAS COMING TO A STOP BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR. NO BRAKES. WAS TOWED TO SERVICE STATION. MECHANIC SAID ABS BRAKES WERE NOT WORKING. TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. BRAKE PADS REPLACED & ROTORS TURNED. PROBLEM RETURNED. BACK AT DEALERSHP & ROTORS REPLACED. PROBLEM STILL EXISTED. BACK AGAIN TO DEALER & CALIPERS REPLACED. WAS TOLD THINGS WERE FINE. TOOK VEHICLE AROUND CORNER & NO BRAKES AT ALL. *AK

NHTSA ID
824103
Incident
Dec 12, 1997
Body & structureBrakesEngine+2 more
Filed Apr 1, 1998

FRONT END ALIGNMENT OFF SEVERAL TIMES CAUSING WEAR TO TIRES.

NHTSA ID
537235
Brakes
Filed Feb 20, 1998

GOING ABOUT 45-50MPH WHEN BRAKES LOCKED UP GOING DOWN HILL AFTER BEING APPLIED. TOOK TO DEALER & APPLIED BRAKES WHICH STARTED SMOKING. MECHANIC NOTICED. SECOND TIME BRAKES HAVE BEEN CHECKED & REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ID
821594
Incident
Oct 27, 1997
Brakes
Filed Dec 17, 1997

WHENEVER ABS BRAKES ARE APPLIED, EITHER ON DRY/DAMP PAVEMENT, VEHICLE WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN. IT WOULD SUDDENLY PICK UP SPEED. HAPPENS AT LOW SPEED (30MPH OR LESS). HAVE TAKEN TO DEALER & TOLD COULD NOT LOCATE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
820837
Incident
Jan 16, 1997
Brakes
Filed May 23, 1997

WHEN APPLYING BRAKES THE VEHICLE SHAKES. THE DISC HBRAKES AVE BEEN CHANGED 2 TIMES. *AK

NHTSA ID
812481
Brakes
Filed Apr 22, 1997

WHEN DRIVING AND APPLYING BRAKES TO STOP, THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES AND CAR WANDERS. VEHICLE HAS BEEN FOR REPAIR FIVE TIMES AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK

NHTSA ID
811508
Incident
Oct 15, 1996

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 .