RoadVitals

1997 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 Aug 14, 2011
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 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.
2
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 1997 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 Aug 14, 2011

1997 FORD ECONOLINE VAN. THE SPARK-PLUG BLEW OUT OF THE ALUMINUM TRITON ENGINE DESTROYING THE EXISTING THREADS. FIRE HAZARD. EXPOSED FUEL TO ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10419405
Incident
Aug 14, 2011
EngineFuel system
Filed Feb 24, 2010

AS I TYPE THIS COMPLAINT, I AM LISTENING TO SECRETARY LAHOOD,....IF WHAT HE SAYS IS TRUE I SHOULD HEAR SOMETHING BACK FROM YOU FAIRLY SOON!! I HAVE A COMPLAINT WITH THE V10 FORD ENGINE.....IF YOU GO TO THE INTERNET AND TYPE IN "FORD V10 ENGINE SPARK PLUG EJECTING" OR ANYTHING SIMILAR TO THAT INQUIRY YOU WILL GET A HOST OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE PROBLEMS THAT I AM EXPERIENCING. MY 1997 FORD (MOTORHOME) SPIT OUT A SPARK PLUG SEVERAL MONTH AGO. CALLED FORD, THEY SUGGESTED THAT I HAVE MY MECHANIC INSTALL AN "INSERT" TO REPAIR THE STRIPPED OUT HEAD OR REPLACE THE HEADS.....OFFERED NO OTHER HELP. THE INSERT "FIX COST" $1,000. NEW HEADS WOULD HAVE COST $3,000 EACH. WORK WOULD BE GUARANTEED FOR A WHOPPING "90 DAYS". I OPTED FOR THE $1,000. FIX. AFTER THE FIX, MY WIFE (FIGHTING LUNG CANCER) AND I (RETIRED AIR FORCE-MILITARY) HEADED TO FLORIDA FROM MICHIGAN. WE MADE IT TO INDIANAPOLIS....APPROX 350 MILES. THE NEWLY REPAIRED "HEAD INSERT" ALLOWED THE PLUG TO SPIT OUT AGAIN!! LONG STORY SHORT, WE RETURNED HOME AND HAD A NEW ENGINE (REMANUFACTURED) ENGINE INSTALLED AT A COST OF $5,000. MY MILITARY PENSION CANNOT AFFORD THESE KIND OF MONETARY HITS. I AM ALSO TOLD THAT THIS PROBLEM COULD HAVE EASILY CAUSED A FIRE. WE WERE LUCKY IN THAT REGARD. FORD REPS, BOTH AT THE DEALERSHIP LEVEL AND FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE (THEIR PHONE # LOCATED IN THE FORD SERVICE MANUALLY) DENIED ANY PROBLEMS....YET THE INTERNET IS FULL OF COMPLAINTS. PLEASE TELL ME YOU ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND ARE TRYING TO FIND SOME RECOURSE FOR THE FORD CUSTOMERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEMS AND EXPENSE THAT I HAVE. ALL THE MECHANICS THAT I HAVE TALKED TO WERE VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE PROBLEM. THAT ONLY ADDS TO MY DISMAY. WHY HASN'T THERE BEEN MORE PUBLIC INFO ON THIS PROBLEM....WHY HASN'T THIS PROBLEM BEEN ADDRESSED BY FORD MOTOR CO. OR AT LEAST FAIRLY HANDLED ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS. AT THE VERY LEAST, I WOULD APPRECIATE SOME RECOGNITION THAT YOUR AGENCY IS AWARE AND LOOKING INTO THIS PROBLEM. THANK YOU SO MUCH! *TR

NHTSA ID
10313670
Incident
Dec 27, 2009
Mileage
82,000 mi
Engine
Filed Aug 7, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE A LOUD CLANGING NOISE WAS HEARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED A PISTON ROD WAS BENT DUE TO ANTI-FREEZE LEAKING INTO THE PISTON CYLINDER AND THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA ID
10164705
Incident
Jul 17, 2006
Mileage
130,000 mi
Engine
Filed Apr 18, 2002

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH OR OVER THERE WAS A KNOCKING SOUND THAT WAS COMING FROM THE ENGINE AND AFTER CONTACTING THE DEALER THE DEALER STATED THAT CRANKSHAFT WAS NO LONGER ANY GOOD. NLM

NHTSA ID
8007948
Incident
Apr 16, 2002
EngineVisibility
Filed Mar 5, 2002

FRONT ENGINE TIMING COVER IS LEAKING COOLANT. HEATER WAS NOT WORKING, CAUSING CONSUMER TO HAVE IT INSPECTED. COOLANT IS LEAKING INTO ENGINE, AND SLOWLY DAMAGING ENGINE. DEALER WAS CONTACTED. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE NOW NEEDS A NEW ENGINE. *YD

NHTSA ID
8004956
Incident
Feb 25, 2002
EngineSeat belts
Filed Sep 12, 2000
Fire reported

ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUGHT ON FIRE, CLAIM # 23-1398-184. NLM

NHTSA ID
6900707
Incident
Sep 11, 2000
EngineSeat belts
Filed Mar 22, 2000

VEHICLE LOSES OF POWER IN COLD WEATHER. ALSO, DRIVER'S SEAT BELT FAILS TO RETRACT PROPERLY AFTER USING IT. HAS TO PULL IT BACK AND FORTH TO GET IT TO RETRACT. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID
859046
Incident
Jan 30, 1998
EngineSuspension
Filed Feb 10, 2000

WHILE MAKING A TURN THE VEHICLE STALLS UNEXPECTEDLY WHICH MAY CAUSE A CRASH. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. ALSO, THERE IS A VIBRATION WHICH MAY CAUSE MORE WEAR AND TEAR ON THE TIRE. *AK *ML

NHTSA ID
856713
Incident
Jun 1, 1998
Engine
Filed May 17, 1999

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE: PULLEY SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID
837999
Incident
May 16, 1999
Engine
Filed Jul 6, 1998
Fire reported

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING VEHICLE AT 55 MPH WITH CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED. ALL OF A SUDDEN HEARD A LOUD POPPING NOISE AND THE VEHICLE WAS FILLED WITH DARK SMOKE. CONSUMER PULLED VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE WHEN IT BECAME ENGULFED IN FLAMES. EMERGENCY VEHICLE ARRIVED ON LOCATION AND PUT THE FIRE OUT. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED, AND IS BEING INSPECTED FOR CAUSE. CONDITION IS UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME. *AK

NHTSA ID
825042
Incident
Jul 6, 1998
Engine
Filed May 4, 1998

DEFECTIVE ENGINE PISTONS.

NHTSA ID
535193
Incident
Dec 1, 1997
Body & structureBrakesEngine+2 more
Filed Apr 1, 1998

FRONT END ALIGNMENT OFF SEVERAL TIMES CAUSING WEAR TO TIRES.

NHTSA ID
537235

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 & wheels14Visibility9

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .