RoadVitals

1997 Ford Econoline Visibility Problems

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

Data refreshed

Visibility 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.
9
Latest Mar 5, 2002
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.
11%
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.
1
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 windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors. 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. 9 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 visibility

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

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
Tires & wheelsVisibility
Filed Aug 13, 2001

COMPANY OWNS 23 VANS. 14 OF THEM ARE FORD ECONOLINES. ALMOST ALL OF THEM HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE DEFROSTER WHICH COSTS ABOUR $600.00 TO FIX. ALSO, THE REAR HUBCAPS ON THIS VAN KEEPS FALLING OFF BECAUSE THE CLIPS TO KEEP THEM IN PLACE ARE PLASTIC.

NHTSA ID
9001942
Incident
Jan 1, 1999
Visibility
Filed Apr 18, 2001

HEATER FLAP BROKE WHICH THEN DIDN'T ALLOW THE DEFROSTER TO DEFROST THE WINDOWS - NO HEAT WAS APPLIED THROUGHOUT THE VAN.*AK

NHTSA ID
744235
Incident
Apr 16, 2001
Visibility
Filed May 22, 2000

WHILE USING DEFROSTER TO CLEAR WINDOWS HEATER FANS DO NOT RUN. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID
862309
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
BrakesVisibility
Filed Feb 1, 1999

HEATER CORE FAILED. YH

NHTSA ID
608954
Incident
Jan 20, 1998
Visibility
Filed Jan 8, 1998

HEATER STOPPED WORKING WHEN THE TEMPERATURE WAS APPROXIMATELY 28 DEGREES.

NHTSA ID
531824
Incident
Jan 2, 1998
Visibility
Filed Jan 8, 1998

HEATER FAILED DURING FREEZING TEMPARTURES ALLOWING WINDSHILD TO FREEZE OVER OBSTRUCTING VISIBILITY.

NHTSA ID
531359
Incident
Jan 2, 1998
Visibility
Filed Jan 8, 1998

HEATER FAILED WHEN TEMPERATURE WAS 28 DEGREES F, WINDSHIELD FROZE UP AND DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO SEE.

NHTSA ID
527989
Incident
Jan 2, 1998

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 & wheels14Engine12

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .