1998 Ford Econoline Problems

1998 FORD ECONOLINE RECALL ON SPEED CONTROL. CONSUMER STATES THAT DEALER DID NOT HAVE THE PARTS AND DID NOT WANT HIM TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THIS RESOLVED. HE STATES THAT NO ONE ANSWERED THE 800 NUMBER ON THE RECALL NOTICE. *KB

FORD E150 WITH CRUISE CONTROL RECALL. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE DEALER STATED IN SEPTEMBER WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED THAT THE PARTS WOULD BE AVAILABLE IN JANUARY. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE PARTS ARE STILL NOT AVAILABLE. *KB

HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR OVER 40 YEARS. HAVE NEVER HAD BRAKE PADS WEAR OUT THIS FAST. BELIVE THERE MUST BE A PROBLEM WITH THE ABS BRAKING SYSTEM, BUT UNABLE TO GET FORD TO HELP WITH THIS PROBLEM. THE FORD DEALER TOLD ME THAT FORD SENT OUT A LETTER TO ITS DEALERS ABOUT PREMATURE PAD FAILURE AT 12000 MILES BUT WOULD NOT GIVE ME A COPY OF THIS NOTICE. WHEN I CALLED FORD ALL THEY WOULD TELL ME IS THAT THE PADS WERE NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY . I DON'T SEEM TO BE ABLE TO GET ANY MORE INFO FROM FORDS ARE THE DEALER. KEEP GITTING THE RUN AROUND. THANKS FOR ANY HELP YOU CAN GIVE ME.*AK

VEHICLE HAS HAD MULTIPLE BRAKES, ROTORS. HAS HAD PULSATIONS IN BRAKING SYSTEM SINCE NEW. HAS HAD NEW BRAKES, ROTORS WITHOUT RESOLUTION OF PROBLEM. USING BRAKES EVERY 8-10,000 MILES. *AK

1998 FORD ECONOLINE E-350 VAN. 5.4 L GAS MOTOR. SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF MOTOR. EHICLE HAS 152,000 MILES. REF CASE ODI ID NUMBER 10024670. REASON FOR MAKING COMPLAINT. *AK

INTAKE VALVE GASKET FAILED, CAUSING COOLANT TO ENTER CYLINDER AND BEND PUSH ROD. MOTOR HAS ONLY 45,000 MILES ON IT. VAN HAD BEEN DRIVEN UNDER 500 MILES IN LAST SIX MONTHS. *NLM

VAN IS LEAKING FUEL FROM A CRACK WHERE IT CONTACTS THE FRAME MEMBER. THIS VAN WAS SUBJECT TO A RECALL BEGINNING APRIL 19, 2001. I DID NOT OWN THE VEHICLE AT THAT TIME, BUT APPARENTLY VEHICLE WAS NOT LEAKING SO IT WAS NOT FIXED. I DO NOT HAVE THE RECALL NUMBER. I OBTAINED THIS INFORMATION FROM A VIN LOOK UP AT HTTPS://DRIVING-TESTS.ORG/VIN-DECODER/ VEHICLE ONLY LEAKS FUEL WHEN FILLING UP AT THE GAS STATION. ONCE I STOP FILLING UP, THE LEAKING WILL DRIP, DRIP, DRIP UNTIL IT STOPS AND I CAN DRIVE OFF. NEXT TIME I WILL TAKE A PICTURE OF LEAKING.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD ECONOLINE E-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK FRACTURED AND WAS LEAKING FUEL. THE DEALER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE FAILURE. NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 85,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 08/31/11 *BF UPDATED 2/9/2012

DRIVING NORTH ON I 275 JUST SOUTH OF I 94 AND TIRE SEPARATED ON RIGHT REAR CALLED AAA BECAUSE RIM WAS ON THE GROUND. VEHICLE WAS A FORD CONVERSION VAN. REPLACED WITH SPARE, AND STILL HAVE OLD TIRE. TIRE SIZE IS 30X9.50R 15 DISCOVERER AST. 8JB

THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED, AND ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A TURN AND IT FELT AS THOUGH THE RIGHT REAR TIRE WAS FLAT. THE MECHANIC PUT THE CAR ON THE LIFT, AND DISCOVERED THE RIM WAS BROKEN AND THE TIRE FELL OFF. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD ECONOLINE. THE CONTACT WAS REPLACING THE AIR CONDITIONING BLOWER MOTOR WHEN HE NOTICED THE SPEED SELECTOR SWITCH WAS MELTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 240,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 302,302.

THE CONSUMER STATED THE SPARK PLUG "BLEW" OUT IN THE MOTOR WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION, WHICH CAUSED FUEL TO BE DUMPED INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. VEHICLE IS A 1998, FORD, E150, ECONOLINE VAN.*AK *TS *JB

CONSTANT MISALIGNMENT CAUSES VEHICLE TO VEER TO THE RIGHT WHILE DRIVING. STEERING WHEEL IS STILL EXTREMELY LOOSE WHEN MAKING A RIGHT OR LEFT TURN. DEALER STATES THERE IS NOTHING THAT CAN BE DONE. *AK

WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED CONSUMER NOTICED VIBRATION COMING FROM FRONT END. ALSO, EXCESSIVE WEAR OF FRONT TIRES. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

VAN IS LEAKING FUEL FROM A CRACK WHERE IT CONTACTS THE FRAME MEMBER. THIS VAN WAS SUBJECT TO A RECALL BEGINNING APRIL 19, 2001. I DID NOT OWN THE VEHICLE AT THAT TIME, BUT APPARENTLY VEHICLE WAS NOT LEAKING SO IT WAS NOT FIXED. I DO NOT HAVE THE RECALL NUMBER. I OBTAINED THIS INFORMATION FROM A VIN LOOK UP AT HTTPS://DRIVING-TESTS.ORG/VIN-DECODER/ VEHICLE ONLY LEAKS FUEL WHEN FILLING UP AT THE GAS STATION. ONCE I STOP FILLING UP, THE LEAKING WILL DRIP, DRIP, DRIP UNTIL IT STOPS AND I CAN DRIVE OFF. NEXT TIME I WILL TAKE A PICTURE OF LEAKING.

WATER WOULD ENTER INSIDE OF TRUCK AND WOULD SHORT OUT ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR LIGHTS. WARRANTY EXPIRED. *AK

WINDSHIELD CRACKS CAUSED BY ROAD STRESS/VIBRATION. CRACK STARTS FROM ABOUT THE BASE OF ONE WIPER ARM, GOES UP MEANDERING THROUGHOUT THE REST OF THE WINDSHIELD, AND THEN WILL FINALLY DROP BACK DOWN TO THE BASE OF THE WINDSHIELD IN THE VICINITY OF THE OTHER WIPER ARM. THIS CRACK DID NOT ORIGINATE FROM A FOREIGN MATERIAL SUCH AS A THROWN ROCK. RUNNING DEFROSTER PROPAGATES THE CRACK. I HAVE SEEN THIS TYPE OF CRACK (WIPER ARM TO WIPER ARM) IN NUMEROUS OTHER FORD VANS (REGULAR, CUTAWAY, AND CLASS C MOTORHOME). THIS TYPE OF CRACK SEEMS TO APPEAR TOO OFTEN AND THEREBY APPEARS TO BE CAUSED BY SOME SORT OF MANUFACTURING DEFECT.

PLASTIC "THUMB TACKS" ON DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT THAT HOLD THE SEAT CONTROL BUTTONS BROKE OFF. DEALER SAID THEY DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE TO TAKE MY VAN OUT TO THE CONVERSION COM. TO GET IT FIXED. WANTED ME TO DRIVE IT 55 MILES AWAY MYSELF AND GET IT FIXED. THIS WAS ALREADY BROKEN WHEN I BOUGHT THE VAN FROM THE DEALER. ALTHOUGH I FOUND THAT MY KIDS LIKED TO USE IT AS A STEP-LADDER TO GET INTO DRIVER SEAT. THEY WOULD MOVE THE SEAT AROUND TO EASILY WITH THE SEAT BUTTONS STICKING OUT ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE DRIVERS SEAT. I FOUND THIS DANGEROUS. (THIS WAS BEFORE IT BROKE OFF.) I HAVEN'T FIXED THIS MYSELF, I FOUND IT HARD TO SWALLOW THAT THE DEALER COULDN'T GET IT FIXED. THE RADIO/CD PLAYER HOOKED UP IN THE BACK CANNOT BE LISTENED TO BY MORE THEN ONE PERSON DUE TO SURGES FROM THE HEADPHONES PLUGGED INTO THEIR OWN STATIONS. THE DEALER SAID I WOULD HAVE TO TAKE THAT TO THE CONVER. COM. TOO, TO GET FIXED.

CONSUMER'S 11/2- YEAR OLD CHILD BURNED HER RIGHT FINGER ON THE TOP COURTESY LIGHT. DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED AT THIS TIME. *AK

PLASTIC "THUMB TACKS" ON DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT THAT HOLD THE SEAT CONTROL BUTTONS BROKE OFF. DEALER SAID THEY DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE TO TAKE MY VAN OUT TO THE CONVERSION COM. TO GET IT FIXED. WANTED ME TO DRIVE IT 55 MILES AWAY MYSELF AND GET IT FIXED. THIS WAS ALREADY BROKEN WHEN I BOUGHT THE VAN FROM THE DEALER. ALTHOUGH I FOUND THAT MY KIDS LIKED TO USE IT AS A STEP-LADDER TO GET INTO DRIVER SEAT. THEY WOULD MOVE THE SEAT AROUND TO EASILY WITH THE SEAT BUTTONS STICKING OUT ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE DRIVERS SEAT. I FOUND THIS DANGEROUS. (THIS WAS BEFORE IT BROKE OFF.) I HAVEN'T FIXED THIS MYSELF, I FOUND IT HARD TO SWALLOW THAT THE DEALER COULDN'T GET IT FIXED. THE RADIO/CD PLAYER HOOKED UP IN THE BACK CANNOT BE LISTENED TO BY MORE THEN ONE PERSON DUE TO SURGES FROM THE HEADPHONES PLUGGED INTO THEIR OWN STATIONS. THE DEALER SAID I WOULD HAVE TO TAKE THAT TO THE CONVER. COM. TOO, TO GET FIXED.

REAR BRAKES MALFUNCTION, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH. ABS BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONS, CAUSING FRONT WHEELS TO LOCK UP. ALSO, AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON, INDICATING THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH AIRBAG SYSTEM WHICH MAY NOT DEPLOY IN EVENT OF A CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

AIR BAG LIGHT INDICATOR STAYS ON SO THE SENSOR HAD BEEN REPLACED, AND THE LIGHT CONTINUES TO STAY ON. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

WAS TRAVELING ON RT 80 NEAR EXIT 123 IN PENNSYLVANIA ON STRAIGHT ROAD, AT 65 MPH, TEMPERATURE OF 75 DEGREES, DRY, SUNNY DAY. WE HEARD A LOUD BOOM. THE INSIDE REAR TIRE (DRIVER SIDE) HAD BLOWN. IT APPEARED THAT THE SIDEWALL (FACING OUT) HAD FAILED. THE SIDEWALL SEPARATED ALONG A STRAIGHT LINE FROM THE WHEEL TO THE TREAD. ALSO, IN THAT AREA ABOUT 10 INCHES OF TREAD WAS STARTING TO SEPARATE ON THAT SIDE OF THE TIRE - THE TREAD SEPARATION WAS 'CENTERED' ON THAT SIDEWALL FAILURE. FORTUNATELY WE EXPERIENCED NO OTHER DAMAGE.

THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED, AND ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A TURN AND IT FELT AS THOUGH THE RIGHT REAR TIRE WAS FLAT. THE MECHANIC PUT THE CAR ON THE LIFT, AND DISCOVERED THE RIM WAS BROKEN AND THE TIRE FELL OFF. *JB

PURCHASED VEHICLE AS USED FROM PAUL CLARK FORD. FROM THE FIRST DAY, STEERING PROBLEMS. WHILE VEHICLE WAS UNDER WARRENTY, THE DEALER DID REPLACE STEERING GEAR BOX. WENT BACK TO DEALER, STATING I WAS STILL HAVING STEERING PROBLEMS. DELAER STATED, VEHICLE NO LONGER UNDER WARRENTY. TOOK VEHICLE TO AUTO REPAIR SHOP, REMOVED THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT, SHAFT WAS NOT INSTALLED CORRECTLY. SHAFT HAS SLOT FOR BOLT TO FIT THRUOGH, THUS LOCKING SHAFT AND BOLT TOGETHER. THE OTHER SIDE OF THE SHAFT(ROUNDED) WAS USED. IF THE SHAFT HAD LOSSENED, I WOULD HAVE LOST IMMEDIATE STEERING, WITH CATASTROPHIC RESULTS TO MY SELF OR OTHERS. THREE DISTINCT POSSIBILITIES:*AK

BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT (HIGH AND LOW BEAM) HEADLIGHTS FAILED DUE TO A FAILED MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH. I CHECKED THE MULTIPLE FUSES (4 EACH) PER OWNERS MANUAL RELATING TO HEADLIGHTS AND NO MALFUNCTION OBSERVED. ONLY "FLASH TO PASS" HIGH BEAM WAS FUNCTIONAL. REPAIR COMPLETED BY KOONS FORD OF ANNAPOLIS ON INVOICE #C66934, 10/06/2001. I THINK THIS CIRCUIT FAILURE CONSTITUTES A VERY SERIOUS DESIGN FLAW WHEREBY FORD ALLOWS ALL HEADLIGHTS, WHICH ARE PROTECTED BY INDIVIDUAL FUSED CIRCUITS, TO GO OUT BY THE FAILURE OF A SINGLE SWITCH.