Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 1985 Ford Econoline
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Electrical System
746.7%
0 crashes, 4 fires
Tires
213.3%
Fuel & Propulsion
213.3%
Brakes
213.3%
Steering
16.7%
Transmission & Drivetrain
16.7%
1 crashes, 0 fires
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Feb 1995peak 4Jan 2001
Recalls on the 1985 Ford Econoline
A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which
the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous
enough to fix for free — however old the car is.
Canada — Transport Canada
Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not
always mirror the American ones.
Recall 198710518,656 units in Canada
Structure
1983-87 E-250 AND 350 WITH 7.5 LITRE AND 1985-87 HEAVY DUTY E-250 AND 350 WITH 5.8 LITRE 4V ENGINE AND A GVW OVER 8,500 LBS. THESE VEHICLES HAVE BEEN DETERMINED TO GENERATE EXCESSIVE UNDERBODY TEMPERATURES AND FUEL SYSTEM PRESSURES IN SEVERE DUTY APPLICATIONS, PARTICULARLY IF FUELED WITH OVERLY VOLATILE GASOLINE. THIS CAN CREATE AN ABNORMAL POTENTIAL FOR EXPULSION OF LIQUID FUEL FROM THE FILLER PIPE UPON REMOVAL OF THE FUEL TANK FILLER CAP. IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A VEHICLE FIRE COULD OCCUR. CORRECTION: VEHICLES WILL BE MODIFIED TO MINIMIZE THE POSSIBILITY OF FUEL EXPULSION AND SHIELD UNDERBODY COMPONENTS FROM EXCESSIVE UNDERBODY HEAT. NOTE: E250 AND 350 CLUB WAGONS AND ECONOLINE VANS AND CHASSIS.
Recall 198607913,325 units in Canada
Steering
UNDER CERTAIN LOW SPEED TIGHT TURNING CONDITIONS UNDER HIGH LOAD, THE RUBBER WITHIN THE RUBBER ENCASED BALL STUD AND SOCKET JOINT CONNECTING THE STEERING DRAG LINK AND PITMAN ARM MAY DETERIORATE CAUSING GALLING OF THE BALL STUD AND SOCKET.THIS COULD EVENTUALLY LEAD TO SEPERATION OF THE DRAG LINK AND PITMAN ARM AND LOSS OF STEERING. CORRECTION:DRAG LINK ASSEMBLIES WITH STEEL BALL AND SOCKET JOINTS WILL BE INSTALLED.
Recall 1986078134 units in Canada
Structure
E350 RV AND COMMERCIAL CUTAWAY ECONOLINE VEHICLES. SOME VEHICLES WHERE COMPLETED WITH BODIES WHICH RESTRICTED THE DISSAPATION OF UNDERBODY HEAT.IN SUCH A CASE EXTENDED IDLING COULD OVERHEAT THE COMPOSITE GRAPHITE DRIVESHAFT AND,IF A HIGH START UP TORQUE APPLIED,TWIST AND SHORTEN THE DRIVESHAFT CAUSING THE SLIP YOKE TO DISCONNECT. CORRECTION:METAL DRIVESHAFTS WILL BE INSTALLED.
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
Stow, MACrash
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)
TRANSMISSION GEAR SHIFT SLIPPED INTO REVERSE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO 2 PARKED CARS.
NHTSA complaint #504461 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Hialeah, FLFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
WHILE DRIVING AFTER VEHICLE WAS PARKED 45 MINUTES, ENGINE QUIT, SMOKE STARTED COMING IN FROM UNDERHOOD;OPENED HOOD, DISCONNECTED BATTERY.
NHTSA complaint #983569 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Englewood, CAFire1 injured
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
VEHICLE PARKED, FIRE DEVELOPED UNDERNEATH THE DASH. OWNER RECEIVED BURNS AND VEHICLE WAS TOTALED.
NHTSA complaint #980591 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Englewood, CAFire1 injured
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
VEHICLE PARKED, FIRE DEVELOPED UNDERNEATH THE DASH. OWNER RECEIVED BURNS AND VEHICLE WAS TOTALED.
NHTSA complaint #980591 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Englewood, CAFire1 injured
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
VEHICLE PARKED, FIRE DEVELOPED UNDERNEATH THE DASH. OWNER RECEIVED BURNS AND VEHICLE WAS TOTALED.
NHTSA complaint #980591 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
Lawndale, CA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS SO HOT THE CONSUMER COULD NOT PLACE THEIR HAND ON IT, IT ALSO HAD A BURNING SMELL. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #557769 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Lawndale, CA
FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL
RECALL 85V061 WAS COMPLETE ON VEHICLE, HOWEVER NOW THE TANK WILL ONLY ALLOW THE CONSUMER TO FILL IT UP HALF WAY. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #557769 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Lawndale, CA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS SO HOT THE CONSUMER COULD NOT PLACE THEIR HAND ON IT, IT ALSO HAD A BURNING SMELL. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #557769 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Lawndale, CA
FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL
RECALL 85V061 WAS COMPLETE ON VEHICLE, HOWEVER NOW THE TANK WILL ONLY ALLOW THE CONSUMER TO FILL IT UP HALF WAY. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #557769 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Galena, OH
TIRES
REAR TIRE HAD SEPARATION AND BLOW OUT ON JULY 24, 1999. PURCHASED (2) NEW TIRES FROM FIRESTONE ON JULY 30, 1999 AND HAD THEM PUT ON BACK AND MOVED OLDER TIRES TO REAR. NOTICED SEVERE VIBRATION AND TOOK CAR TO FIRESTONE AND THEY FOUND TREAD SEPARATION. I DID NOT REALIZE TIRES HAD PROBLEMS UNTIL I READ ABOUT ALL THE PROBLEMS IN THE NEWSPAPER.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P225-75-R1 )
NHTSA complaint #729172 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Golden, MS
TIRES
(FIRESTONE R17) TIRE FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #548484 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Lincoln CI, OR
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
IGNITION SWITCH FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #515564 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Lincoln CI, OR
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
STEERING COLUMN LOCKS UP WHEN ENGAGING EMERGENCY BRAKE. *DSH
NHTSA complaint #504094 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Stow, MACrash
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)
TRANSMISSION GEAR SHIFT SLIPPED INTO REVERSE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO 2 PARKED CARS.
NHTSA complaint #504461 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Hialeah, FLFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
WHILE DRIVING AFTER VEHICLE WAS PARKED 45 MINUTES, ENGINE QUIT, SMOKE STARTED COMING IN FROM UNDERHOOD;OPENED HOOD, DISCONNECTED BATTERY.
NHTSA complaint #983569 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Englewood, CAFire1 injured
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
VEHICLE PARKED, FIRE DEVELOPED UNDERNEATH THE DASH. OWNER RECEIVED BURNS AND VEHICLE WAS TOTALED.
NHTSA complaint #980591 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Englewood, CAFire1 injured
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
VEHICLE PARKED, FIRE DEVELOPED UNDERNEATH THE DASH. OWNER RECEIVED BURNS AND VEHICLE WAS TOTALED.
NHTSA complaint #980591 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Englewood, CAFire1 injured
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
VEHICLE PARKED, FIRE DEVELOPED UNDERNEATH THE DASH. OWNER RECEIVED BURNS AND VEHICLE WAS TOTALED.
NHTSA complaint #980591 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SAN Barbara, CA
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
BRAKE FAILURE, WHEN COMING STEP DOWN GRADING BRAKES OVER HEATED CAUSING LOSS OF BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR. TT
NHTSA complaint #963098 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Buckeye, AZ
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS
PREMATURE WEAR OF FRONT BRAKE PADS/ROTORS, CAUSING RIGHT FRONT END NOISE.
NHTSA complaint #480970 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.