Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 1987 Ford Econoline
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Brakes
631.6%
Fuel & Propulsion
315.8%
0 crashes, 1 fires
Acceleration & Cruise Control
315.8%
Median failure at 110,000 miles
Electrical System
210.5%
0 crashes, 1 fires
Seats
15.3%
Windows, Mirrors & Wipers
15.3%
Steering
15.3%
Transmission & Drivetrain
15.3%
Engine & Cooling
15.3%
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.
Jul 1995peak 3Oct 2003
Recalls on the 1987 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 1987098295,731 units in Canada
Fuel System
ON VEHICLES WITH EFI OR CFI, THE SPRING-LOCK FUEL LINE COUPLING USED TO CONNECT THE FUEL SUPPLY AND RETURN LINES TO THE EFI FUEL RAILS OR TO THE CFI THROTTLE BODIES AS WELL AS OTHER FUEL LINE CONNECTIONS NEAR THE DASH PANELS ON SOME VEHICLES, COULD DISENGAGE DURING VEHICLE USE. SHOULD THIS OCCUR, LOSS OF FUEL WILL RESULT, PROVIDING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE FIRE. CORRECTION: COUPLING RETAINER CLIPS WILL BE INSTALLED ON AFFECTED VEHICLES. NOTE: ESCORT VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH EFI AND CFI. LYNX VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH CFI ONLY. EFI - ELECTRONIC FUEL INJECTION CFI - CENTRAL FUEL INJECTION
Recall 198706128 units in Canada
Emissions
THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH C.M.V.S.S. 1101 - EMISSION DEVICE. NOTE: VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 4.9 LITRE ENGINES AND OVER 8500 GVW.
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
Hollywood, FLFire
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, IGNITION WAS ON., DRIVER NOTICED THAT VEHICLE HAD ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE FIRE INSPECTOR SAID THAT THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS A FAULTY SLIP ON FUEL LINE . THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.
NHTSA complaint #822433 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Loudon, TNFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CAUSED THE ENGINE TO CATCH ON FIRE WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. PLEASE DESCRIBE.
NHTSA complaint #801097 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
at 110,000 milesHuntington Station, NY
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL MECHANISM FAILED WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE RAPIDLY. *
NHTSA complaint #10044708 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Miami, FL
STEERING
PROBLEMS WITH HEATING SYSTEM, STEERING, AND PARKING BRAKE. *MR *SCC
NHTSA complaint #10031938 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
PROBLEMS WITH HEATING SYSTEM, STEERING, AND PARKING BRAKE. *MR *SCC
NHTSA complaint #10031938 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Miami, FL
PARKING BRAKE
PROBLEMS WITH HEATING SYSTEM, STEERING, AND PARKING BRAKE. *MR *SCC
NHTSA complaint #10031938 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Miami, FL
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE BASE OF THE ENGINE, WHICH HELD THE COMPONENT IN PLACE. *TT *SCC
NHTSA complaint #10021745 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Seven Hills, OH
SEATS
WHILE DRIVING DRIVER'S SEAT SEPARATED FROM TRACKS.
NHTSA complaint #889698 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Cupertino, CA
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
BRAKES FAILED SEVERAL TIMES. YH
NHTSA complaint #551479 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Long Beach, NY
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AFTER THE SPEED CONTROL WAS DEACTIVATED. DRIVER PUT VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL, AND SHUT ENGINE OFF TO STOP VEHICLE . BUT ENGINE RACED SO HARD THE THROTTLE CABLE BLEW. THE DEALER HAS REPAIRED THE VEHICLE AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE.
NHTSA complaint #842408 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Long Beach, NY
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES
VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AFTER THE SPEED CONTROL WAS DEACTIVATED. DRIVER PUT VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL, AND SHUT ENGINE OFF TO STOP VEHICLE . BUT ENGINE RACED SO HARD THE THROTTLE CABLE BLEW. THE DEALER HAS REPAIRED THE VEHICLE AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE.
NHTSA complaint #842408 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Hollywood, FLFire
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, IGNITION WAS ON., DRIVER NOTICED THAT VEHICLE HAD ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE FIRE INSPECTOR SAID THAT THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS A FAULTY SLIP ON FUEL LINE . THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.
NHTSA complaint #822433 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Baton Rouge, LA
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
WHILE DRIVING THE VAN ABOUT 35 MPH THE VAN STARTED SHAKING AND MAKING A VERY STRANGE NOISE AND IT BECAME DIFFICULT TO STEER. WHEN TAKING TO MECHANIC, MECHANIC STATED THAT PROBLEM WAS DUE TO THE DRIVESHAFT BEING ALUMINUM. THE DRIVESHAFT WAS REPLACED WITH A IRON DRIVESHAFT.
NHTSA complaint #821615 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
A MALFUNCTION IN THE FUEL SELECTOR VALVE , CAUSING FUEL IN THE FRONT TANK TO FLOW TO BACK TANK, RESULTING IN FUEL SPILLAGE.
NHTSA complaint #812305 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Wentworth, SD
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
WHILE DRIVING MOUNTAINOUS COUNTRY, BRAKES GET HOT, FLUID BOILED, RESULTING IN NO BRAKES, FREE WHEELING, COULD HAVE CAUSED CRASH, DEALER REPLACED BRAKE PADS/CALIPERS, FLUSHED BRAKE SYSTEM, REPLACED WITH DIFFERENT BRAKE FLUID.
NHTSA complaint #812633 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Wentworth, SD
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER
WHILE DRIVING MOUNTAINOUS COUNTRY, BRAKES GET HOT, FLUID BOILED, RESULTING IN NO BRAKES, FREE WHEELING, COULD HAVE CAUSED CRASH, DEALER REPLACED BRAKE PADS/CALIPERS, FLUSHED BRAKE SYSTEM, REPLACED WITH DIFFERENT BRAKE FLUID.
NHTSA complaint #812633 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Lynn Wood, WA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
IGNITION PROBLEM CAUSED AN OVERFLOW OF FUEL INTO THE EXHAUST SYSTEM, ALLOWING VIOLENT GAS EXPLOSIONS (BACKFIRE) WHICH SPLIT THE MUFFLER AT SEAM.
NHTSA complaint #809679 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Cupertino, CA
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
BRAKES FAILED 5 TIMES.
NHTSA complaint #516092 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Loudon, TNFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CAUSED THE ENGINE TO CATCH ON FIRE WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. PLEASE DESCRIBE.
NHTSA complaint #801097 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
NEW Richmond, OH
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER
FRONT TWO CALIPERS SEIZED DUE TO OVERHEATING, DIFFICULTY STOPPING VEHICLE. TT
NHTSA complaint #974174 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Woodburn, OR
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY
WHEN OPENNING GAS CAP ON ONE OF THE FUEL TANKS GAS LINES BURSTED.
NHTSA complaint #968796 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.