FaultScore

1994 Ford Econoline steering problems

13 of the 164 complaints about the 1994 Ford Econoline are about the steering — 8% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 165,000 miles.

A

13

Complaints

0

Crashes

0

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Gear BOX (Other Than Rack AND Pinion) 6 46.2%
Steering 3 23.1%
Hydraulic Power Assist System 2 15.4%
Steering Wheel/Handle BAR 1 7.7%
Column 1 7.7%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

Coatesville, PA

STEERING

WHILE PULLING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE TURN WHEEL TO LEFT HARD AT LOUD CRACKING SOUND AS IF SOMETHING WAS BREAKING. STOPPED GOT OUT AND LOOKED UNDER AND NOTICED A BOLT PULLED THROUGH AND BROKE THE FRAME WHERE THE BOTTOM BOLT WAS. GRABBED THE OTHER TWO AND THEY PULLED RIGHT OUT AND WE'RE SNAPPED OFF. HAD TO GET ANOTHER GEARBOX PUT ON WITH ALL THREE BOLTS AND 4 DAYS LATER WHILE PULLING OUT OF PARKING LOT HARD LOUD POP AND LOOKED AND TOP RIGHT BOLT WAS SNAPPED OFF COMPLETELY. STEERING WAS WAY LOOSER AND MADE IT TO MY DESTINATION. NEXT MORNING TRIED TO PULL OUT OF PARKING SPACE AND LOUD POP ONCE AGAIN. THIS TIME THE GEARBOX WAS HANGING ALL THE WAY OFF. STEERING WHEEL JUST KEPT TURNING BUT WHEELS WERE NOT. COULDN'T PARK IT BACK OUT OF STREET BECAUSE OTHERS CARS WERE CLOSE HAD TO LEAVE IT HALFWAY HANGING OUT IN STREET TILL PEOPLE GOT OFF WORK AND MOVED OTHER CARS AWAY SO I COULD GET IT BACK TO CURB. NOW I'M AT A LOST HOW DID THIS HAPPEN TWICE. OR EVEN HAPPEN AT ALL.

NHTSA complaint #10662526 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 72,000 miles Sacramento, CA

STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 FORD ECONOLINE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD CONSTANTLY VEER TO THE RIGHT AND THE STEERING WHEEL WOBBLED. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC STATED THAT THE STEERING BOX NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000.

NHTSA complaint #10626357 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 165,000 miles Seattle, WA

STEERING

PLEASE REOPEN NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10254031. AFTER THIS INCIDENT I POSTED A WEB SITE DETAILING THE PROBLEM. SINCE THEN, I HAVE RECEIVED DOZEN OF INQUIRIES FROM PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD THE IDENTICAL ISSUE. THE LATEST ONE CAME TODAY 12/31/2013, 5 YEARS AFTER MY EVENT. SEVERAL HAVE RESULTED IN ACCIDENTS. THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT PEOPLE HAVE DIED BECAUSE OF THIS FAILURE, WITH THE FAILURE BEING INCORRECTLY DETERMINED TO HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY AN ACCIDENT, RATHER THAN BEING DETERMINED TO HAVE BEEN THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT.

NHTSA complaint #10557998 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 181,000 miles Rochester, NY

STEERING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 FORD ECONOLINE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 3 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE BOLTS IN THE STEERING BOX FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 181,000.

NHTSA complaint #10446974 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 192,000 miles Queensbury, NY

STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR

TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 FORD ECONOLINE 150. WHILE TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE. THE CONTACT OBSERVED THAT THE CENTER BOLT HAD COME OUT OF THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME. THE FRAME WAS SPLIT. *AK UPDATED 02/27/07.

NHTSA complaint #10181746 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 40,000 miles York, PA

STEERING:COLUMN

STEERING COLUMN: ANTI-LOCK BRAKE LIGHT ON ALL THE TIME, AIRBAG LIGHT BLINKS IN A PATTERN, HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL QUIT WORKING AT THE SAME TIME. TRANSMISSION: TRANSMISSION SHUDDERS WHEN SHIFTING GEARS IN THE HIGHER GEARS.

NHTSA complaint #10086751 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Mont Claire, NJ

STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)

WAS MAKING A TURN & HAD LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC ALL 3 BOLTS THAT HELD STEERING BOX TO CHASSIS HAD SHEARED COMPLETELY OFF.

NHTSA complaint #875443 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

E. Brunswick, NJ

STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)

WHILE MAKING A TURN TO PARK, STEERING BOX RIPPED OFF THE FRAME, AND CONSUMER HAD TO HAVE VEHICLE TOWED TO A MECHANIC. HOME # 732-613-1292, W# 212-272-0207.

NHTSA complaint #868103 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lochmere, NH

STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)

VEHICLE WOULD PULL LEFT OR RIGHT ON ITS OWN. DEALER HAS CHANGED STEERING BOX.

NHTSA complaint #814040 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Austin, TX

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

POWER STEERING FAILED. VEHICLE WOULD NOT STEER. PLEASE DESCRIBE.

NHTSA complaint #808560 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Colorado SPR, CO

STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)

THE GEAR BOX IS HELD BY 3 BOLTS AND THEY ARE ALL SHEARED OFF AND COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT

NHTSA complaint #976505 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Pasenda, TX

STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)

THREE BOLTS HOLDING STEERING GEAR BOX IN PLACE AGAINST FRONT LEFT FRAME OF VEHICLE SHEARED OFF, CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #973778 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Alhambra, CA

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

POWER STEERING FAILURE.

NHTSA complaint #477454 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1994 Ford Econoline problems

← Full 1994 Ford Econoline report