11 of the 100 complaints about the 1997 Ford Econoline are about the engine — 11% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 106,000 miles.
11
Complaints
0
Crashes
1
Fires
0
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
1997 FORD ECONOLINE VAN. THE SPARK-PLUG BLEW OUT OF THE ALUMINUM TRITON ENGINE DESTROYING THE EXISTING THREADS. FIRE HAZARD. EXPOSED FUEL TO ENGINE COMPARTMENT.
NHTSA complaint #10419405 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
AS I TYPE THIS COMPLAINT, I AM LISTENING TO SECRETARY LAHOOD,....IF WHAT HE SAYS IS TRUE I SHOULD HEAR SOMETHING BACK FROM YOU FAIRLY SOON!! I HAVE A COMPLAINT WITH THE V10 FORD ENGINE.....IF YOU GO TO THE INTERNET AND TYPE IN "FORD V10 ENGINE SPARK PLUG EJECTING" OR ANYTHING SIMILAR TO THAT INQUIRY YOU WILL GET A HOST OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE PROBLEMS THAT I AM EXPERIENCING. MY 1997 FORD (MOTORHOME) SPIT OUT A SPARK PLUG SEVERAL MONTH AGO. CALLED FORD, THEY SUGGESTED THAT I HAVE MY MECHANIC INSTALL AN "INSERT" TO REPAIR THE STRIPPED OUT HEAD OR REPLACE THE HEADS.....OFFERED NO OTHER HELP. THE INSERT "FIX COST" $1,000. NEW HEADS WOULD HAVE COST $3,000 EACH. WORK WOULD BE GUARANTEED FOR A WHOPPING "90 DAYS". I OPTED FOR THE $1,000. FIX. AFTER THE FIX, MY WIFE (FIGHTING LUNG CANCER) AND I (RETIRED AIR FORCE-MILITARY) HEADED TO FLORIDA FROM MICHIGAN. WE MADE IT TO INDIANAPOLIS....APPROX 350 MILES. THE NEWLY REPAIRED "HEAD INSERT" ALLOWED THE PLUG TO SPIT OUT AGAIN!! LONG STORY SHORT, WE RETURNED HOME AND HAD A NEW ENGINE (REMANUFACTURED) ENGINE INSTALLED AT A COST OF $5,000. MY MILITARY PENSION CANNOT AFFORD THESE KIND OF MONETARY HITS. I AM ALSO TOLD THAT THIS PROBLEM COULD HAVE EASILY CAUSED A FIRE. WE WERE LUCKY IN THAT REGARD. FORD REPS, BOTH AT THE DEALERSHIP LEVEL AND FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE (THEIR PHONE # LOCATED IN THE FORD SERVICE MANUALLY) DENIED ANY PROBLEMS....YET THE INTERNET IS FULL OF COMPLAINTS. PLEASE TELL ME YOU ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND ARE TRYING TO FIND SOME RECOURSE FOR THE FORD CUSTOMERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEMS AND EXPENSE THAT I HAVE. ALL THE MECHANICS THAT I HAVE TALKED TO WERE VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE PROBLEM. THAT ONLY ADDS TO MY DISMAY. WHY HASN'T THERE BEEN MORE PUBLIC INFO ON THIS PROBLEM....WHY HASN'T THIS PROBLEM BEEN ADDRESSED BY FORD MOTOR CO. OR AT LEAST FAIRLY HANDLED ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS. AT THE VERY LEAST, I WOULD APPRECIATE SOME RECOGNITION THAT YOUR AGENCY IS AWARE AND LOOKING INTO THIS PROBLEM. THANK YOU SO MUCH!
NHTSA complaint #10313670 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE A LOUD CLANGING NOISE WAS HEARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED A PISTON ROD WAS BENT DUE TO ANTI-FREEZE LEAKING INTO THE PISTON CYLINDER AND THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #10164705 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH OR OVER THERE WAS A KNOCKING SOUND THAT WAS COMING FROM THE ENGINE AND AFTER CONTACTING THE DEALER THE DEALER STATED THAT CRANKSHAFT WAS NO LONGER ANY GOOD. NLM
NHTSA complaint #8007948 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
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.
NHTSA complaint #8004956 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
VEHICLE LOSES OF POWER IN COLD WEATHER. ALSO, DRIVER'S SEAT BELT FAILS TO RETRACT PROPERLY AFTER USING IT. HAS TO PULL IT BACK AND FORTH TO GET IT TO RETRACT. DEALER NOTIFIED.
NHTSA complaint #859046 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
WHILE MAKING A TURN THE VEHICLE STALLS UNEXPECTEDLY WHICH MAY CAUSE A CRASH. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. ALSO, THERE IS A VIBRATION WHICH MAY CAUSE MORE WEAR AND TEAR ON THE TIRE. *AK
NHTSA complaint #856713 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING ENGINE: PULLEY SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.
NHTSA complaint #837999 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING VEHICLE AT 55 MPH WITH CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED. ALL OF A SUDDEN HEARD A LOUD POPPING NOISE AND THE VEHICLE WAS FILLED WITH DARK SMOKE. CONSUMER PULLED VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE WHEN IT BECAME ENGULFED IN FLAMES. EMERGENCY VEHICLE ARRIVED ON LOCATION AND PUT THE FIRE OUT. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED, AND IS BEING INSPECTED FOR CAUSE. CONDITION IS UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME.
NHTSA complaint #825042 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ENGINE STALLING.
NHTSA complaint #537235 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
DEFECTIVE ENGINE PISTONS.
NHTSA complaint #535193 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.