139 of the
1,154 complaints filed about the Ford Econoline
are about the engine —
12% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 1994.
2017 FORD ECONOLINE SUPER DUTY VAN. CONSUMER WRITES WITH CONCERNS FOR MULTIPLE MALFUNCTIONS AND SAFETY ISSUES WITH VEHICLE. *AS *DT *TR THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUAL JACK CONTROL COMPLETELY STOPPED WORKING. THE SCREWS HOLDING THE SLIDE OUT TO THE RV BODY SHEARED OFF ON THE OUTSIDE FRONT OF THE UNIT. THE DAMAGE TO THE LIVING AREA INCREASED TO THREE AREAS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF A STEERING PROBLEM AND ADVISED THE CAUSE WAS DUE TO OVERSIZED AFTER MARKET TIRES. THE RV EXHIBITED WATER DAMAGE FROM WHEN IT RAINS. THE ROOF AC/HEAT VENT WAS FROZEN, THE RADIO PLAYS WITHOUT BEING PROMPTED, THE AWNING SPLIT, THE DRAWERS DO NOT OPEN/CLOSED, AND THE WINDOWS WERE NOT FRAMED. THE TOILET NECK, WHEEL BASE AND DUMP OPENING CUT OUT WERE NOT PROPERLY ALIGNED.
NHTSA complaint #11139813 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LEFT HOUSE FOR VACATION, GOT 75 MILES AWAY AT 60 MPH ON THE FREEWAY, AND ENGINE STARTED MAKING A POPPING SOUND. PULLED OFF ROAD AND CALLED A NEARBY MOBILE REPAIR COMPANY. THEY SENT OUT A MECHANIC, HE DIAGNOSED A BLOWN OUT SPARK PLUG, AND SAID THIS WAS COMMON FOR THE FORD V-10. MADE IT TO HIS SHOP, AND THAT'S WHERE IT SITS. ESTIMATES ARE OVER $4000 TO REPAIR.
NHTSA complaint #11033338 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
NUMBER 7 CYLINDER BLEW THE SPARK PLUG OUT. TOTAL LOSS OF POWER. FORTUNATELY TRAFFIC WAS LIGHT AND I WAS ABLE TO PULL INTO A PARKING LOT. ABSOLUTELY NO WARNING SIGNS AT ALL.
NHTSA complaint #10629796 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD ECONOLINE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THERE WAS A LOUD BANG HEARD FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE NUMBER ONE SPARK PLUG AND THE COIL WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED SIX TIMES AFTER THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT AN AFTER MARKET PART COULD BE INSERTED ON THE SPARK PLUGS TO PREVENT THE FAILURE FROM RECURRING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,000.
NHTSA complaint #10499931 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TOOK THE VAN TO THE STORE. UPON RETURNING FROM STORE STARTED THE VAN, THERE WAS A LOUD EXPLOSION AS IF A BOMB WENT OFF. EVERYONE LOOKED BECAUSE IT WAS SO LOUD. TURNED THE VAN OFF AND RESTARTED IT. IT SOUNDED LIKE A DRAG CAR AT THE TRACK, NO EXHAUST SYSTEM AT ALL. TOOK COW OFF AND LOOKED INSIDE, FOUND THE SPARK PLUG WITH THE BOOT LAYING ON TOP OF THE VALVE COVER OR INTAKE, NOT SURE THERE IS NO ROOM AND JUST ENOUGH TO GET TWO FINGERS IN TO RETRIEVE IT. I HAD NOTICED A LITTLE TICKING EARLIER IN THE DAY LIKE AN EXHAUST LEAK, BUT DID NOT FIND ONE. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO REPAIR SHOP, WHERE IT IS NOW. NOT SURE WHAT WILL HAPPEN NEXT.
NHTSA complaint #10465883 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY FORD E350 1999 MADE A LOUD FLAPPING NOISE AS I WAS LEAVING MY HOME. I PULLED RIGHT BACK INTO THE DRIVEWAY AND SHUT OFF THE ENGINE. I FOUND OUT THAT THE #2 SPARK PLUG HAD COMPLETELY BLOWN OUT OF THE CYLINDER HEAD. THIS HAS NEVER HAPPENED ON ANY VEHICLE I HAVE EVER OWNED. I TAKE GOOD CARE OF MY VEHICLES. I AM A MECHANIC, AND FORMER JET ENGINE MECHANIC ALSO. MY OBDII CONFIRMED A MISFIRE ON CYLINDER #2 THAT IS HOW I LOCATED WHICH PLUG IT WAS. FORD SAID IT WOULD COST $260 TO LOOK AT IT, AND UP TO $1700 IF THEY COULD REPAIR IT. PLUS TOWING. I ASKED HOW MUCH A NEW ENGINE WOULD COST SINCE THE VAN IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. FORD SAID IT WOULD COST $7,200 FOR A NEW ENGINE. THIS VAN HAS COST MORE FOR REPAIRS THAN ANY VEHICLE I HAVE OWNED IN MY LIFE. I AM 62. AIR CONDITIONING COMPRESSOR $700.00 COIL ON SPARK PLUG $130 ABS BRAKE SENSOR $138.00 FLEX PLATE AND FLYWHEEL $700.(CAUSED BY LOOSE IGNITION SWITCH) EGR BLACK BOX $400 REPLACEMENT. FORD WANTED $100.00 TO CHANGE MY FUEL FILTER. I WENT TO THE STORE AND BOUGHT THE SPECIAL WRENCH FOR $16 ,DID IT MYSELF IN 15 MINUTES. RECALL FOR WIRING NEAR THE MASTER CYLINDER THAT COULD CATCH FIRE, 1/2 DAYS WAGES LOST. IT TOOK ME 4 HOURS TO CHANGE SPARK PLUGS. IT WAS THE WORST DESIGN I HAVE EVER SEEN. A NIGHTMARE TO GET TO THE SPARK PLUGS. I SOLD THE VAN FOR $500 TONIGHT. GLAD THE NIGHTMARE IS OVER.
NHTSA complaint #10433618 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE SPARK PLUG EJECTED FOR THE SECOND TIME IN TWO WEEKS AND THIS TIME HAD A SMALL FIRE THAT WAS PUT OUT RIGHT AWAY THAT COULD HAVE BEEN REAL TROUBLE AS WE HAD 9 PEOPLE IN THE MOTORHOME AT THE TIME.
NHTSA complaint #10423894 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
WELL IT GOES LIKE THIS, NEW PLUGS AND COIL PACKS WHERE INSTALLED AT DEAN ARBOUR FORD IN PINCONNING MICHIGAN IN MY 1999 E350 ECONOLINE VAN. SO THE ISSUE AT HAND FROM WHAT I HAVE READ ABOUT WAS IMPROPER INSTALLATION OF SAID PLUG OR PLUGS FROM WHAT I HAVE READ IN ANSWERS.COM FROM WHAT FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS SAID THAT IT IS IMPROPER INSTALLATION OR OVER TIGHTENING, NOT TORQUED PROPERLY. WELL IF THIS WAS THE ISSUE AT HAND THEN THEY ARE NOT PROPERLY TRAINING THEIR TECH'S, WHICH I DO NOT SEE THAT BEING THE ISSUE AT HAND. IT IS AS I SEE, POORLY DESIGNED AS TO THE SAME ISSUE HAPPENING TO SO MANY OTHERS. WHICH I SEE THEY SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE DESIGN FLAW. MY EXPERIENCE WITH MY PROBLEM AT HAND WAS NOT UNDER HEAVY LOAD, I WAS AT A STOP SIGN AND WENT TO PROCEED. WHAT HAPPENED AFTER THAT WAS STEPPING ON THE GAS SLOWLY TO MOVE FORWARD AND BANG, AND I MEAN (BANG). IT KEEP POPPING UNTIL I SHUT IT DOWN IGNITING AS THAT CYLINDER IN ROTATION CAME TO THAT FIRING ORDER FOR THAT CYLINDER. EVERYTHING THAT I HAVE READ INDICATES THAT THE CYLINDER ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF A 5.4 TRITON HEAD 2ND ONE FROM THE BACK FORWARD IS THE ONE THAT IS FAMOUS FOR EJECTING FROM THE HEAD. RIGHT ABOVE THE PLUG IS THE COIL PACK AND ABOVE THAT IS THE FUEL RAIL WHICH INTERN WHEN THE PLUG EJECTED ITSELF COULD HAVE BEEN VERY HAZARDOUS. THE POPPING WAS THE PLUG SPARKING, WHICH WAS IGNITING THE FUEL PUMPED INTO THE CYLINDER BY THE INJECTOR. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A VERY EXPLOSIVE SITUATION MEANING (FIRE). WITH THE LUCK OF THE DRAW I WAS NOT LIKE SOME OF THE UNLUCKY ONES THAT HAVE CAUSED A FIRE FROM THE EJECTION OF THE SPARK PLUG. WITH THE COMPLAINTS THAT HAVE ARISED FROM THIS ISSUE THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS KNOWN PROBLEM, BEFORE SOMEONE LOOSES THEIR LIFE FROM THIS KNOWN ISSUE. YOU WOULD THINK THAT FORD WOULD WANT TO ADDRESS THIS KNOWN ISSUE FOR LIABILITY REASONS, BEFORE THE UNKNOWN HAPPENS. LOSS OF LIFE, YOU CAN'T REPLACE IT, BUT YOU CAN REPLACE OR ADDRESS THE ISSUE.
NHTSA complaint #10398301 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD ECONOLINE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 40 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED AN ABNORMALLY LOUD BACKFIRE NOISE FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD AREA. THE CONTACT MOVED THE VEHICLE FROM THE ROADWAY AND FOUND A SMALL FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC ADVISED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY A BLOWN SPARK PLUG THAT EJECTED FROM ITS HOUSING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 220,000.
NHTSA complaint #10351992 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MOVING TO NORTH CAROLINA IN A FORD ECONOLINE VAN, 1994. THE VAN STARTED SMOKING AND WHEN WE PULLED OVER ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY THE SMOKE BECAME SO THICK THAT WE STARTED TO WALK AWAY TO OUR SECOND VEHICLE PARKED THE VAN. WHEN WE TURNED AROUND WE SAW AN EXTREME AMOUNT OF SMOKE AND REALIZED THE VAN HAD CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME TO EXTINGUISH THE FLAMES BUT NONE OF THE CONTENTS WITHIN COULD BE SAVED.
NHTSA complaint #10334458 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 FORD ECONOLINE VAN. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, IT EXHIBITED A NO-START CONDITION. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNDER 100,000.
NHTSA complaint #10291617 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.