54 of the
1,154 complaints filed about the Ford Econoline
are about the steering —
5% 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.
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.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 FORD ECONOLINE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE GEAR BOX FRACTURED FROM THE FRAME. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACTS RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.
NHTSA complaint #10640201 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
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.
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.
THERE IS A SMALL PLATE THAT HAS 2 ALLEN HEAD BOLTS HOLDING IT ON THE BOTTOM OF THE STEERING COLUMN SHAFT .THIS PLATE PUTS THE VEHICLE IN PARK. THE BOLTS CAME LOOSE AND THE VAN ROLLED BACKWARDS INTO THE GARAGE DOOR EVEN THOUGH IT WAS IN PARK AND THE DRIVER WAS STANDING OUTSIDE,NEXT TO THE VAN
NHTSA complaint #10443886 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 FORD ECONOLINE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH AND MAKING A RIGHT TURN THEY HEARD A LOUD SNAPPING NOISE. THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY LOOSE AND CONTINUED TO MOVE INSTEAD OF STOPPING AT A SPECIFIC POINT. NO WARNING LIGHTS APPEARED ON THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND INSPECTED BY A INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE STEERING GEAR BOLTS SNAPPED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 168,000. UPDATED 03/24/11*LJ UPDATED 12/14/11
NHTSA complaint #10376240 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 FORD ECONOLINE. AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE WATER PUMP BEGAN LEAKING FLUID. THE LABOR COST FOR THE REPAIR WAS $100. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE PEDAL EXTENDED TO THE FLOOR AND MADE IT VERY DIFFICULT TO STOP THE VEHICLE. WHILE THE MECHANIC WAS INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, HE OBSERVED AN INCOMPLETE STICKER INSIDE THE DOOR BY THE MANUFACTURER IN 1992. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE STICKER INDICATED THAT THERE WERE SOME PARTS ON THE VEHICLE THAT WERE NOT COMPLETELY INSTALLED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT END ALSO NEEDED TO BE ALIGNED. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED 1 YEAR AGO. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 187,000. UPDATED 06/16/08
NHTSA complaint #10229223 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
1996 FORD ECONOLINE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM REPEATEDLY CAUSED THE VAN TO BREAK DOWN. *KB THE AIR CONDITIONING COMPRESSOR SEIZED AND THE SERPENTINE BELT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE IGNITION MODULE WAS REPLACED. THE TIE RODS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED WHICH FAILED WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING. THE CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING AND THE ABS, AIR BAG AND ENGINE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED.
NHTSA complaint #10170132 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
CAMBER BUSHINGS WERE TOTALLY WORN OUT AFTER ONLY 27,000 MILES. FRONT DRIVERS AND PASSENGER SIDE TIRES WERE WORN EXCESSIVELY ON THE INSIDE. REPLACE THE CAMBER BUSHINGS. THIS WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY WHICH SHOULD HAVE BEEN.
NHTSA complaint #10090779 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE CONSUMER HEARD A CLANKING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. WHEN THE NOISE WAS HEARD, IT BECAME VERY HARD TO STEER THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER EXAMINED THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THAT THE STEERING PIN BOX NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE CONSUMER ALSO HAD TO HAVE THIRTEEN SETS OF TIRES REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #10055732 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
CONSUMER STATES THAT STEERING WHEEL IS VERY SLIPPERY AND FEELS UNSAFE WHILE DRIVING AS IF WILL LOSE GRIP ON WHEEL AND CONTROL OF VEHICLE. WHEEL DOES NOT HAVE ANY FINGER "GROOVES" ON THE REAR.
NHTSA complaint #10026311 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE FOLLOWING : TIRES (DIRECTIONAL/4 WAY), COURTESY LIGHTS, CRUISE CONTROL, STEERING (NOISE), BRAKES/REAR ANTI-LOCK, SEAT BELTS, SEATS (LOOSE), GAS LEAK, REAR DOOR(S) LEAK/DRIVER SIDE DOOR HINGE, DASH CRACKED, LOOSE RUNNING BOARD, FRONT FENDER (PASSENGER SIDE), ARM ON DRIVER SIDE SEAT IS BROKEN, WIPERS, AND THE IGNITION KEY IS STICKING IN THE START POSITION. (TIRES-COPPER DISCOVER) SCC
NHTSA complaint #10003818 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS
WHILE CHANGING MY OIL I HAD NOTICED THAT THE POWER STEERING HOSE WAS IN CONTACT WITH THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE AND WEAR MARKS WERE EVIDENT. IF A PIECE OF RUBBER HOSE WAS NOT PLACED AROUND THE HOSE FAILURE OF THE HOSE WOULD HAVE TAKEN PLACE.
NHTSA complaint #749363 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SINCE INITIAL BRAKE/SPINDLE BREAKDOWN, WE HAVE SPENT ABOUT $4000 ON BRAKE COMPONENTS, REPEATEDLY. AND THE BRAKES STILL PULL, WHINE AND MAKE THE STEERING WHEEL SHIMMY AND THE VEHICLE HARD TO CONTROL.
NHTSA complaint #747029 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.