Owners filed 15 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the service brakes, hydraulic › foundation components. It has been recalled 3 times.
What fails
Component
Reports
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components
2
1
0
1
Power Train › Automatic Transmission
2
0
1
0
Vehicle Speed Control
1
0
0
0
Tires › Sidewall
1
0
0
0
Suspension › Front
1
0
0
0
Structure › Body › Hood › Hinge and Attachments
1
0
0
0
Structure
1
1
0
2
Steering › Hydraulic Power Assist System
1
0
0
0
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Pedals and Linkages
1
0
0
0
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings
1
0
0
0
3 safety recalls
Part 573 reports
Vehicle Speed Control09V399000
Filed Oct 13, 20094,500,000 vehiclesFord Motor Company
Defect. FORD IS RECALLING MODEL YEARS 1995-2003 WINDSTAR, 2000-2003 EXCURSION DIESEL, 1993-1997 AND 1999-2003 F-250 SD THROUGH F-550 SD DIESEL, 1992-2003 E-150 THROUGH E-550, 1995-2002 EXPLORER, 1997 AND 2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER, 1995-1997 AND 2001-2003 RANGER, AND 1994 F53 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE TEXAS INSTRUMENTS SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH (SCDS). THE SCDS MAY LEAK INTERNALLY AND THEN OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.
Risk. A VEHICLE FIRE COULD OCCUR WITH OR WITHOUT THE ENGINE RUNNING.
Remedy. FORD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS THAT DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS IN LINE WITH THE SCDS. ON 1999-2003 WINDSTAR VEHICLES WITH A LEAKING SCDS, DEALERS WILL ALSO INSPECT THE ABS CONTROL MODULE CONNECTOR AND REPAIR AS NECESSARY. REPAIRS WILL BE COMPLETED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 27, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-888-222-2751.
Vehicle Speed Control › Cruise Control08V051000
Filed Feb 4, 2008225,000 vehiclesFord Motor Company
Defect. FORD IS RECALLING 225,000 MY 1992-2003 ECONOLINE, MY 1993-1995 TAURUS SHO, MY 1992-1998 CROWN VICTORIA, MY 1993 BRONCO, F-SERIES, MY 1995-1997 F-SERIES SUPER DUTY STRIPPED CHASSIS, MY 1992-1998 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS, AND MY 1992-1995 LINCOLN TOWN CAR VEHICLES. THE AFFECTED VEHICLES WERE PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED USING A WIRING HARNESS THAT IS NOT COMPATIBLE WITH THE VEHICLE CIRCUIT POLARITY.
Risk. AS A RESULT, THE FUSE IS LOCATED IN THE OUTPUT CIRCUIT RATHER THAN IN THE INTENDED INPUT POWER FEED CIRCUIT, AND MAY NOT OFFER THE INTENDED PROTECTION IN THE EVENT OF AN ELECTRICAL SHORT TO GROUND.
Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW WIRING HARNESS, OR REPLACE THE MATING ELECTRICAL COMPONENT. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 18, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.
Vehicle Speed Control06V286000
Filed Aug 1, 20061,200,000 vehiclesFord Motor Company
Defect. ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH SPEED CONTROL, GASOLINE OR NATURAL GAS ENGINES, THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH MAY OVERHEAT.
Risk. OVERHEATING COULD RESULT IN SMOKE OR BURN AND AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.
Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS INTO THE SPEED CONTROL SYSTEM FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 7, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-866-436-7332. (NOTE: ALSO SEE RECALLS 05V017 AND 05V388)
What owners reported
Newest filings
StructureCrash2 injured1 killed
Filed Sep 15, 2010SC
ON AUGUST 4, 2010, MY 22 YEAR OLD SON WAS A PASSENGER IN A FORD ECONOLINE E 250 VAN ON HIS WAY TO WORK, WHEN THE DRIVER SOME HOW LOST CONTROL, HIT THE GUARDRAIL AND WAS EJECTED ALONG WITH MY SON! THE DRIVER WENT OUT FIRST AND TOOK THE WORST OF THE IMPACT. HOWEVER, HE IS STILL ALIVE WITH MASSIVE INJURIES. MY SON WAS THROWN OUT SECOND ACROSS THE HWY AND DIED FROM BLUNT FORCE TRAUMA TO HIS HEAD AND TORSO. THE 3RD PASSENGER WAS REMOVED WITH THE JAWS OF LIFE. MY SON NOR THE DRIVER WERE WEARING SEAT BELTS FROM WHAT I'VE BEEN TOLD. HOWEVER, I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT IT MAY NOT HAVE MATTERED DUE TO THE IMPACT. THE 3RD PERSON WAS IN THE BACK AND A SEAT BELT WAS NOT AVAILABLE, HE WAS SITTING ON A "MAKE SHIFT" TYPE SEAT(?) MY QUESTION IS...WHY DID THIS VAN SUSTAIN THIS MUCH MASSIVE DAMAGE FROM A ONE VEHICLE CRASH? HOW DID THE "CRASH DUMMIES" SURVIVE? ALTHOUGH, IT IS AN OLDER MODEL,(1995) THERE'S SEEMS TO BE NO REASON WHY THIS AMOUNT OF DAMAGE RESULTED FROM A ONE VEHICLE ACCIDENT. FROM WHAT I KNOW SO FAR, ROAD CONDITIONS NOR EXCESSIVE SPEED WERE AN ISSUE. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW THIS PARTICULAR VAN DID IN FRONT IMPACT COLLISION TESTING. I WANT TO KNOW WHAT TYPE OF CHANGES HAVE BEEN MADE TO INSURE THAT YOUR NEWER VANS DO NOT "CRUMBLE" IN THIS MANNER? I'M MORE THAN SURE AIRBAGS WOULD HAVE HELPED TREMENDOUSLY! BUT, IT SEEMS AS THOUGH THE VAN SHOULD HAVE, OR COULD HAVE BEEN A LOT MORE STURDIER BUILT???? I NEED ANSWERS AS TO WHY MY FIRST BORN SON WAS KILLED IN SUCH A HORRIFIC ONE VAN CRASH. THEY
Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Feb 11, 2008115,000 milesCA
RECEIVED LETTERS (ORIGINALLY FROM 2006) REGARDING RECALL 05S28 - SPEED CONTROL SYSTEM MODIFICATION. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP IN AUGUST 2007, WHERE THEY DISCONNECTED SPEED CONTROLLER, AND SAID PARTS WOULD BE IN 3 WEEKS. CALLED BACK IN SEPT, SAID PARTS WOULD BE IN OCTOBER. CALLED IN OCTOBER, TOLD DECEMBER. CALLED IN FEBRUARY, NOW TOLD APRIL. I AM TRYING TO ESCALATE WITH FORD, BUT ANY ANSWERS FROM THEM ARE NOT CREDIBLE, AS THEY NOW HAVE A HISTORY OF GIVING DATES IN THE FUTURE SO I "GO AWAY" FOR NOW. FORD SEEMS TO HAVE NO PLANS TO FIX OR REPLACE THIS, SO IN THE FUTURE I WILL NOT BE TAKING VEHICLES IN FOR A RECALL UNTIL I CAN CONFIRM THAT ALL PARTS ARE ON-HAND *BEFORE* I ARRIVE. I DON'T THINK THIS IS A GOOD RESULT OF FORD'S IGNORING THE RECALL (BY NOT ORDERING AN APPROPRIATE QUANTITY OF PARTS IN A TIMELY MANNER, STARTING IN 2006). *TR
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings
Filed Jul 11, 2006126,327 milesNY
DOUBLE BRAKE (FLUID) LINE FAILURE BACK-TO-BACK, ALMOST SIMULTANEOUSLY, RESULTING IN NO BRAKES AT ALL. VEHICLE IS OLDER, FAILURE DUE TO BRAKE LINE RUST OUT. (THIS IS THE THIRD OLDER VEHICLE EXPERIENCING THIS FAILURE WITHIN THE SAME AGE/MILEAGE RANGE, ALL WITHIN THE LAST FOUR YEARS. I AM SUSPECTING ACCELERATED OXIDATION DUE TO "SUPER-SALT" USED IN HIGHWAY DE-ICING IN RECENT YEARS.)*JB
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Jan 5, 200523,000 milesIL
ABS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATES, INDICATING A MALFUNCTION WITHIN THE SYSTEM. WHEN APPLYING ABS BRAKES ON WET OR DRY PAVEMENT IN EMERGENCY STOPPING, WHEELS LOCK UP, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SKID IN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK THE VEHICLE COMPUTER CODE INDICATING FAILURE WAS CLEARED. *TC
Tires › Sidewall
Filed Nov 27, 2000CA
GOODYEAR WRANGLER HT TIRES (P245 75) EXPERIENCE SPLITTING IN THE SIDEWALLS. *SLC
Structure › Body › Hood › Hinge and Attachments
Filed Aug 13, 1998NJ
HOOD OPENED, WHILE VEHICLE IN MOTION, SLAMMING INTO WINDSHILED SHATTERING IT. THE FIBERGLASS WAS OVERHEATED AND PEELED AWAY CAUSING LATCH TO BREAK.
Power Train › Automatic TransmissionFire
Filed May 4, 1998NY
TRANSMISSION FAILED AND CAUGHT FIRE.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Pedals and Linkages
Filed Aug 19, 1997UN
GAS/BRAKE PEDAL TOO CLOSE TOGETHER, CAUSING THEM TO BE DEPRESSED SIMULTANEOUSLY, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT.
Steering › Hydraulic Power Assist System
Filed Jan 17, 1997NY
DRIVER SWITCHED LANES TO AVOID ACCIDENT, UPON RETURNING TO HIS LANE THE VAN LOST IT'S STEERING CONTROL. HE PROCEEDED TO GO OFF THE ROAD INTO AN EMBANKMENT AND THE WHEELS BROKE OFF.
Air Bags › FrontalCrash3 injured
Filed Dec 2, 1996MI
VEHICLE WAS STRUCK AT INTERSECTION IN FRONT PASSENGER'S DOOR, RATCHET ON DRIVER'S SEAT BELT RELEASED UPON IMPACT, CAUSING DRIVER TO SLIP OUT OF SEAT BELT AND WAS EJECTED FROM VEHICLE; ALSO, DRIVER'S AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components
Filed Oct 15, 1996MA
WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES CONSUMER STATES THAT IT FEELS AS IF HE IS SKIDDING ON ICE THEN THE BRAKES WILL CATCH, CONSUMER HAS ALSO TAKEN THE VEHICLE IN FOR BRAKE SERVICE FIVE TIMES WITH NO REMEDY. *AK
Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Aug 12, 1996GA
TRANSMISSION TORQUE CONVERTER FAILED. *SD
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation ComponentsCrash1 injured
Filed Jun 28, 1996OH
DURING BRAKE APPLICATION, VEHICLE DRIFTS @ 30-35 MPH. IF VEHICLE IS LOADED WITH 500LBS OR MORE IT WILL NOT STOP. EXPLAIN IN MORE DETAIL. *AK
Suspension › Front
Filed May 7, 1996MA
THE VEHICLE SHAKES UNCONTROLABLY WHEN IT REACHES SPEEDS OF 55MPH OR MORE. THIS CAUSES THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. PLEASE DESCRIBE.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc › Rotor
Filed Feb 1, 1996CA
BOTH FRONT ROTORS CRACKED W/EXCESSIVE WEAR GRINDING METAL TO METAL IMMEDIATELY. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT
Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.
Most recent recall on file: Oct 13, 2009. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.