Ford Econoline
Owners filed 811 complaints across 29 model years of the Ford Econoline. The 1994 drew the most (124).
Which Ford Econoline years should you avoid?
Going by 811 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the Ford Econoline years to avoid are 1996.
- 19962.1× the usual share of fires, crashes and deaths for a car of its age (12 fires, 6 crashes, 1 death).
Too new to judge: 2026. Complaints take a few years to arrive, so a new model year looks better than it is.
How this is worked out: each year is compared with a typical year of the same model, which takes most of the difference in sales out of it, and its share of serious failures is compared with every other car of the same model year, because older cars were complained about differently. A year needs 25 complaints to be judged at all. Complaints are unverified owner reports. Full method →
Every Ford Econoline model year compared
Complaints per year| Year | Complaints | Relative volume | Recalls | Fires | Crashes | Most reported | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026Too new | 0 | 1 | — | — | — | Routine | |
| 2019 | 1 | 2 | — | — | Electrical System | Routine | |
| 2018 | 0 | 2 | — | — | — | Routine | |
| 2017 | 3 | 1 | — | 1 | Visibility/Wiper | Routine | |
| 2016 | 3 | 1 | — | — | Seat Belts | Routine | |
| 2015 | 0 | 1 | — | — | — | Routine | |
| 2014 | 0 | 1 | — | — | — | Routine | |
| 2013 | 0 | 1 | — | — | — | Routine | |
| 2012 | 1 | 1 | — | — | Power Train | Routine | |
| 2011 | 0 | 1 | — | — | — | Routine | |
| 2010 | 1 | 1 | — | — | Fuel/Propulsion System | Routine | |
| 2009 | 1 | 1 | — | 1 | Air Bags | Routine | |
| 2007 | 0 | 2 | — | — | — | Routine | |
| 2006 | 0 | 2 | — | — | — | Routine | |
| 2005 | 0 | 2 | — | — | — | Routine | |
| 2003 | 22 | 4 | 3 | — | Vehicle Speed Control | Routine | |
| 2002 | 23 | 4 | 3 | — | Vehicle Speed Control | Routine | |
| 2001 | 28 | 5 | 2 | 1 | Vehicle Speed Control | Routine | |
| 2000 | 39 | 5 | 4 | 3 | Vehicle Speed Control | Routine | |
| 1999 | 84 | 7 | 4 | 5 | Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | Routine | |
| 1998 | 46 | 4 | 1 | — | Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | Routine | |
| 1997 | 79 | 4 | 2 | 8 | Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | Fatalities reported | |
| 1996Avoid | 81 | 5 | 12 | 6 | Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | Fatalities reported | |
| 1995 | 73 | 6 | 7 | 3 | Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | Routine | |
| 1994 | 124 | 6 | 11 | 9 | Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | Fatalities reported | |
| 1993 | 65 | 5 | 6 | 4 | Vehicle Speed Control | Routine | |
| 1992 | 83 | 5 | 11 | 9 | Vehicle Speed Control | Fatalities reported | |
| 1991 | 24 | 3 | 1 | 1 | Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage › Auxillary Tank › Selector Devices | Routine | |
| 1990 | 30 | 4 | 4 | 1 | Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | Routine |
Data: NHTSA complaint and recall files, October 2026. Complaints are unverified owner reports.