1990 Ford Econoline

Routine

Owners filed 30 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the service brakes, hydraulic › antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip. It has been recalled 4 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip5
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components4
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc › Caliper3
010
Wheels2
000
Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage › Tank Assembly2
000
Electrical System › Wiring › Interior/Under Dash2
010
Vehicle Speed Control › Accelerator Pedal1
000
Vehicle Speed Control1
000
Tires › Tread/Belt1
104
Structure › Body › Door1
000

4 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Suspension › Rear › Shock Absorber93V073000
Filed Apr 27, 199325,000 vehiclesFord Motor Company

Defect. THE REAR SHOCK CROSSMEMBER OF THE FRAME CAN CRACK AND SEPARATE FROM THE FRAME.

Risk. SEPARATION OF THE REAR SHOCK CROSSMEMBER FROM THE FRAMECAN RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT.

Remedy. REPLACE THE REAR CHOCK CROSSMEMBER WITH A SHOCK CROSSMEMBER MADE OF HIGH STRENGTH STEEL.

Seat Belts › Front › Anchorage91V172000
Filed May 4, 19921,010 vehiclesGlaval Bus Division

Defect. THE SAFETY BELT ANCHORAGE FOR THE REAR BENCH SEAT FAILED TO COMPLY WITH THE STANDARDS OF FMVSS 210.

Risk. FAILURE TO MEET THE LOAD REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS 210 PLACETHE SEAT OCCUPANTS IN INCREASED RISK OF INJURY IN THE EVENT OF A SUDDEN STOPOR ACCIDENT.

Remedy. THE MANUFACTURE WILL REPLACE THE NON-COMPLYING SAFETY BELT ANCHORAGE WITH A NEW ANCHORAGE THAT MEETS THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS 210.

Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage › Auxillary Tank › Selector Devices91V146000
Filed Sep 4, 1991350,000 vehiclesFord Motor Company

Defect. THE DUAL FUEL TANK SELECTOR VALVE MAY MALFUNCTION AND CAUSE AN OVERFILL CONDITION IN ONE OF THE FUEL TANKS, RESULTING IN AN OVERFLOW OF FUEL PAST THE FILLER CAP.

Risk. THE OVERFLOW OF FUEL PAST THE FILLER CAP CAUSES A FUELLEAKAGE, WHICH CAN RESULT IN A FIRE WHEN EXPOSED TO A SOURCE OF IGNITION.

Remedy. REPLACE THE DUAL FUEL TANK SELECTOR VALVE.

Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Gear Position Indication (prndl)90V101000
Filed Jun 1, 1990111,000 vehiclesFord Motor Company

Defect. UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, THE SNAP RING THAT LOCATES THE PARK GEAR ON THE OUTPUT SHAFT OF THE TRANSMISSION MAY FRACTURE.

Risk. WHEN THE GEAR IS PLACED IN PARK, THE PARK GEAR WOULD NOTENGAGE, ALLOWING THE TRUCK TO ROLL FREELY IF THE PARKING BRAKE IS NOT PROPERLYSET. THIS COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.

Remedy. INSTALL IMPROVED SNAP RING AND REVISED TRANSMISSION EXTENSION HOUSING.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Tires › Tread/BeltCrash4 injured
Filed Dec 3, 200344,000 milesMO

WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE TREAD SEPARATED AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO A CONCRETE GUARD RAIL. *AK *SCC *JB

Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Fuel Pump
Filed Sep 11, 2003NY

CONSUMER NOTICED A GAS SMELL INSIDE OF VEHICLE WHILE TRAVELING. SAW GAS POURING OUT OF GAS TANK. VEHICLE WAS SERVICED, TECHNICIAN REPLACED FUEL PUMP SENDING UNIT. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System › Fan
Filed May 5, 2003NJ

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING THE FAN BELTS SNAP CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO LOSE BRAKE POWER. DEALER NOTIFIED

Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage › Tank Assembly
Filed Apr 3, 2002NM

GAS TANK DOES NOT WORK. CONSUMER CAN BE RIDING DOWN THE STREET AND AUTOMOBILE WILL CUT OFF. THIS HAPPENS WHEN RIDING ON REAR TANK ONLY.*AK

Vehicle Speed Control › Accelerator Pedal
Filed Jan 11, 2000DC

WHILE DRIVING ACCELERATOR PEDAL STUCK, APPLIED BRAKES VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. TO GAIN CONTROL, VEHICLE WAS PUT IN PARK. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

Wheels
Filed Nov 1, 1999MI

THE ENTIRE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL SEPARATED FROM VEHICLE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO CRASH BY HITTING THE GUARDRAIL. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT) YH

Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage › Auxillary Tank › Selector Devices
Filed Sep 2, 1999WV

VEHICLE WAS BLOWING OUT FUEL. HAS DUAL FUEL TANKS. FUEL OVERFLOWED PAST FILLER CAP. FUEL TANK SELECTOR VALVE HAD MALFUNCTIONED. CALLED DEALER. VEHICLE NOT UNDER RECALL (991V14600) DUE TO VIN. *YC

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components
Filed Jul 21, 1999MI

BRAKE PEDAL IS GOING STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR.ONLY ABLE TO BEAR DOWN AND USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKES TO STOP.CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER. *AK

Electrical System › Wiring › Interior/Under DashFire
Filed Jun 9, 1999CA

FIRST, HEADLIGHTS CEASED TO FUNCTION, THEN ELECTRIC DOOR LOCKS FAILED WIRING HARNESS UNDER HOOD FRIED B/O CURRENT WIRE RIGHT DOWN TO THE PIN PLASTIC ASSEMBLY ON FIRE WALL THAT LEADS TO WIRING UNDER DASH OF VEHICLE. SPARKING NOTICED AT WIRING HARNESS PIN CONNECTOR AT FIREWALL WITH CLICKING SOUND IN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS WIRE B/O HOT WIRE HAS FRIED ITSELF. FIRST TIME AT ABOUT 40000 MILES IT FRIED THE FUSE LINK IN THE BLACK/ORANGE HOT WIRE LEADING DOWN TO THE FIREWALL PIN CONNECTOR. SECOND TIME, AFTER FUSE LINK WAS REPLACED, ENTIRE WIRE CAUGHT FIRE AND FRIED DOWN TO THE ROUND PLASTIC PIN CONNECTOR LEADING INTO THE CAB FROM UNDER THE DASHBOARD. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Dec 29, 1998UN

ANTI-IOCK BRAKES FAILED. YH

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Oct 26, 1998FL

SPEED CONTROL IS ON AND APPLIED THE BRAKES, IT MOMENTARILY DISENGAGES THE SPEED CONTROL. AS SOON AND BRAKE PEDAL IS RELEASED, VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY STARTS TO ACCELLERATE. OUT OF WARRANTY, DEALER NOT CONTACTED AND UNAWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components
Filed Feb 20, 1998CA

BRAKES OVERHEATED AND LOST POWER ON OCCASION. RECALL ON OTHER MODELS HOWEVER THIS VEHICLE DID NOT QUALIFY FOR RECALL.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc › CaliperFire
Filed Nov 5, 1997NY

BRAKE CALIPERS FROZE CAUSING PADS TO OVERHEAT AND CAUGHT ON FIRE.

Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage › Tank Assembly
Filed Oct 24, 1997AZ

OWNER CLAIMS THAT FUEL IS LEAKING FROM THE GAS TANKS. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Oct 16, 1997TX

BRAKES: WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY EVERYTHING IS FINE. ATTEMPTED TO USE THE BRAKES AND HAD TO PUSH PEDAL COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR LIKE THERE WERE NO BRAKES AT ALL. HAD TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE IN ORDER TO STOP. *AK

Wheels
Filed Jul 15, 1997NY

LEFT FRONT TIRE CAME OFF VEHICLE. (OHIO STATE POLICE REPORT)

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Apr 9, 1997CA

OWNER HAS ABS BRAKES, WHILE DRIVING BRAKES GO OUT. ALSO, THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM, BUT HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *AK

Electrical System › Wiring › Front UnderhoodFire
Filed Mar 24, 1997IL

VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR FIFTEEN MINUTES ALL OF A SUDDEN AN FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE WHOLE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WAS BURNED UP. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components
Filed Mar 18, 1997WI

AFTER DRIVING FOR AN HOUR AT THE SPEED OF 35 TO 40 MPH THE FLUID STARTS TO BOIL WHICH CAUSES THE BRAKES TO FAIL. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components
Filed Feb 28, 1997IL

WHILE DRIVING BRAKES FROZE UP IN A LOCKED POSITION, THE VEHICLE PULLED ITSELF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND STARTED SMOKING. THIS WAS A SECOND REQUEST. *AK

20 of 30 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1994
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20260100Routine
20191200Routine
20180200Routine
20173100Routine
20163100Routine
20150100Routine
20140100Routine
20130100Routine
20121100Routine
20110100Routine
20101100Routine
20091100Routine
20070200Routine
20060200Routine
20050200Routine
200322430Routine
200223430Routine
200128520Routine
200039540Routine
199984740Routine
199846410Routine
199779422Fatalities reported
1996815121Fatalities reported
199573670Routine
19941246111Fatalities reported
199365560Routine
1992835111Fatalities reported
199124310Routine
1990 — this page30440Routine

Compare every Econoline year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

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: Apr 27, 1993. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.