1996 Ford Econoline

Defect. DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

Risk. DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy. DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.

Defect. SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

Risk. DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy. SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.

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.

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)

Defect. THE PARKING BRAKE SYSTEMS MAY NOT HOLD THE VEHICLES ON A 20% GRADE WITH FOOT PEDAL EFFORTS OF 125 POUNDS OR LESS. THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 105, "HYDRAULIC BRAKE SYSTEMS."

Risk. THE VEHICLE MAY ROLL AFTER BEING PARKED INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL ADJUST THE PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM ON THE AFFECTED VEHICLES.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD ECONOLINE. THE CONTACT STATED THE DOOR LATCH WOULD NOT RELEASE OPEN IN ORDER TO GAIN ACCESS OR EXIT THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE FAULTY DOOR CABLE. THE FAILURE INVOLVED BOTH SIDE DOORS AND REAR DOOR. THE CONTACT PURCHASED THE DOOR CABLE KIT AND PERFORMED THE REPAIR HIMSELF. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000. UPDATED 01/20/12*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS A FLAW IN THE MECHANICS THAT OPERATES THE DOORS THAT CAN BECOME INOPERABLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE CABLES OPERATING THE LATCHES CAN AND DO FAIL BECAUSE THEY ARE MADE OF VINYL AND IN TIME FAIL. UPDATED 01/20/12

TL*THE CONTACT OWNED A 1996 FORD ECONOLINE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE ON JANUARY 14, 2008 WHILE PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY. SMOKE APPEARED FROM THE ENGINE AND FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND FILED A REPORT. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED FORD RECALL NOTICE NUMBER 05S28 THE FIRST WEEK IN MAY OF 2008. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 122,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD ECONOLINE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL NOTICE FOR THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL IN FEBRUARY OF 2008. SINCE THAT TIME, HE HAS CALLED THE DEALER FIVE TIMES AND WAS INFORMED TO CALL BACK THE FOLLOWING WEEK. ON APRIL 2, 2008, HE WAS INFORMED TO CALL BACK IN AUGUST. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE PURCHASE DATE, POWERTRAIN, AND RECALL NUMBER WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 124,000. UPDATED 04/16/08 *BF UPDATED 04/16/08 *TR

1996 FORD ECONOLINE WITH FUSED JUMPER HARNESS RECALL. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE DEALER KEEPS TELLING HIM THAT THE PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE. CONSUMER IS VERY UPSET WITH THE UNSATISFACTORY WAY THIS RECALL IS BEING TAKEN CARE OF. *KB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD ECONOLINE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V336000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE DEALER REPLACED THE SWITCH A FEW MONTHS AGO; HOWEVER, FORD IS CURRENTLY SENDING THE CONTACT ANOTHER LETTER STATING THAT THE PART THEY REPLACED WAS STILL DEFECTIVE, AND HE NEEDS TO MAKE ANOTHER APPOINTMENT. THE LETTER REQUESTS THAT HE LEAVE THE VEHICLE AT THE DEALER WHILE IT IS BEING REPAIRED. THE CONTACT HAS BEEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE FOR YEARS AND WAS NOT AWARE THAT IT COULD CATCH FIRE. HE IS SCARED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 88,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD ECONOLINE. WHILE PARKED, THE VEHICLE BEGAN SMOKING AND THEN CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE ORIGINATED FROM THE CRUISE CONTROL AND DESTROYED ALL OF THE SWITCHES, BUTTONS, AND MIRROR ON THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR. THE CONTACT HAS PICTURES. UPDATED 5/20/08 *CN

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD ECONOLINE. AFTER THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED FOR 24 HOURS, IT BURST INTO FLAMES. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE INSURANCE INVESTIGATOR STATED THAT THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY SOMETHING ELECTRICAL IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. PERSONAL ITEMS THAT WERE IN THE YARD WERE BURNED AND DAMAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED LAST NOVEMBER FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 06V286000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE CRUISE CONTROL NEVER WORKED PROPERLY AFTER THE REPAIR WAS MADE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 157,000. UPDATED 02-19-08 *BF

THE MORNING OF 23 DEC 2006 AROUND 5:00 AM, MY 1196 FORD ECONOLINE CONVERSION VAN CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT FOR NO APPARENT REASON. DUE TO THE INTENSE HEAT MY HOME SUFFERED FIRE DAMAGE AS WELL. THERE WERE NO KNOWN MECHANICAL OR ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE VAN. IT WAS RUNNING LIKE A CHAMP UNTIL THIS INCIDENT.

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. *JB

1996 CLUB WAGON CHATEAU THEFT ALARM CAME ON/OFF CAUSING VEHICLE NOT TO START THE NEXT MORNING. *TS THE ALARM ONCE AGAIN SOUNDED AND WAS TURNED OFF. A FEW HOURS LATER THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE VEHICLE'S CRUISE CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH HAD FAILED PRIOR TO THE CONSUMER RECEIVING THE RECALL NOTICE. ANOTHER VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED IN THE FIRE. THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS. *NM

DRIVING DOWN EXPRESSWAY, STOPPED TO DROP NEWPHEW OFF VAN SMELLED HOT/BURNING OPENED HOOD FIRE PRESENT. CRUISE CONTROL PART ON RECALL FOR OTHER FORDS STARTED FIRE. PUT FIRE OUT. FORD REFUSES TO PAY FOR PART EVEN THOUGH EXACT PART ON RECALL, BECAUSE IT IS ON A VAN NOT A TRUCK. IT IS STILL THE SAME FAULTY PART AS THE TRUCKS. HAS BURNED CRUISE CONTROL, BRAKE FLUID CHAMBER ELECTRICAL WIRES UNDER IT AND SHORTED OUT ALTERNATOR. *NM

DT: THE CONTACT STATED CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING. THE LOCAL REPAIR SHOP REPLACED A 15 AMP CIRCUIT BREAKER. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR APPROXIMATELY FIVE HOURS IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED. THE INSURANCE INVESTIGATOR COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. *AK THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE FIRE WAS RELATED TO THE CRUISE CONTROL. UPDATED 12/07/05. *JB

ON SUNDAY MORNING AT ABOUT 6 AM THE ALARM OF OUR VAN WENT OFF. IT WOKE US UP. THE ENGINE OF THE VAN WAS ON FIRE. WE CALLED THE 911 AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME. MY HUSBAND TRIED TO USE THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER BUT HE COULD NOT OPEN THE HOOD. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT PUT OUT THE FIRE.THE LAST TIME I DROVE THE VAN WAS ABOUT 8:30 PM ON SATURDAY NIGHT. IT WAS FINE THEN WHILE IT WAS BURNING IT SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS TRYING TO START. ONE FIREMAN SAID THAT SOUND WAS FROM THE WIRES BURNING OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. IT IS A 1996 FORD [XXX] FORD E 350 LIMITED REGENCY THE MILEAGE WAS ABOUT79362. A STICKER ON THE WINDSHIELD SAYS BUILT WITH PRIDE ECONOLINE BY LORAIND OHIO ASSEMBLY UAW 425 2000. WE ARE VERY THANKFUL FOR THE CAR ALARM. WE WERE NOT DUE TO WAKE UP UNTIL AN HOUR LATER. WE THINK IT IS TOTALED BECAUSE THE WHOLE FRONT SIDE IS BURNED AND THE WINDSHIELD BROKE. ALL THE SEATS ARE STILL IN GOOD SHAPE. THE POLICE CAME TO THE SCENE BUT WHEN WE WENT TO GET THE REPORT WE FOUND THAT THE POLICE MAN DID NOT MAKE A REPORT. HE DIDN'T EVEN SPEAK TO US. LATER WE LEARNED THAT SHIFT CHANGE HAPPENS THAT TIME OF MORNING. (A POLICE MAN WHO GOES TO OUR CHURCH TOLD US ABOUT THE SHIFT CHANGE) HE DIDN'T KNOW WHY A REPORT WAS NOT TAKEN. *NM UPDATED 07/18/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

DT: THE CONTACT BOUGHT 4 NEW TIRES AROUND JUNE-2002. 3 FAILED. THE FIRST ONE FAILED IN 6-04, THE SECOND ONE BLEW OUT IN 3-05, AND THE THIRD ONE FAILED ON 8-15-05. NOTICED THE BUBBLES BEFORE THE OTHER TWO BLEW OUT. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THEM AT NO COST; BUT WAS WORRIED ABOUT OTHER PEOPLE WHO MAY HAVE THE SAME TIRE. THE TIRE BRAND NAME IS BIG O. THE DOT NUMBERS ARE B4KV3800; UTRK-266E R-44448 K-9184 1914. THE TIRE LINE IS: LT235/75R15. *AK *JB

1996 FORD ECONOLINE VAN WAS PARKED ON MY PROPERTY. IT STARTED ON FIRE WHICH SPREAD SO QUICKLY THAT THE WHOLE VAN WAS BURNT BEFORE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT BELIEVES THE FIRE STARTED ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE TOWARDS THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE BUT CAN NOT DETERMINE WHAT STARTED IT ALTHOUGH WE ARE STILL WAITING FOR THEIR REPORT. THIS VAN WAS NOT PARKED NEAR ANYTHING FLAMMABLE NOR WAS THERE ANYTHING FLAMMABLE IN THE VAN. THE FIRE WAS SO HOT THE WINDSHIELD MELTED. WE NOW HAVE NO VAN AND NO EXPLANATION OF WHY IT WOULD START ON FIRE. THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT SAID THEY WOULD NOT TAKE A REPORT UNLESS THE FIRE DEPARTMENT SUSPECTS ARSON.

ON JUNE 25TH I CHANGED THE BATTERY ON MY 1996 FORD E150 BECAUSE THE BATTERY WAS DEAD. ABOUT A HALF AN HOUR LATER I HEARD THE ALARM GOING OFF. WHEN I WENT OUTSIDE THERE WAS WHITE SMOKE COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I RAISED THE HOOD AND THE SENDING UNIT ON THE MASTER CYLINDER FOR THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS SMOKING AND THE WHITE SMOKE WAS INCREASING BY THE SECOND. I PULLED THE WIRES THAT WERE LEADING TO IT AND THE SMOKED STARTED TO DISAPATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT RUNNING AND THE IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF. ON JUNE 29, I WAS WATCHING THE JANE PAULY SHOW ON CNN. THEY WERE REPORTING ABOUT A PROBLEM WITH THIS SAME PART ON THE FORD F150 PICKUPS. I BELIEVE THAT IF MY ALARM HAD NOT SOUNDED MY VEHICLE WOULD HAVE CAUGHT ON FIRE LIKE THE PICKUP TRUCKS IN THE REPORT. AS OF YET I STILL HAVE NOT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE AND ALL PARTS ARE AS THEY WERE ON THE DAY OF THE INCEDENT. IF YOU WOULD LIKE I WILL LEAVE THE VEHICLE THIS WAY SO YOU CAN INSPECT THE PROBLEM IF YOU WOULD LIKE. PLEASE CONTACT ME ASAP SO I KNOW HOW TO PROCEED.

THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT MADE THE ASSUMPTION OF IT BEING AN ELECTRICAL FIRE.

THE ABS WILL NOT ENGAGE WHEN BRAKING DURING A EMERGENCY SITUATION OR A SUDDEN STOP. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO A REPAIR SHOP ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE FRONT PADS AND BOTH FRONT ROTORS AND THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. *JB

THE ROOF ON MY 1996 FORD ECONOLINE WITH MOUNTED RACK HAS PAINT THAT HAS PEELED OFF AND BEGINNING RUST, ESPECIALLY AROUND THE RACK AND EDGES OF ROOF. IT IS A BLUE METALLIC PAINT AND IS SEPARATING FROM THE PRIMER, WHICH I UNDERSTAND IS A DEFECT KNOWN AS DELAMINATION CAUSED BY DEFECTIVE PRIMER AND NORMAL ENVIRONMENT CONDITION OF ULTRAVIOLET EXPOSURE, A DEFECT THAT WAS LATENT FROM THE DATE IT WAS PAINTED AND HAS NOW BECOME VERY APPARENT. ESTIMATE TO REPAIR ROOF IS $1220.80 MILEAGE IS 55,834.*JB

WITHOUT ANY WARNING THE VEHICLE STALLED ON THE HIGHWAY WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH. THE INCIDENT OCCURRED FOUR TIMES SINCE THE CONSUMER HAS OWNED THE VEHICLE. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHO INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE INJECTOR DRIVER MODULE WAS THE PROBLEM. THIS MODULE WAS POSITIONED IN A WAY THAT MOISTURE COULD SEEP IN, CAUSING THE IPM MODULE TO FAIL. *AK RESPONSE FROM DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WAS POOR. *PH