Menu

Ford EconolineYears to avoid, problems & recalls

Based on 909 NHTSA owner complaints across 48 model years, no Ford Econoline year stands out as one to avoid, and the strongest years are 1989, 1990, 1998 and 2001. The Econoline has 58 safety recalls on record.

Ford Econoline
Years to avoidNoneUse caution: 1992, 1994Best years'89 '90 '98 '01Fewest complaints for their ageOwner complaints909Top: Service brakes, hydraulicSafety recalls581967–2026 model years

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports. Updated daily. How we score years. Photo: SsmIntrigue, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Best & worst years

Ford Econoline years to avoid

Complaints by model year, colored by the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Econoline median. Tap a year for its full report.

'67'69'71'72'75'76'77'78'79'80'81'82'83'84'85'86'87'88'89'90'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'05'06'07'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'26
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
2026Too new–/1000 complaints · 1 recall2019Not rated–/1001 complaint · 2 recalls2018Not rated–/1000 complaints · 2 recalls2017Not rated–/1003 complaints · 1 recall2016Not rated–/1003 complaints · 1 recall2015Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall2014Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall2013Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall2012Not rated–/1001 complaint · 1 recall2011Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall2010Not rated–/1001 complaint · 1 recall2009Not rated–/1001 complaint · 1 recall2007Not rated–/1000 complaints · 2 recalls2006Not rated–/1000 complaints · 2 recalls2005Not rated–/1000 complaints · 2 recalls2003Not rated–/10022 complaints · 2 recalls2002Not rated–/10023 complaints · 2 recalls2001Best73/10028 complaints · 3 recalls2000Solid61/10039 complaints · 3 recalls1999Solid45/10084 complaints · 5 recalls1998Solid66/10046 complaints · 2 recalls1997Solid47/10079 complaints · 2 recalls1996Solid42/10081 complaints · 3 recalls1995Solid49/10073 complaints · 4 recalls1994Caution35/100124 complaints · 4 recalls1993Solid51/10065 complaints · 3 recalls1992Caution41/10083 complaints · 3 recalls1991Not rated–/10024 complaints · 3 recalls1990Best68/10030 complaints · 4 recalls1989Best70/10032 complaints · 2 recalls1988Not rated–/10022 complaints · 0 recalls1987Not rated–/10015 complaints · 4 recalls1986Not rated–/1007 complaints · 5 recalls1985Not rated–/10010 complaints · 5 recalls1984Not rated–/1007 complaints · 6 recalls1983Not rated–/1002 complaints · 5 recalls1982Not rated–/1001 complaint · 2 recalls1981Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1980Not rated–/1001 complaint · 3 recalls1979Not rated–/1001 complaint · 7 recalls1978Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1977Not rated–/1000 complaints · 2 recalls1976Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1975Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1972Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1971Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1969Not rated–/1000 complaints · 3 recalls1967Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall
Complaints by system

Most common Ford Econoline problems

All model years combined: 909 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Service brakes, hydraulic17322
Engine and engine cooling12326
Vehicle speed control12030
Electrical system8840
Fuel system, gasoline828
Tires813
Suspension534
Steering532
Power train438
22 other systems25345
58 recalls

Ford Econoline recalls

Newest first. The ring shows the share of affected vehicles repaired, from the manufacturer's latest report to NHTSA.

64%Defroster/defogger/hvac system: fan/motor25V-726 · 2026 · Oct 24, 2025 · 6,909 vehicles21%Sensing system: camera25V-572 · 2017–2019 · Sep 3, 2025 · 1,456,417 vehicles12%Equipment19V-428 · 2018–2019 · Jun 11, 2019 · 325 vehicles53%Power train: automatic transmission19V-432 · 2009–2016 · Jun 10, 2019 · 3,868 vehicles–Equipment adaptive/mobility08V-663 · 2005–2007 · Dec 16, 2008 · 169 vehicles–Equipment adaptive/mobility08V-662 · 2005–2007 · Dec 15, 2008 · 267 vehicles–Vehicle speed control: cruise control08V-051 · 1992–2003 · Feb 4, 2008 · 225,000 vehicles–Vehicle speed control06V-286 · 1994–1996 · Aug 1, 2006 · 1,200,000 vehicles–Fuel system, gasoline: storage03V-282 · 2001–2003 · Aug 5, 2003 · 64 vehicles–Child seat00V-304 · 2001 · Oct 4, 2000 · 12 vehicles–Other: labels00V-284 · 1998–2000 · Sep 21, 2000 · 4,500 vehicles–Wheels: lugs/nuts/bolts/studs00V-115 · 1999–2000 · Apr 19, 2000 · 3,300 vehicles

Showing the 12 newest of 58 recalls. Each model-year page lists all recalls for that year.

8 investigations

NHTSA investigations of the Econoline

  1. Internal transmission failurePE18010 · 2009–2016 · closed Jul 16, 2019
    Led to recall 19V-432
  2. SPARK PLUG EJECTION FROM CYLINDER HEADDP05005 · 1997–2003 · closed Jan 4, 2006
    No recall
  3. ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRESEA05005 · 1994–1996 · closed Aug 2, 2006
    Led to recall 05V-388
  4. SEPARATION OF STEERING GEAR FROM FRAMEPE96024 · 1994 · closed Jul 18, 1996
    No recall
  5. TRNS OIL COOLER LINE FAILSPE94087 · 1994 · closed Mar 31, 1995
    No recall
  6. IDLE AIR SPD CTRL VLV MALFEA93022 · 1991–1992 · closed Aug 31, 1994
    No recall
  7. IDLE AIR SPD CTRL VLV MALFPE93010 · 1991–1992 · closed Jul 30, 1993
    No recall
  8. FUEL EXPULSIONEA91031 · 1989 · closed Nov 1, 1991
    Led to recall 91V-146