1998 Ford Econoline Problems & Complaints

VAN IS LEAKING FUEL FROM A CRACK WHERE IT CONTACTS THE FRAME MEMBER. THIS VAN WAS SUBJECT TO A RECALL BEGINNING APRIL 19, 2001. I DID NOT OWN THE VEHICLE AT THAT TIME, BUT APPARENTLY VEHICLE WAS NOT LEAKING SO IT WAS NOT FIXED. I DO NOT HAVE THE RECALL NUMBER. I OBTAINED THIS INFORMATION FROM A VIN LOOK UP AT HTTPS://DRIVING-TESTS.ORG/VIN-DECODER/ VEHICLE ONLY LEAKS FUEL WHEN FILLING UP AT THE GAS STATION. ONCE I STOP FILLING UP, THE LEAKING WILL DRIP, DRIP, DRIP UNTIL IT STOPS AND I CAN DRIVE OFF. NEXT TIME I WILL TAKE A PICTURE OF LEAKING.

WAS TRAVELING ON RT 80 NEAR EXIT 123 IN PENNSYLVANIA ON STRAIGHT ROAD, AT 65 MPH, TEMPERATURE OF 75 DEGREES, DRY, SUNNY DAY. WE HEARD A LOUD BOOM. THE INSIDE REAR TIRE (DRIVER SIDE) HAD BLOWN. IT APPEARED THAT THE SIDEWALL (FACING OUT) HAD FAILED. THE SIDEWALL SEPARATED ALONG A STRAIGHT LINE FROM THE WHEEL TO THE TREAD. ALSO, IN THAT AREA ABOUT 10 INCHES OF TREAD WAS STARTING TO SEPARATE ON THAT SIDE OF THE TIRE - THE TREAD SEPARATION WAS 'CENTERED' ON THAT SIDEWALL FAILURE. FORTUNATELY WE EXPERIENCED NO OTHER DAMAGE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD ECONOLINE E-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK FRACTURED AND WAS LEAKING FUEL. THE DEALER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE FAILURE. NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 85,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 08/31/11 *BF UPDATED 2/9/2012

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD ECONOLINE. THE CONTACT WAS REPLACING THE AIR CONDITIONING BLOWER MOTOR WHEN HE NOTICED THE SPEED SELECTOR SWITCH WAS MELTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 240,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 302,302.

1998 FORD ECONOLINE RECALL ON SPEED CONTROL. CONSUMER STATES THAT DEALER DID NOT HAVE THE PARTS AND DID NOT WANT HIM TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THIS RESOLVED. HE STATES THAT NO ONE ANSWERED THE 800 NUMBER ON THE RECALL NOTICE. *KB

FORD E150 WITH CRUISE CONTROL RECALL. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE DEALER STATED IN SEPTEMBER WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED THAT THE PARTS WOULD BE AVAILABLE IN JANUARY. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE PARTS ARE STILL NOT AVAILABLE. *KB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD ECONOLINE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V051000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL) IN FEBRUARY OF 2008. THE PARTS ARE STILL UNAVAILABLE. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 43,000. UPDATED 4/11/08 *CN

1998 FORD ECONOLINE RECALL ON SPEED CONTROL. CONSUMER STATED THAT THE DEALER TOLD THEM THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. HE WAS INFORMED THE PARTS WOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL THE SECOND QUARTER OF THE YEAR. *KB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD ECONOLINE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL NOTICE FOR THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL IN AUGUST OF 2007. THE SPEED CONTROL SWITCH WAS DISCONNECTED AT THAT TIME. SINCE RECEIVING THE NOTICE, SHE HAS SPOKEN WITH THE DEALER TWICE AND THE PART IS STILL UNAVAILABLE. COMPLAINT NUMBER 1400372637 WAS FILED WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 102,000. UPDATED 03/11/08. *LJ

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD ECONOLINE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V336000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE CONTACT SCHEDULED A RECALL REPAIR APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE SPEED CONTROL DISCONNECTED. HE IS DISSATISFIED WITH THE AMOUNT OF TIME IT WILL TAKE TO RECEIVE THE PARTS AND HAVE THE CRUISE CONTROL REPLACED. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD ECONOLINE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED TWO SAFETY RECALL NOTICES FOR THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL ON AUGUST 29, 2007 AND OCTOBER 9, 2007. ON NOVEMBER 1, 2007, HE CALLED THE DEALER FOR THE THIRD TIME AND WAS EITHER HUNG UP ON OR DISCONNECTED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY A SERVICE TECHNICIAN THAT HE COULD CONTINUE DRIVING THE VEHICLE BECAUSE IF IT WERE GOING TO CATCH FIRE, IT WOULD HAVE BY NOW. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 45,495.

DRIVING NORTH ON I 275 JUST SOUTH OF I 94 AND TIRE SEPARATED ON RIGHT REAR CALLED AAA BECAUSE RIM WAS ON THE GROUND. VEHICLE WAS A FORD CONVERSION VAN. REPLACED WITH SPARE, AND STILL HAVE OLD TIRE. TIRE SIZE IS 30X9.50R 15 DISCOVERER AST. 8JB

THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED A GAS LEAK COMING FROM THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE LEAK WAS THE RESULT OF A RUSTED HOLE IN THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB

THE FUEL TANK CRACKED ON THE UPPER PORTION OF THE TANK IN THE AREA WHERE THE MIDDLE STRAP CROSSED THE TANK. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED FORD MOTOR CO., HOWEVER THERE WERE NO RECALLS, THEREFORE THERE WAS NO ASSISTANCE WITH THE PURCHASE OF A NEW FUEL TANK. *JB *NM

1998 FORD ECONOLINE E-350 VAN. 5.4 L GAS MOTOR. SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF MOTOR. EHICLE HAS 152,000 MILES. REF CASE ODI ID NUMBER 10024670. REASON FOR MAKING COMPLAINT. *AK

THE CONSUMER STATED THE SPARK PLUG "BLEW" OUT IN THE MOTOR WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION, WHICH CAUSED FUEL TO BE DUMPED INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. VEHICLE IS A 1998, FORD, E150, ECONOLINE VAN.*AK *TS *JB

THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED, AND ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A TURN AND IT FELT AS THOUGH THE RIGHT REAR TIRE WAS FLAT. THE MECHANIC PUT THE CAR ON THE LIFT, AND DISCOVERED THE RIM WAS BROKEN AND THE TIRE FELL OFF. *JB

INTAKE VALVE GASKET FAILED, CAUSING COOLANT TO ENTER CYLINDER AND BEND PUSH ROD. MOTOR HAS ONLY 45,000 MILES ON IT. VAN HAD BEEN DRIVEN UNDER 500 MILES IN LAST SIX MONTHS. *NLM

NO DESCRIPTION GIVEN. NLM

CONSTANT MISALIGNMENT CAUSES VEHICLE TO VEER TO THE RIGHT WHILE DRIVING. STEERING WHEEL IS STILL EXTREMELY LOOSE WHEN MAKING A RIGHT OR LEFT TURN. DEALER STATES THERE IS NOTHING THAT CAN BE DONE. *AK

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT IS ILLUMINATING, INDICATING A MALFUNCTION WITHIN CYLINDER HEAD AND TEMPERATURE SENSOR. MECHANIC AT FORD DEALER STATED THAT MANUFACTURER HAS NOT PRODUCED SENSOR FOR ECONOLINE TRUCK, RESULTING IN FALSE WARNING TO CHECK ENGINE ON VEHICLE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE BEGAN TO SMOKE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. DEALER STATED ROD AND ENGINE BLOCK CRACKED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

CYLINDER HEAD LEAKS COOLANT EXTERNALY FROM THERMOSTAT HOUSING (THREW SMALL PIN HOLES). *AK

BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT (HIGH AND LOW BEAM) HEADLIGHTS FAILED DUE TO A FAILED MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH. I CHECKED THE MULTIPLE FUSES (4 EACH) PER OWNERS MANUAL RELATING TO HEADLIGHTS AND NO MALFUNCTION OBSERVED. ONLY "FLASH TO PASS" HIGH BEAM WAS FUNCTIONAL. REPAIR COMPLETED BY KOONS FORD OF ANNAPOLIS ON INVOICE #C66934, 10/06/2001. I THINK THIS CIRCUIT FAILURE CONSTITUTES A VERY SERIOUS DESIGN FLAW WHEREBY FORD ALLOWS ALL HEADLIGHTS, WHICH ARE PROTECTED BY INDIVIDUAL FUSED CIRCUITS, TO GO OUT BY THE FAILURE OF A SINGLE SWITCH.

WATER WOULD ENTER INSIDE OF TRUCK AND WOULD SHORT OUT ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR LIGHTS. WARRANTY EXPIRED. *AK

GASOLINE COULD NOT BE PUT INTO VEHICLE BECAUSE OF A BROKEN HOSE THAT CAUSED VEHICLE TO LOSE GASOLINE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AKFAULTY FILLER HOSE CAUSED FUEL TO LEAK OUT OF THE VEHICLE WHEN BEING FILLED. NLM

HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR OVER 40 YEARS. HAVE NEVER HAD BRAKE PADS WEAR OUT THIS FAST. BELIVE THERE MUST BE A PROBLEM WITH THE ABS BRAKING SYSTEM, BUT UNABLE TO GET FORD TO HELP WITH THIS PROBLEM. THE FORD DEALER TOLD ME THAT FORD SENT OUT A LETTER TO ITS DEALERS ABOUT PREMATURE PAD FAILURE AT 12000 MILES BUT WOULD NOT GIVE ME A COPY OF THIS NOTICE. WHEN I CALLED FORD ALL THEY WOULD TELL ME IS THAT THE PADS WERE NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY . I DON'T SEEM TO BE ABLE TO GET ANY MORE INFO FROM FORDS ARE THE DEALER. KEEP GITTING THE RUN AROUND. THANKS FOR ANY HELP YOU CAN GIVE ME.*AK

PE00 020; CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 35MPH ON A HIGHWAYAND HEARD A NOISE. SHE WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO SHOULDERS, AND NOTICED THAT RIGHT REAR TIRE TREAD HAD SEPARATED. TIRE WAS FIRESTONE,#LT, 225-75R16 M/F. THERE WERE NO INJURIES.*AK

PURCHASED VEHICLE AS USED FROM PAUL CLARK FORD. FROM THE FIRST DAY, STEERING PROBLEMS. WHILE VEHICLE WAS UNDER WARRENTY, THE DEALER DID REPLACE STEERING GEAR BOX. WENT BACK TO DEALER, STATING I WAS STILL HAVING STEERING PROBLEMS. DELAER STATED, VEHICLE NO LONGER UNDER WARRENTY. TOOK VEHICLE TO AUTO REPAIR SHOP, REMOVED THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT, SHAFT WAS NOT INSTALLED CORRECTLY. SHAFT HAS SLOT FOR BOLT TO FIT THRUOGH, THUS LOCKING SHAFT AND BOLT TOGETHER. THE OTHER SIDE OF THE SHAFT(ROUNDED) WAS USED. IF THE SHAFT HAD LOSSENED, I WOULD HAVE LOST IMMEDIATE STEERING, WITH CATASTROPHIC RESULTS TO MY SELF OR OTHERS. THREE DISTINCT POSSIBILITIES:*AK

WHILE GETTING MY VAN SERVICED AT MY LOCAL PEP BOYS THE TECH NOTICED MY REAR TIRES AND SAID THEY APPEARED TO BE SEPERATING. I TOOK THE VAN TO THE FIRESTONE DEALER HERE AND ASK FOR A INSPECTION. I WAS TOLD THAT THEY WERE NOT SEPERATING . HE OFFERERD TO SELL ME 4 SHOCKS FOR 300.00 AND 2 NEW TIRES (BUT THE OLD ONES WERE NOT BAD SO HE SAYS) FOR 300.00 THE VAN ONLY HAS 19400 MILE ON IT ! WHERE CAN I GO TO GET THESE TIRE INSPECTED? I LIVE IN LAS VEGAS NV. *AK (TIRESIZE: 225/75R16)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 225/75R16 )

VEHICLE HAS HAD MULTIPLE BRAKES, ROTORS. HAS HAD PULSATIONS IN BRAKING SYSTEM SINCE NEW. HAS HAD NEW BRAKES, ROTORS WITHOUT RESOLUTION OF PROBLEM. USING BRAKES EVERY 8-10,000 MILES. *AK

WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED CONSUMER NOTICED VIBRATION COMING FROM FRONT END. ALSO, EXCESSIVE WEAR OF FRONT TIRES. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

REPORTED VEHICLE LEAKING GASOLINE. FOUND FORD ECONOLINE WHEELCHAIR VAN ON LEVEL PARKING LOT WITH GASOLINE LEAKING FROM FUEL TANK FILL ASSEMBLY. FD REFUSED TO ALLOW USER (SON OF OWNER) TO DRIVE THE VAN DUE TO FIRE HAZARD. VAN TOWED TO LOCAL SERVICE GARAGE. FUEL FILL ASSEMBLY WAS AFTER MARKET INSTALATION, COMBINATION OF PIPES, FITTINGS, HOSES AND CLAMPS. WITH UNLOADED VEHICLE ON LEVEL PARKING LOT A PORTION OF THE FILL HOSE WAS APPROXIMATELY TWO INCHES ABOVE THE REAR AXEL. HOSE SHOWED SIGNS OF CONTACT WITH AXEL. GASOLINE APPEARED TO BE LEAKING FROM THIS HOSE. FD TOOK PICTURES. FD SPOKE WITH OWNER, USER AND MR. MARK LORE, PRESIDENT OF RIDE-A-WAY VANS. THIS REPORT FILED BY TOM RICHARDSON, CAPTAIN, DURHAM FIRE DEPARTMENT, 52 COLLEGE RD, DURHAM, NH 03824, V 603-868-5531, F 603-862-1513, HOME 603-868-7382, TRICHARDSON@CI.DURHAM.NH.US AND TOMR736570@AOL.COM. *AK

ROTORS SHOWING DEEP SCORING CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SHUDDER/SHAKE UPON APPLYING THE BRAKES. NLM

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 30 MPH HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM BRAKES, PADS ON THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE FELL OFF. *AK

CONSUMER'S 11/2- YEAR OLD CHILD BURNED HER RIGHT FINGER ON THE TOP COURTESY LIGHT. DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED AT THIS TIME. *AK

WINDSHIELD CRACKS CAUSED BY ROAD STRESS/VIBRATION. CRACK STARTS FROM ABOUT THE BASE OF ONE WIPER ARM, GOES UP MEANDERING THROUGHOUT THE REST OF THE WINDSHIELD, AND THEN WILL FINALLY DROP BACK DOWN TO THE BASE OF THE WINDSHIELD IN THE VICINITY OF THE OTHER WIPER ARM. THIS CRACK DID NOT ORIGINATE FROM A FOREIGN MATERIAL SUCH AS A THROWN ROCK. RUNNING DEFROSTER PROPAGATES THE CRACK. I HAVE SEEN THIS TYPE OF CRACK (WIPER ARM TO WIPER ARM) IN NUMEROUS OTHER FORD VANS (REGULAR, CUTAWAY, AND CLASS C MOTORHOME). THIS TYPE OF CRACK SEEMS TO APPEAR TOO OFTEN AND THEREBY APPEARS TO BE CAUSED BY SOME SORT OF MANUFACTURING DEFECT.

PLASTIC "THUMB TACKS" ON DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT THAT HOLD THE SEAT CONTROL BUTTONS BROKE OFF. DEALER SAID THEY DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE TO TAKE MY VAN OUT TO THE CONVERSION COM. TO GET IT FIXED. WANTED ME TO DRIVE IT 55 MILES AWAY MYSELF AND GET IT FIXED. THIS WAS ALREADY BROKEN WHEN I BOUGHT THE VAN FROM THE DEALER. ALTHOUGH I FOUND THAT MY KIDS LIKED TO USE IT AS A STEP-LADDER TO GET INTO DRIVER SEAT. THEY WOULD MOVE THE SEAT AROUND TO EASILY WITH THE SEAT BUTTONS STICKING OUT ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE DRIVERS SEAT. I FOUND THIS DANGEROUS. (THIS WAS BEFORE IT BROKE OFF.) I HAVEN'T FIXED THIS MYSELF, I FOUND IT HARD TO SWALLOW THAT THE DEALER COULDN'T GET IT FIXED. THE RADIO/CD PLAYER HOOKED UP IN THE BACK CANNOT BE LISTENED TO BY MORE THEN ONE PERSON DUE TO SURGES FROM THE HEADPHONES PLUGGED INTO THEIR OWN STATIONS. THE DEALER SAID I WOULD HAVE TO TAKE THAT TO THE CONVER. COM. TOO, TO GET FIXED.

VEHICLE WOULD DRIFT TO THE LEFT ALL THE TIME. SPEED IS NOT A FACTOR. WHENEVER BRAKING VEHICLE PULLED LEFT. TOOK TO DEALER 3 DIFFERENT TIMES & MECHANIC COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE OF PROBLEM EVEN THOUGH WORK WAS PERFORMED ON VEHICLE. *AK

WHEN STEPPING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL THE FRONT WHEELS LOCKED UP AND BACK WHEELS KEPT GOING. ALSO, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHORTED, CAUSING THE ENTIRE SYSTEM TO FAIL. DEALER CLAIMED THE PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY THE RADIO, WHICH WAS REMOVED. CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER AND MANUFACTURER. PROBLEMS STILL EXIST. *AK *ML

REAR BRAKES MALFUNCTION, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH. ABS BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONS, CAUSING FRONT WHEELS TO LOCK UP. ALSO, AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON, INDICATING THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH AIRBAG SYSTEM WHICH MAY NOT DEPLOY IN EVENT OF A CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

HORN STOPPED WORKING ONE MONTH AFTER PURCHASE. *YC

VEHICLE EXPERIENCE ALIGNMENT FAILURE AT 10,000 MILES, REPAIRS WERE DONE, PROBLEM STILL EXIST. *YC

REMOTE FOR KEYLESS ENTRY SYSTEM FAILED. YH

THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH ROOF. WHILE DRIVING ROOF TOP WAS STARTING TO COME OFF. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED, AND THE VEHICLE IS BEING REPAIRED BY THE MANUFACTURER. *AK

AIR BAG LIGHT INDICATOR STAYS ON SO THE SENSOR HAD BEEN REPLACED, AND THE LIGHT CONTINUES TO STAY ON. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

THE ENGINE BLOCK FILLS UP WITH FUEL, NO WARNING, NO INDICATION THAT FUEL WILL GO OVER THE MOTOR. DRIPS ON PART OF THE ENGINE TORQUE. DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK