FORD ECONOLINE · model year

1989 FORD ECONOLINE

41 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1989FORDECONOLINE carries 41 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 4 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1989 ECONOLINE is engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline with 5 filings, followed by electrical system:ignition:switch (3) and service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components (3). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 1 investigation file overlapping the 1989 ECONOLINE. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

41
Complaints
0
Crashes
4
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

41 filings

Crashes Reported

0 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE5
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH3
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS3
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL3
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:AUXILLARY TANK:SELECTOR DEVICES3
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER3
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP2
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION2
SEATS2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR2
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP2
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER1
TIRES:TEMPORARY/EMERGENCY SPARE TIRE1
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:AUXILLARY TANK1
WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS1

Recent Complaints

20021211VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

DIFFCULTY SLOWING DOWN FROM HIGHWAY SPEED, HAD TO TURN OFF IGNITION TO STOP VEHICLE. DISCONNECTED CRUISE CONTROL, BUT THIS WAS NOT THE PROBLEM. DEALERSHIP SERVICE SAYS IT WAS THE ACCELEROMETER CABLE. DT

20010924FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

VAN CAUGHT FIRE AND WAS DESTROYED AFTER BEING PARKED TWO HOURS. FIRE INVESTIGATORS DETERMINED CAUSE WAS AN ELECTRICAL DEFECT IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT ON DRIVER'S SIDE. FIRE DAMAGED ADJACENT HOUSE AND NEARBY VEHICLE.*AK

20010821ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR

CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILED 3 OUT OF 4 TIMES. THREE OF THE FOUR TIMES THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS ACCURRED FORD HAS TAKEN REPLACE THE PART MOSTLY FREE OF CHARGE. THIS TIME IN 2001 FORD WILL NOT FIX THE PROBLEM AND TELLS US TO BAD. WE FILL THAT BEING A REPEATED PROBLEM FORD MOTOR COMPANY SHOULD IN GOOD FAITH TAKE CARE OF THIS PROBLEM COMPLETELY ONCE AND FOR ALL. WE WOULD LIKE TO BE REIMBURSED FOR OUR REPAIR COST. WE DID HAVE THIS PROBLEM FIXED AT OUR EXPENSE. WHEN WE WENT TO PICK UP OUR RV WILSON CORNELIUS FORD OF VALLEJO CA WHEN ASKED IF WE WOULD HAVE CONTINUIUS PROBLEMS TOLD US NOT TO USE THE GAS WHEN GONG UP HILL. THE ALSO CHARGED US FOR A REPAIR AND PERTS THAT WERE NOT COMPLETE AND REFUSED TO REFUND US THAT AMOUNT. WE HAVE HAD MORE THEN ENOUGH PROBLEM WITH FORD OUR RV AND THE SERVICE TECH NOT DOING THE REPAIRS PROPERLY. PLEASE HELP US..... ANY QUESTIONS PLEASE CALL. *AK

20010709TIRES:TREAD/BELT

FULLY TREADED TIRE THAT HAD BEEN MOUNTED AS A SPARE TIRE WAS USED AND LASTED FOR 2 WEEKS BEFORE THE TREAD COMPLETELY SEPARATED AT 55 MPH. TREAD DEPARTED TIRE CARCASS IN ONE PEICE, DAMAGING SEVERAL COMPONENTS IN THE LEFT REAR QUARTER OF MY VEHICLE. MY WIFE WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE OTHERWISE. I HAVE CONTACTED CONTINENTAL GENERAL TIRE. *AK (TIRESIZE: P235/75R15)

20010614ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

THE VEHICLE STALLS SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE DRIVING IN HOT WEATHER, THE DEALER HAS REPLACED MANY CONPONENTS (AIR AND FUEL FILTER, TFI MODULE, VAPOR SEPARATOR AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER)BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO STALL. NLM

20001128FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP

CONSUMER SMELLED GASOLINE. STARTED TO OPEN GAS CAP, AND GASOLINE STARTED GUSHING OUT. SINCE THEN GASOLINE MILEAGE HAS GONE DOWN. *AK *SLC

20000918ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

THIS VEHICLE HAS A SERIOUS DRIVEABILITY PROBLEM (THE ENGINE STALLS WITHOUT WARNING REPEATEDLY) AND FORD EITHER DOES NOT KNOW HOW OR DOES NOT CARE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR MANY YEARS NOW AND FINALLY A JUDGE IN CALIFORNIA IS PREPARED TO DEMAND A RECALL. NOW WHY HAVEN'T YOU ALREADY DONE SO? IS IT BECAUSE NOT ENOUGH PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED YET? OR HAVEN'T YOU RECEIVED ENOUGH LETTERS OR COMPLAINTS? THERE HAVE BEEN MANY PROBLEMS THAT I AM AWARE OF FROM MY SUBSCRIPTION TO MOTORHOME MAGAZINE. I AM SENDING YOU A LETTER IN THE MAIL WITH A COPY OF A LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT OF FORD AND COPIES OF SOME OF THE ARTICLES FROM MOTORHOME MAGAZINE FROM PEOPLE WITH THE SAME VEHICLE TYPE AND THE SAME SERIOUS STALLING PROBLEM. I WOULD HOPE YOU LOOK INTO THIS MOST SERIOUS PROBLEM AND REQUIRE FORD TO RECALL THESE VEHICLES AND FIX THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE STALLS WITHOUT WARNING WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED IN HOT WEATHER. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN KNOWN FOR MANY YEARS NOW AND

20000914ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

THIS VEHICLE HAS A SERIOUS DRIVEABILITY PROBLEM (THE ENGINE STALLS WITHOUT WARNING REPEATEDLY) AND FORD EITHER DOES NOT KNOW HOW OR DOES NOT CARE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR MANY YEARS NOW AND FINALLY A JUDGE IN CALIFORNIA IS PREPARED TO DEMAND A RECALL. NOW WHY HAVEN'T YOU ALREADY DONE SO? IS IT BECAUSE NOT ENOUGH PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED YET? OR HAVEN'T YOU RECEIVED ENOUGH LETTERS OR COMPLAINTS? THERE HAVE BEEN MANY PROBLEMS THAT I AM AWARE OF FROM MY SUBSCRIPTION TO MOTORHOME MAGAZINE. I AM SENDING YOU A LETTER IN THE MAIL WITH A COPY OF A LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT OF FORD AND COPIES OF SOME OF THE ARTICLES FROM MOTORHOME MAGAZINE FROM PEOPLE WITH THE SAME VEHICLE TYPE AND THE SAME SERIOUS STALLING PROBLEM. I WOULD HOPE YOU LOOK INTO THIS MOST SERIOUS PROBLEM AND REQUIRE FORD TO RECALL THESE VEHICLES AND FIX THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE STALLS WITHOUT WARNING WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED IN HOT WEATHER. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN KNOWN FOR MANY YEARS NOW AND

20000530FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP

WHEN CONSUMER FILLS UP GAS TANK GASOLINE COMES OUT THROUGH THE FILLER CAP AND FALLS ONTO THE GROUND. *AK

20000317FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:AUXILLARY TANK:SELECTOR DEVICES

CONSUMER NOTICED A PORTION OF UNUSED FUEL WAS RETURNING TO THE FRONT TANK WHEN THE FRONT TANK WAS FULL. ALSO, THERE WAS A A FUEL SPILLAGE WHICH WAS CAUSING A FIRE HAZARD. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. DEALER NOTED THAT RECALL 93V125000/ FUEL TANK AUXILLARY SELECTED AND SWITCH DEALT WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

20000203FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

POSSIBLE ENGINE FAILURE RESULTED IN ENGINE FIRE (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). *MJS

19990929POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)

GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR SHOWS THAT THE VEHICLE IS ENGAGED IN PARK, BUT THE VEHICLE STILL ROLLS AS IF NOT COMPLETELY IN GEAR. DLR HAS SEEN 4 TIMES, AND CANT FIND THE CAUSE. *AK

19990526EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

THE AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR WAS LEAKING FREEON. THIS WOULD CAUSE THE AIR CONDITIONER TO NOT COOL VEHICLE ONCE TURNED ON. HAS HAPPENED BEFORE, 2 YEARS AGO. WILL BE TAKING TO DEALER TO CHECK. *AK

19990518EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

I HAVE HEARD OF MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE AIR CONDITIONER OF SUCH FORD VANS THAT THEY LEAK FREON.EVEN FROM A/C REPAIR SHOP THEY SAID THAT IT WAS VERY COMMON WITH FORD REGARDING THIS LEAK. I THINK FORD SHOULD FIX THIS TO SAVE OUR OZONE LAYER FROM FREON LEAK. I WISH FORD WOULD FIX MY A/C. THANKS. *AK

19981118FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

PROBLEM REPORTED BY NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 91V14600, HOWEVER, FORD INDICATED THAT THIS VEHICLE IS NOT SUBJECT TO THE RESULTANT RECALL.

19980813FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:AUXILLARY TANK:SELECTOR DEVICES

WHILE DRIVING TANK SWITCH OVER VALVE CAUSES OVERFLOW OF FUEL THROUGH NOZZLE WHERE GAS IS POURED IN. CONSUMER NOTES OF RECALL FOR PROBLEM, BUT VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. *AK

19980623ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

WHEN FIRST STARTING VEHICLE DEFECT WITHIN IGNITION SWITCH WILL CAUSE ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM TO BECOME INOPERATIVE. THIS IS INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. *AK SOMETIMES VEHICLE WILL NOT SHIFT INTO OVERDRIVE OR WILL NOT WANT TO SHIFT OUT OF FIRST GEAR. AIR CONDITONER FAILED. POWER WINDOW MALFUNCTIONS. BRAKE LIGHT INOPERABLE. CRUISE CONTROL MALFUNCTIONS. *YH

19980623POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

WHEN FIRST STARTING VEHICLE DEFECT WITHIN IGNITION SWITCH WILL CAUSE ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM TO BECOME INOPERATIVE. THIS IS INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. *AK SOMETIMES VEHICLE WILL NOT SHIFT INTO OVERDRIVE OR WILL NOT WANT TO SHIFT OUT OF FIRST GEAR. AIR CONDITONER FAILED. POWER WINDOW MALFUNCTIONS. BRAKE LIGHT INOPERABLE. CRUISE CONTROL MALFUNCTIONS. *YH

19980623VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

WHEN FIRST STARTING VEHICLE DEFECT WITHIN IGNITION SWITCH WILL CAUSE ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM TO BECOME INOPERATIVE. THIS IS INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. *AK SOMETIMES VEHICLE WILL NOT SHIFT INTO OVERDRIVE OR WILL NOT WANT TO SHIFT OUT OF FIRST GEAR. AIR CONDITONER FAILED. POWER WINDOW MALFUNCTIONS. BRAKE LIGHT INOPERABLE. CRUISE CONTROL MALFUNCTIONS. *YH

19980623VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

WHEN FIRST STARTING VEHICLE DEFECT WITHIN IGNITION SWITCH WILL CAUSE ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM TO BECOME INOPERATIVE. THIS IS INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. *AK SOMETIMES VEHICLE WILL NOT SHIFT INTO OVERDRIVE OR WILL NOT WANT TO SHIFT OUT OF FIRST GEAR. AIR CONDITONER FAILED. POWER WINDOW MALFUNCTIONS. BRAKE LIGHT INOPERABLE. CRUISE CONTROL MALFUNCTIONS. *YH

Compare 1989FORDECONOLINE to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1989 FORD ECONOLINE have?
The 1989 FORD ECONOLINE has 41 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 4 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1989 FORD ECONOLINE?
The most-complained component for the 1989 FORD ECONOLINE is ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE with 5 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH and SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS.
Is the 1989 FORD ECONOLINE safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.