Total Complaints
41 filings
FORD ECONOLINE · model year
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.
Total Complaints
41 filings
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 5 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH | 3 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS | 3 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 3 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:AUXILLARY TANK:SELECTOR DEVICES | 3 |
| EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER | 3 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 2 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 2 |
| SEATS | 2 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR | 2 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP | 2 |
| SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER | 1 |
| TIRES:TEMPORARY/EMERGENCY SPARE TIRE | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:AUXILLARY TANK | 1 |
| WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS | 1 |
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
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
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
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)
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
CONSUMER SMELLED GASOLINE. STARTED TO OPEN GAS CAP, AND GASOLINE STARTED GUSHING OUT. SINCE THEN GASOLINE MILEAGE HAS GONE DOWN. *AK *SLC
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
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
WHEN CONSUMER FILLS UP GAS TANK GASOLINE COMES OUT THROUGH THE FILLER CAP AND FALLS ONTO THE GROUND. *AK
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
POSSIBLE ENGINE FAILURE RESULTED IN ENGINE FIRE (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). *MJS
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
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
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
PROBLEM REPORTED BY NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 91V14600, HOWEVER, FORD INDICATED THAT THIS VEHICLE IS NOT SUBJECT TO THE RESULTANT RECALL.
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
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
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
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
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
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.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.