Total Complaints
38 filings
FORD ECONOLINE · model year
1990 FORD ECONOLINE
38 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1990FORDECONOLINE carries 38 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 2 crashes, 6 fires, 4 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 1990 ECONOLINE is service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip with 6 filings, followed by service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components (5) and wheels (4). 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 1990 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.
38
Complaints
2
Crashes
6
Fires
4
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
2 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 6 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS | 5 |
| WHEELS | 4 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER | 3 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY | 3 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH | 2 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR | 2 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:BRAKE FLUID LOW WARNING: LAMP | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD | 1 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20031006CrashTIRES:TREAD/BELT
WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE TREAD SEPARATED AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO A CONCRETE GUARD RAIL. *AK *SCC *JB
Mileage: 44,000
20030911FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
CONSUMER NOTICED A GAS SMELL INSIDE OF VEHICLE WHILE TRAVELING. SAW GAS POURING OUT OF GAS TANK. VEHICLE WAS SERVICED, TECHNICIAN REPLACED FUEL PUMP SENDING UNIT. *AK
20030911FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
CONSUMER NOTICED A GAS SMELL INSIDE OF VEHICLE WHILE TRAVELING. SAW GAS POURING OUT OF GAS TANK. VEHICLE WAS SERVICED, TECHNICIAN REPLACED FUEL PUMP SENDING UNIT. *AK
20030505ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN
CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING THE FAN BELTS SNAP CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO LOSE BRAKE POWER. DEALER NOTIFIED
20020403FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
GAS TANK DOES NOT WORK. CONSUMER CAN BE RIDING DOWN THE STREET AND AUTOMOBILE WILL CUT OFF. THIS HAPPENS WHEN RIDING ON REAR TANK ONLY.*AK
20000111VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
WHILE DRIVING ACCELERATOR PEDAL STUCK, APPLIED BRAKES VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. TO GAIN CONTROL, VEHICLE WAS PUT IN PARK. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
19991129WHEELS
THE ENTIRE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL SEPARATED FROM VEHICLE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO CRASH BY HITTING THE GUARDRAIL. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT) YH
19991129WHEELS
THE ENTIRE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL SEPARATED FROM VEHICLE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO CRASH BY HITTING THE GUARDRAIL. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT) YH
19991129WHEELS
THE ENTIRE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL SEPARATED FROM VEHICLE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO CRASH BY HITTING THE GUARDRAIL. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT) YH
19990921SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ANTI-IOCK BRAKES FAILED. YH
19990902FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:AUXILLARY TANK:SELECTOR DEVICES
VEHICLE WAS BLOWING OUT FUEL. HAS DUAL FUEL TANKS. FUEL OVERFLOWED PAST FILLER CAP. FUEL TANK SELECTOR VALVE HAD MALFUNCTIONED. CALLED DEALER. VEHICLE NOT UNDER RECALL (991V14600) DUE TO VIN. *YC
19990721SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
BRAKE PEDAL IS GOING STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR.ONLY ABLE TO BEAR DOWN AND USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKES TO STOP.CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER. *AK
19990609FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
FIRST, HEADLIGHTS CEASED TO FUNCTION, THEN ELECTRIC DOOR LOCKS FAILED WIRING HARNESS UNDER HOOD FRIED B/O CURRENT WIRE RIGHT DOWN TO THE PIN PLASTIC ASSEMBLY ON FIRE WALL THAT LEADS TO WIRING UNDER DASH OF VEHICLE. SPARKING NOTICED AT WIRING HARNESS PIN CONNECTOR AT FIREWALL WITH CLICKING SOUND IN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS WIRE B/O HOT WIRE HAS FRIED ITSELF. FIRST TIME AT ABOUT 40000 MILES IT FRIED THE FUSE LINK IN THE BLACK/ORANGE HOT WIRE LEADING DOWN TO THE FIREWALL PIN CONNECTOR. SECOND TIME, AFTER FUSE LINK WAS REPLACED, ENTIRE WIRE CAUGHT FIRE AND FRIED DOWN TO THE ROUND PLASTIC PIN CONNECTOR LEADING INTO THE CAB FROM UNDER THE DASHBOARD. *AK
19990609FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
FIRST, HEADLIGHTS CEASED TO FUNCTION, THEN ELECTRIC DOOR LOCKS FAILED WIRING HARNESS UNDER HOOD FRIED B/O CURRENT WIRE RIGHT DOWN TO THE PIN PLASTIC ASSEMBLY ON FIRE WALL THAT LEADS TO WIRING UNDER DASH OF VEHICLE. SPARKING NOTICED AT WIRING HARNESS PIN CONNECTOR AT FIREWALL WITH CLICKING SOUND IN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS WIRE B/O HOT WIRE HAS FRIED ITSELF. FIRST TIME AT ABOUT 40000 MILES IT FRIED THE FUSE LINK IN THE BLACK/ORANGE HOT WIRE LEADING DOWN TO THE FIREWALL PIN CONNECTOR. SECOND TIME, AFTER FUSE LINK WAS REPLACED, ENTIRE WIRE CAUGHT FIRE AND FRIED DOWN TO THE ROUND PLASTIC PIN CONNECTOR LEADING INTO THE CAB FROM UNDER THE DASHBOARD. *AK
19990609FireSTRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
FIRST, HEADLIGHTS CEASED TO FUNCTION, THEN ELECTRIC DOOR LOCKS FAILED WIRING HARNESS UNDER HOOD FRIED B/O CURRENT WIRE RIGHT DOWN TO THE PIN PLASTIC ASSEMBLY ON FIRE WALL THAT LEADS TO WIRING UNDER DASH OF VEHICLE. SPARKING NOTICED AT WIRING HARNESS PIN CONNECTOR AT FIREWALL WITH CLICKING SOUND IN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS WIRE B/O HOT WIRE HAS FRIED ITSELF. FIRST TIME AT ABOUT 40000 MILES IT FRIED THE FUSE LINK IN THE BLACK/ORANGE HOT WIRE LEADING DOWN TO THE FIREWALL PIN CONNECTOR. SECOND TIME, AFTER FUSE LINK WAS REPLACED, ENTIRE WIRE CAUGHT FIRE AND FRIED DOWN TO THE ROUND PLASTIC PIN CONNECTOR LEADING INTO THE CAB FROM UNDER THE DASHBOARD. *AK
19990420FireSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER
BRAKE CALIPERS FROZE CAUSING PADS TO OVERHEAT AND CAUGHT ON FIRE.
19990325VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
SPEED CONTROL IS ON AND APPLIED THE BRAKES, IT MOMENTARILY DISENGAGES THE SPEED CONTROL. AS SOON AND BRAKE PEDAL IS RELEASED, VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY STARTS TO ACCELLERATE. OUT OF WARRANTY, DEALER NOT CONTACTED AND UNAWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK
19980220SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
BRAKES OVERHEATED AND LOST POWER ON OCCASION. RECALL ON OTHER MODELS HOWEVER THIS VEHICLE DID NOT QUALIFY FOR RECALL.
19971024FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
OWNER CLAIMS THAT FUEL IS LEAKING FROM THE GAS TANKS. *AK
19971016SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
BRAKES: WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY EVERYTHING IS FINE. ATTEMPTED TO USE THE BRAKES AND HAD TO PUSH PEDAL COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR LIKE THERE WERE NO BRAKES AT ALL. HAD TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE IN ORDER TO STOP. *AK
Compare 1990FORDECONOLINE to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1990 FORD ECONOLINE have?▼
The 1990 FORD ECONOLINE has 38 NHTSA complaints, 2 crashes, 6 fires, 4 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1990 FORD ECONOLINE?▼
The most-complained component for the 1990 FORD ECONOLINE is SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP with 6 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS and WHEELS.
Is the 1990 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.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.