Total Complaints
113 filings
FORD ECONOLINE · model year
113 NHTSA complaints, 13 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1992FORDECONOLINE carries 113 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 13 crashes, 12 fires, 9 injuries, and 2 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 1992 ECONOLINE is vehicle speed control with 15 filings, followed by service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (4) and wheels:lugs/nuts/bolts/studs (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 1992 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
113 filings
Crashes Reported
13 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 15 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 4 |
| WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS | 4 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY | 4 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP | 4 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 4 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION | 4 |
| STEERING | 3 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM | 3 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 3 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS | 3 |
| EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER | 3 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS | 3 |
| TIRES:TREAD/BELT | 3 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL | 2 |
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 FORD ECONOLINE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A FIRE IGNITED FROM UNDER THE HOOD AS THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. THE CONTACT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 008V051000(VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) THAT COULD HAVE BEEN RELATED TO THE FAILURE HOWEVER, THE CONTACT'S VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL CAMPAIGN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
Mileage: 100,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1992 FORD ECONOLINE VAN. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN UNUSUAL NOISE AND ASSUMED ONE OF THE TIRES WAS FLAT. AS HE WAS MOVING THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROADWAY, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE POLICE ARRIVED BUT THEY DID NOT FILE A REPORT. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. NO ONE WAS INJURED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
Mileage: 130,000
PROBLEM: DOOR LATCHES ON THREE OF SIX DOORS ON 1992 FORD ECONLINE CONVERSION VAN FAILED SUDDENLY WITHIN FOUR DAYS OF EACH OTHER PREVENTING DOORS FROM BEING OPENED. SAFETY HAZARD: DOORS NOT OPENING COULD PREVENT EGRESS FROM VEHICLE IN EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. FAILURE CAUSE: DETERIORATION OF PLASTIC RETAINERS AT BOTH END OF DOOR MECHANISM CABLES. FOUR RETAINERS ARE MOLDED TO EACH END OF TWO CABLES INSIDE THE DOOR. FAILURE OF THE RETAINERS PREVENTS DOORS CABLES FROM FUNCTIONING PROPERLY TO OPEN DOORS. IN ALL THREE CASES EACH OF THE FOUR RETAINS IN ALL THREE DOORS FAILED SIMULTANEOUSLY. REPAIRS: FOLLOWING THE FIRST FAILURE, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHO ADVISED THAT REPLACEMENT RETAINERS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THIS REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF ENTIRE HANDLE A CABLE ASSEMBLY AT AN INSTALLED COST OF @$300. ACCORDING TO THE MECHANIC INDIVIDUAL CABLES WERE NOT AVAILABLE EXCEPT AS PART OF THE ENTIRE ASSEMBLY. THE FOLLOWING DAY, THE SECOND REAR DOOR FAILED. BEFORE REPAIRS COULD BE UND
Mileage: 84,326
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 FORD ECONOLINE. THE CONTACT HAD HIS CRUISE CONTROL DEACTIVATED IN FALL OF 2007 ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V051000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL), WHICH COULD CAUSE A FIRE. HE THEN HAD THE NEW AND IMPROVED CRUISE CONTROL PART INSTALLED IN THE SUMMER OF 2008. AFTER THE INSTALLATION, HE NOTICED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS NO LONGER OPERATIVE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD STAND BY THEIR REPAIR AND HONOR A REPLACEMENT FOR THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC IN ADDITION TO ANY OTHER EXPENSES OTHER THAN THE JUMPER HARNESS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 101,850 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,966.
Mileage: 99,966
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 FORD ECONOLINE. AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE WATER PUMP BEGAN LEAKING FLUID. THE LABOR COST FOR THE REPAIR WAS $100. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE PEDAL EXTENDED TO THE FLOOR AND MADE IT VERY DIFFICULT TO STOP THE VEHICLE. WHILE THE MECHANIC WAS INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, HE OBSERVED AN INCOMPLETE STICKER INSIDE THE DOOR BY THE MANUFACTURER IN 1992. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE STICKER INDICATED THAT THERE WERE SOME PARTS ON THE VEHICLE THAT WERE NOT COMPLETELY INSTALLED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT END ALSO NEEDED TO BE ALIGNED. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED 1 YEAR AGO. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 187,000. UPDATED 06/16/08 *BF
Mileage: 185,000
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 FORD ECONOLINE. AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE WATER PUMP BEGAN LEAKING FLUID. THE LABOR COST FOR THE REPAIR WAS $100. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE PEDAL EXTENDED TO THE FLOOR AND MADE IT VERY DIFFICULT TO STOP THE VEHICLE. WHILE THE MECHANIC WAS INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, HE OBSERVED AN INCOMPLETE STICKER INSIDE THE DOOR BY THE MANUFACTURER IN 1992. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE STICKER INDICATED THAT THERE WERE SOME PARTS ON THE VEHICLE THAT WERE NOT COMPLETELY INSTALLED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT END ALSO NEEDED TO BE ALIGNED. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED 1 YEAR AGO. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 187,000. UPDATED 06/16/08 *BF
Mileage: 185,000
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 FORD ECONOLINE. AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE WATER PUMP BEGAN LEAKING FLUID. THE LABOR COST FOR THE REPAIR WAS $100. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE PEDAL EXTENDED TO THE FLOOR AND MADE IT VERY DIFFICULT TO STOP THE VEHICLE. WHILE THE MECHANIC WAS INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, HE OBSERVED AN INCOMPLETE STICKER INSIDE THE DOOR BY THE MANUFACTURER IN 1992. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE STICKER INDICATED THAT THERE WERE SOME PARTS ON THE VEHICLE THAT WERE NOT COMPLETELY INSTALLED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT END ALSO NEEDED TO BE ALIGNED. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED 1 YEAR AGO. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 187,000. UPDATED 06/16/08 *BF
Mileage: 185,000
1992 FORD ECONOLINE CAUGHT FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUSING THE VAN TO BE COMPLETELY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. *KB OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT. *JB
WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP, THE GAS PEDAL BECAME STUCK. THIS CAUSED THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE TO BLOW OUT AND THE CONSUMER COLLIDED INTO 3 POLES ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. *JB
Mileage: 173,000
DUE TO THE GAS THROTTLE STICKING, THE VEHICLE WAS IN AN ACCIDENT RESULTING IN THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE TO BLOW. THERE WERE NO INJURIES, BUT THE VEHICLE DID EXPLODE. *AK
Mileage: 173,000
I AM A DETECTIVE WITH THE CITY OF BRIDGEPORT, WV. ON 7/16/04 I WITNESSED A 1992 FORD VAN VIN#: [XXX] ON U. S. ROUTE 50 TRAVELING AT 100 MPH AND THE HORN BLOWING. THE VEHICLE LEFT THE ROADWAY AND CRASHED INTO A BUILDING, WHICH MYSELF AND ANOTHER OFFICER ATTEMPTED TO GET THE DRIVER OUT OF THE VEHICLE, WHICH ONCE WITH IN A FEW FEET THE VEHICLE ERUPTED INTO FLAMES. THROUGH THE INVESTIGATION OF THIS INCIDENT IT WAS FOUND THAT THE DRIVER WAS TRAVELING EAST ON U. S. ROUTE 50 FROM THE PARKERSBURG, WV AREA TOWARDS HER RESIDENCE IN SALEM, WV. THE DRIVER SHOULD HAVE EXITED U. S. ROUTE 50 APPROXIMATELY 15 MILES PRIOR TO THE CRASH SITE IN BRIDGEPORT, WV AND DID NOT DO SO BECAUSE THE ACCELERATOR OF THE VEHICLE WAS AT FULL THROTTLE FOR SOME REASON. THE DRIVER WAS WITNESSED AS FAR AS 8 MILES WEST OF THE CRASH SITE BLOWING HER HORN AND FLASHING HER LIGHTS TO WARN DRIVERS OF HER PROBLEM. THERE IS A TOTAL OF 2 WITNESSES WHO GAVE STATEMENTS TO THE DRIVERS ACTIONS WHILE TRAVELING ON U. S. ROUTE 50, P
I AM A DETECTIVE WITH THE CITY OF BRIDGEPORT, WV. ON 7/16/04 I WITNESSED A 1992 FORD VAN VIN#: [XXX] ON U. S. ROUTE 50 TRAVELING AT 100 MPH AND THE HORN BLOWING. THE VEHICLE LEFT THE ROADWAY AND CRASHED INTO A BUILDING, WHICH MYSELF AND ANOTHER OFFICER ATTEMPTED TO GET THE DRIVER OUT OF THE VEHICLE, WHICH ONCE WITH IN A FEW FEET THE VEHICLE ERUPTED INTO FLAMES. THROUGH THE INVESTIGATION OF THIS INCIDENT IT WAS FOUND THAT THE DRIVER WAS TRAVELING EAST ON U. S. ROUTE 50 FROM THE PARKERSBURG, WV AREA TOWARDS HER RESIDENCE IN SALEM, WV. THE DRIVER SHOULD HAVE EXITED U. S. ROUTE 50 APPROXIMATELY 15 MILES PRIOR TO THE CRASH SITE IN BRIDGEPORT, WV AND DID NOT DO SO BECAUSE THE ACCELERATOR OF THE VEHICLE WAS AT FULL THROTTLE FOR SOME REASON. THE DRIVER WAS WITNESSED AS FAR AS 8 MILES WEST OF THE CRASH SITE BLOWING HER HORN AND FLASHING HER LIGHTS TO WARN DRIVERS OF HER PROBLEM. THERE IS A TOTAL OF 2 WITNESSES WHO GAVE STATEMENTS TO THE DRIVERS ACTIONS WHILE TRAVELING ON U. S. ROUTE 50, P
1992 FORD ECONOLINE SUFFERED TIRE TREAD SEPARATION AS WELL AS ENGINE FIRE.*MR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED CAUSING CONSUMER TO PULL OVER. ONCE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, HIS WIFE NOTICED FLAMES COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. CONSUMER OPENED HOOD AND EXTINGUISHED WHAT HE COULD SEE. WHEN MORE FLAMES LIT UP AND THE EXTINGUISHER WAS GONE, THEY GOT THEIR TWO DOGS OUT AND WALKED AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE. NOTHING WAS SALVAGEABLE. *PH
VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY ON THURSDAY AFTERNOON, AND ON SATURDAY AT 1:30 PM IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
ALMOST IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE EXPIRATION OF THE WARRANTY, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO STALL WHILE DRIVING IN WARM CLIMATES. THE FORD DEALER HAD NO SOLUTION AN ON ONE TRIP TO LAS VEGAS (GAUDIN FORD OF VEGAS) REPLACED THE MAIN COMPUTER AT A COST OF OVER $600.00 SO WE COULD GET BACK TO LOS ANGELES. NOW I SEE IN THE HEADLINES OF THE PAPER A CLASS ACTION SUIT AGAINST FORD FOR VEHICLES DOING THE EXACT SAME THING WE ARE EXPERIENCING. WHEN I CALLED FORD CONSUMER LINE THEY SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL AT THIS TIME AND NOT TO BOTHER CALLING THEM! THIS VEHICLE IS DANGEROUS AS IT STOPS RUNNING WITHOUT WARNING LEAVING NO POWER STEERING, NO BRAKES AND LOSS OF CONTROL AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. WE NEED HELP WITH THIS PROBLEM AS WE ARE UNABLE TO USE THE VEHICLE AS IS AND WE REFUSE TO PASS THIS PROBLEM ON TO ANOTHER PERSON AS FORD HAS ALREADY DONE TO US AND OTHERS BY SELLING THEIR DEFECTIVE VEHICLES AND NOT OFFERING SOLUTIONS TOT HE PROBLEMS THEIR HAPHAZARD WORKMANSHIP HAS CREATED. *NLM **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY
Mileage: 20,065
CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEM WITH THREE FIRESTONE FIREHAWK TIRE: SIZE R4531105 DOT VD604RA109Q14L, VD504RA49803L AND ( R) ALL THREE TIRES BLOW UP AT 21,000 MILES AND THE TIRES EXPECTATION WERE 50,000 MILES, MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION DOT. AND SIZE. TS *TR
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE RUBBER FUEL LINE IS BEING OVERHEATED/BURNED BY THE EXHAUST SYSTEM AND MAY CAUSE A FIRE. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*JB
ALMOST IMMEADIATELY AFTER THE EXPIRATION OF WARRANTY, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO STALL WHILE DRIVING IN WARM CLIMATES. THE FORD DEALER HAD NO SOLUTION AND ON ONE TRIP TO LAS VEGAS (GAUDIN FORD OF VEGAS) REPLACED THE MAIN COMPURTER AT A COST OF OVER $600 SO WE COULD GET BACK TO LOS ANGELES. NOW I SEE IN THE HEADLINES OF THE PAPER A CLASS ACTION SUIT AGAINST FORD FOR VEHICLES DOING THE EXACT SAME THING WE EXPERIENNCING. WHEN I CALLED FORDS CONSUMER LINE THEY SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL AT THIS TIME AND NOT TO BOTHER CALLING THEM! THIS VEHICLE IS DANGEROUS AS IT STOPS RUNNING WITH OUT WARNING LEAVING NO POWER STEERING, NO BRAKES AND LOSS OF CONTROL AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. WE NEED HELP WITH THIS PROBLEM AS WE ARE UNABLE TO USE THE VEHICLE AS IS AND WE REFUSE TO PASS THIS PROBLEM ON TO ANOTHER PERSON AS FORD HAS ALREADY DONE TO US AND OTHERS BY SELLING THEIR DEFECTIVE VEHICLES AND NOT OFFERING SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEMS THEIR HAPHAZARD WORKMANSHIP HAS CREATED.*AK
GOT IN CAR CLOSED DOOR STARTED VECHICLE, PUT FOOT ON BRAKE HAD HANDSAT 3-9 ENGAGED FROM PARK TO DRIVE. TOOK FOOT OFF BRAKE WENT FORWARD AND TURNED STEERING WHEEL WITH HANDS RIGHT TO 12-6 HAVE NOT USED GAS PEDAL YET SINCE IN A PARKING LOT. AT THIS TIME I AM THROWN AGAINST DRIVERS DOOR VERY HARD VECH. HAS TAKEN OFF AT A GREAT SPEED AND I AM NOW FALLING OUT OF DOOR PARTIALLY. STEERING WHEEL IS LOCKED IN 12-6 RIGHT HAND STEERING POSITION AND I AM DRIVING IN A LARGE RIGHT HAND CIRCLE I NOTICE THAT MY KEYS ARE NO LONGER IN IGNITION BUT LAYING ON MY CONCEL DINK HOLDER I AM PULLIN MY SELF BACK IN CAR USING LOCKED STEERING WHEEL GOT KEYS AND WIGGLED THEM BACK INTO IGNITION CAR RESUMES NORMAL CONTROL COME TO A STOP HIT ON VEHICAL IN PATH OF MY ARC. KEY CAN BE TAKEN OUT OF IGNITION WHILE CARE IS RUNNING HAVE AN APPT. ON TUES. THE 18TH OF JUNE WITH A FORD DEALERSHIP. THEY HAVE TOLD ME THAT THERE IS NO RECALL OF THIS TYPE .*AK
GOT IN CAR CLOSED DOOR STARTED VECHICLE, PUT FOOT ON BRAKE HAD HANDSAT 3-9 ENGAGED FROM PARK TO DRIVE. TOOK FOOT OFF BRAKE WENT FORWARD AND TURNED STEERING WHEEL WITH HANDS RIGHT TO 12-6 HAVE NOT USED GAS PEDAL YET SINCE IN A PARKING LOT. AT THIS TIME I AM THROWN AGAINST DRIVERS DOOR VERY HARD VECH. HAS TAKEN OFF AT A GREAT SPEED AND I AM NOW FALLING OUT OF DOOR PARTIALLY. STEERING WHEEL IS LOCKED IN 12-6 RIGHT HAND STEERING POSITION AND I AM DRIVING IN A LARGE RIGHT HAND CIRCLE I NOTICE THAT MY KEYS ARE NO LONGER IN IGNITION BUT LAYING ON MY CONCEL DINK HOLDER I AM PULLIN MY SELF BACK IN CAR USING LOCKED STEERING WHEEL GOT KEYS AND WIGGLED THEM BACK INTO IGNITION CAR RESUMES NORMAL CONTROL COME TO A STOP HIT ON VEHICAL IN PATH OF MY ARC. KEY CAN BE TAKEN OUT OF IGNITION WHILE CARE IS RUNNING HAVE AN APPT. ON TUES. THE 18TH OF JUNE WITH A FORD DEALERSHIP. THEY HAVE TOLD ME THAT THERE IS NO RECALL OF THIS TYPE .*AK
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.