FORD ECONOLINE · model year

1993 FORD ECONOLINE

71 NHTSA complaints, 4 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1993FORDECONOLINE carries 71 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 4 crashes, 7 fires, 3 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 1993 ECONOLINE is vehicle speed control with 6 filings, followed by vehicle speed control:cruise control (5) and service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (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 1993 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.

71
Complaints
4
Crashes
7
Fires
3
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

71 filings

Crashes Reported

4 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL6
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL5
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP4
INTERIOR LIGHTING4
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY4
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE4
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP3
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR2
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT2
STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)2
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION2
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION2
TIRES:TREAD/BELT2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING2

Recent Complaints

20240121VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

Random Acceleration (Gas Pedal) when started from a cold start. When foot was not on any brake or gas pedal, van started to accelerate as if I had my foot on the gas pedal.

20140930STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 FORD ECONOLINE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE GEAR BOX FRACTURED FROM THE FRAME. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACTS RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

Mileage: 110,000

20110111STEERING

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 FORD ECONOLINE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH AND MAKING A RIGHT TURN THEY HEARD A LOUD SNAPPING NOISE. THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY LOOSE AND CONTINUED TO MOVE INSTEAD OF STOPPING AT A SPECIFIC POINT. NO WARNING LIGHTS APPEARED ON THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND INSPECTED BY A INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE STEERING GEAR BOLTS SNAPPED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 168,000. UPDATED 03/24/11*LJ UPDATED 12/14/11 *CN

Mileage: 168,000

20080409VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL

SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVACTION SWITCH. *TR

20080228VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 FORD ECONOLINE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IN NOVEMBER OF 2007 FOR THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL: CRUISE CONTROL. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE DEALER REISSUED A NEW RECALL NOTICE IN FEBRUARY OF 2008. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 309,997.

20071105VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 FORD ECONOLINE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IN AUGUST OF 2007 FOR THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL SWITCH. SHE SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED, BUT IT CAUGHT FIRE BEFORE THE APPOINTMENT DAY. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. THE CONTACT FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE POWERTRAIN AND RECALL NUMBER WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 103,000.

Mileage: 103,000

20070831FireVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 FORD ECONOLINE. WHILE DRIVING UPHILL AT 10 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE RISING FROM THE HOOD. NHTSA RECALL NUMBER 94V128000 (INTERIOR LIGHTING) WAS REFERENCED. THE VEHICLE ERUPTED INTO FLAMES AND MELTED THE SIDING OF A HOUSE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT HAS NOT SPOKEN TO THE DEALER. THERE WAS NO CURRENT MILEAGE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. UPDATED 08/13/08 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED A WEEK PRIOR, THE CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING. THE CONSUMER REPLACED THE FUSE, BUT THE CRUISE CONTROL STILL DIDN'T WORK. UPDATED 08/13/08. *JB

Mileage: 80,000

20070831FireINTERIOR LIGHTING

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 FORD ECONOLINE. WHILE DRIVING UPHILL AT 10 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE RISING FROM THE HOOD. NHTSA RECALL NUMBER 94V128000 (INTERIOR LIGHTING) WAS REFERENCED. THE VEHICLE ERUPTED INTO FLAMES AND MELTED THE SIDING OF A HOUSE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT HAS NOT SPOKEN TO THE DEALER. THERE WAS NO CURRENT MILEAGE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. UPDATED 08/13/08 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED A WEEK PRIOR, THE CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING. THE CONSUMER REPLACED THE FUSE, BUT THE CRUISE CONTROL STILL DIDN'T WORK. UPDATED 08/13/08. *JB

Mileage: 80,000

20070829FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 FORD ECONOLINE. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE HOOD. WHEN HE RAISED THE HOOD, THE VEHICLE IGNITED. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT THE DEACTIVATION SWITCH MALFUNCTIONED AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO CATCH FIRE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED FORD RECALL NOTICE NUMBER 05S28 ON AUGUST 29, 2007. THE VIN, ENGINE SIZE, NUMBER OF CYLINDERS, DEALER INFORMATION, AND MILEAGES WERE UNAVAILABLE.

20070319FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE 1993 FORD ECONOLINE VAN CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY. WHILE IN HIS VEHICLE SLEEPING ABOUT 4:00 AM THE NEIGHBORS KNOCK ON THE VAN TO INFORM THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. HE STATED THAT THE ENTIRE VAN WAS DESTROYED BY THE FIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME AND PUT OUT THE FIRE. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME, AND THERE WAS NO INDICATION THAT THE VEHICLE HAD ANY TYPE OF PROBLEMS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE BOTH 128000 . *AK

Mileage: 128,000

20051026INTERIOR LIGHTING

A FEW DAYS AGO I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE AND NOTICED A BURNING SMELL I CHECKED ALL OF THE FUSES FIRST AND THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. FINALLY I DROVE THE VAN AGAIN AND NOTICE SMOKE COMING FROM THE DOME LIGHT AT THAT POINT I REMOVED THE LIGHT ITSELF AND NOW I HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE LIGHTING. I DID LOOK UP RECALL DEFECTS FOR 93 VEHICLES WHICH STATED THAT THE INTERIOR LIGHTING WAS A DEFECT. I CALLED FORD AND THEY SEEM TO HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF RECALL. THIS RECALL IS ON YOUR SITE AS ID # 94V128000 AND THE DEFECT IS 6088 INTERIOR LIGHTING. *JB

20050926FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

DT: THE CALLER SAID THERE WERE RECALLS 93V1000000 CONCERNING FUEL TANK AND 94V128000 CONCERNING INTERIOR LIGHTING , BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. SHE HAD THE WORK DONE ON THE VEHICLE. THE CALLER SAID VEHICLE WOULD NOT START, AND THE DOME LIGHT WAS BLOWING FUSES AND MELTING. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER SAID THE CALLER'S VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALLS. *AK

Mileage: 157,000

20050926INTERIOR LIGHTING

DT: THE CALLER SAID THERE WERE RECALLS 93V1000000 CONCERNING FUEL TANK AND 94V128000 CONCERNING INTERIOR LIGHTING , BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. SHE HAD THE WORK DONE ON THE VEHICLE. THE CALLER SAID VEHICLE WOULD NOT START, AND THE DOME LIGHT WAS BLOWING FUSES AND MELTING. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER SAID THE CALLER'S VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALLS. *AK

Mileage: 157,000

20050616FireVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL

DT: FORD, ECONLINE 150 CONVERSION VAN 1993, VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. CONSUMER BELIEVED IT WAS DUE TO THE CRUSE CONTROL, CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND SAW SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD, CONSUMER DIALED 911. WHEN FIRE DEPTPARTMENT CAME THEY HAD TO CUT AROUND THE LIFT LEVER OF THE HOOD, WHEN THE HOOD WAS REMOVED THERE WERE FLAMES COMING FROM THE MOTOR, THE WHOLE VEHCILE BURST INTO FLAMES, THE WHOLE ENGINE DASHBOARD MELTED. *AK

Mileage: 22,000

20050615FireVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL

I OWN A FORD ECOLINE 150 FAMILY VAN (CUSTOM MADE). WELL JUST LAST WEEK IT CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING ON HE HIGHWAY. HE HAD THE CRUISE CONTROL, A.C. AND THE RADIO ON. I HAS NEVER HAPPENED TO US BEFORE. I DON'T KNOW IF IT DID TO THE PRIOR OWNERS. NEEDLESS TO SAY THAT WHEN HELP ARRIVED IT WAS TO LATE THE VAN WAS TOTALED.

20040204STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

WHILE DRIVING AT NORMAL SPEED CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE, SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS COMING THROUGH THE FONT END. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, AND TECHNICIAN INDICATED THAT FRAME CRACKED AT THE STEERING BOX LEFT SIDE. *AK

Mileage: 98,000

20040120ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED WATER AND ANTI FREEZE LEAKED INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. ALSO, VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY STALLED WHEN TURNING CORNERS. *AK

Mileage: 101,200

20011030CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

CONSUMER WAS PARKING AND STRAIGHTENING VEHICLE OUT WHEN IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED INTO GARAGE. VEHICLE HAD BEEN MODIFIED TO A HANDICAP VAN.*AK

20010817ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL

FUEL SMELL APPEARED SOON AFTER FILLING VEHICLE. VEHICLE WAS SERVICED, TECHNICIAN STATED VENT AND FILLER HOSE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

20010801STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS

WHILE CHANGING MY OIL I HAD NOTICED THAT THE POWER STEERING HOSE WAS IN CONTACT WITH THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE AND WEAR MARKS WERE EVIDENT. IF A PIECE OF RUBBER HOSE WAS NOT PLACED AROUND THE HOSE FAILURE OF THE HOSE WOULD HAVE TAKEN PLACE.*AK

Compare 1993FORDECONOLINE to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1993 FORD ECONOLINE have?
The 1993 FORD ECONOLINE has 71 NHTSA complaints, 4 crashes, 7 fires, 3 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1993 FORD ECONOLINE?
The most-complained component for the 1993 FORD ECONOLINE is VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL with 6 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL and SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP.
Is the 1993 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.