FORD ECONOLINE · model year

1998 FORD ECONOLINE

61 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1998FORDECONOLINE carries 61 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 1 fire, 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 1998 ECONOLINE is service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip with 5 filings, followed by engine and engine cooling:engine (4) and suspension:front (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 1998 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.

61
Complaints
0
Crashes
1
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

61 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
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP5
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE4
SUSPENSION:FRONT4
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL4
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL4
TIRES3
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS2
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR2
TIRES:TREAD/BELT2
STRUCTURE:BODY2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY2
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE1
STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS1

Recent Complaints

20200810STRUCTURE:BODY

VAN IS LEAKING FUEL FROM A CRACK WHERE IT CONTACTS THE FRAME MEMBER. THIS VAN WAS SUBJECT TO A RECALL BEGINNING APRIL 19, 2001. I DID NOT OWN THE VEHICLE AT THAT TIME, BUT APPARENTLY VEHICLE WAS NOT LEAKING SO IT WAS NOT FIXED. I DO NOT HAVE THE RECALL NUMBER. I OBTAINED THIS INFORMATION FROM A VIN LOOK UP AT HTTPS://DRIVING-TESTS.ORG/VIN-DECODER/ VEHICLE ONLY LEAKS FUEL WHEN FILLING UP AT THE GAS STATION. ONCE I STOP FILLING UP, THE LEAKING WILL DRIP, DRIP, DRIP UNTIL IT STOPS AND I CAN DRIVE OFF. NEXT TIME I WILL TAKE A PICTURE OF LEAKING.

20200810FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

VAN IS LEAKING FUEL FROM A CRACK WHERE IT CONTACTS THE FRAME MEMBER. THIS VAN WAS SUBJECT TO A RECALL BEGINNING APRIL 19, 2001. I DID NOT OWN THE VEHICLE AT THAT TIME, BUT APPARENTLY VEHICLE WAS NOT LEAKING SO IT WAS NOT FIXED. I DO NOT HAVE THE RECALL NUMBER. I OBTAINED THIS INFORMATION FROM A VIN LOOK UP AT HTTPS://DRIVING-TESTS.ORG/VIN-DECODER/ VEHICLE ONLY LEAKS FUEL WHEN FILLING UP AT THE GAS STATION. ONCE I STOP FILLING UP, THE LEAKING WILL DRIP, DRIP, DRIP UNTIL IT STOPS AND I CAN DRIVE OFF. NEXT TIME I WILL TAKE A PICTURE OF LEAKING.

20150608WHEELS

WAS TRAVELING ON RT 80 NEAR EXIT 123 IN PENNSYLVANIA ON STRAIGHT ROAD, AT 65 MPH, TEMPERATURE OF 75 DEGREES, DRY, SUNNY DAY. WE HEARD A LOUD BOOM. THE INSIDE REAR TIRE (DRIVER SIDE) HAD BLOWN. IT APPEARED THAT THE SIDEWALL (FACING OUT) HAD FAILED. THE SIDEWALL SEPARATED ALONG A STRAIGHT LINE FROM THE WHEEL TO THE TREAD. ALSO, IN THAT AREA ABOUT 10 INCHES OF TREAD WAS STARTING TO SEPARATE ON THAT SIDE OF THE TIRE - THE TREAD SEPARATION WAS 'CENTERED' ON THAT SIDEWALL FAILURE. FORTUNATELY WE EXPERIENCED NO OTHER DAMAGE.

Mileage: 31,000

20110714FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD ECONOLINE E-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK FRACTURED AND WAS LEAKING FUEL. THE DEALER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE FAILURE. NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 85,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 08/31/11 *BF UPDATED 2/9/2012

Mileage: 79,000

20110217FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD ECONOLINE. THE CONTACT WAS REPLACING THE AIR CONDITIONING BLOWER MOTOR WHEN HE NOTICED THE SPEED SELECTOR SWITCH WAS MELTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 240,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 302,302.

Mileage: 240,000

20080522VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

1998 FORD ECONOLINE RECALL ON SPEED CONTROL. CONSUMER STATES THAT DEALER DID NOT HAVE THE PARTS AND DID NOT WANT HIM TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THIS RESOLVED. HE STATES THAT NO ONE ANSWERED THE 800 NUMBER ON THE RECALL NOTICE. *KB

20080425VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

FORD E150 WITH CRUISE CONTROL RECALL. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE DEALER STATED IN SEPTEMBER WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED THAT THE PARTS WOULD BE AVAILABLE IN JANUARY. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE PARTS ARE STILL NOT AVAILABLE. *KB

20080326VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD ECONOLINE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V051000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL) IN FEBRUARY OF 2008. THE PARTS ARE STILL UNAVAILABLE. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 43,000. UPDATED 4/11/08 *CN

20080306VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL

1998 FORD ECONOLINE RECALL ON SPEED CONTROL. CONSUMER STATED THAT THE DEALER TOLD THEM THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. HE WAS INFORMED THE PARTS WOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL THE SECOND QUARTER OF THE YEAR. *KB

20080306VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

1998 FORD ECONOLINE RECALL ON SPEED CONTROL. CONSUMER STATED THAT THE DEALER TOLD THEM THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. HE WAS INFORMED THE PARTS WOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL THE SECOND QUARTER OF THE YEAR. *KB

20080205VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD ECONOLINE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL NOTICE FOR THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL IN AUGUST OF 2007. THE SPEED CONTROL SWITCH WAS DISCONNECTED AT THAT TIME. SINCE RECEIVING THE NOTICE, SHE HAS SPOKEN WITH THE DEALER TWICE AND THE PART IS STILL UNAVAILABLE. COMPLAINT NUMBER 1400372637 WAS FILED WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 102,000. UPDATED 03/11/08. *LJ

20071121VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD ECONOLINE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V336000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE CONTACT SCHEDULED A RECALL REPAIR APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE SPEED CONTROL DISCONNECTED. HE IS DISSATISFIED WITH THE AMOUNT OF TIME IT WILL TAKE TO RECEIVE THE PARTS AND HAVE THE CRUISE CONTROL REPLACED. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

20071101VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD ECONOLINE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED TWO SAFETY RECALL NOTICES FOR THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL ON AUGUST 29, 2007 AND OCTOBER 9, 2007. ON NOVEMBER 1, 2007, HE CALLED THE DEALER FOR THE THIRD TIME AND WAS EITHER HUNG UP ON OR DISCONNECTED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY A SERVICE TECHNICIAN THAT HE COULD CONTINUE DRIVING THE VEHICLE BECAUSE IF IT WERE GOING TO CATCH FIRE, IT WOULD HAVE BY NOW. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 45,495.

20060520TIRES:TREAD/BELT

DRIVING NORTH ON I 275 JUST SOUTH OF I 94 AND TIRE SEPARATED ON RIGHT REAR CALLED AAA BECAUSE RIM WAS ON THE GROUND. VEHICLE WAS A FORD CONVERSION VAN. REPLACED WITH SPARE, AND STILL HAVE OLD TIRE. TIRE SIZE IS 30X9.50R 15 DISCOVERER AST. 8JB

20041014FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED A GAS LEAK COMING FROM THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE LEAK WAS THE RESULT OF A RUSTED HOLE IN THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB

Mileage: 80,000

20040525FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

THE FUEL TANK CRACKED ON THE UPPER PORTION OF THE TANK IN THE AREA WHERE THE MIDDLE STRAP CROSSED THE TANK. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED FORD MOTOR CO., HOWEVER THERE WERE NO RECALLS, THEREFORE THERE WAS NO ASSISTANCE WITH THE PURCHASE OF A NEW FUEL TANK. *JB *NM

20030802ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

1998 FORD ECONOLINE E-350 VAN. 5.4 L GAS MOTOR. SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF MOTOR. EHICLE HAS 152,000 MILES. REF CASE ODI ID NUMBER 10024670. REASON FOR MAKING COMPLAINT. *AK

Mileage: 152,000

20030623ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THE CONSUMER STATED THE SPARK PLUG "BLEW" OUT IN THE MOTOR WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION, WHICH CAUSED FUEL TO BE DUMPED INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. VEHICLE IS A 1998, FORD, E150, ECONOLINE VAN.*AK *TS *JB

Mileage: 135,000

20030514WHEELS:RIM

THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED, AND ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A TURN AND IT FELT AS THOUGH THE RIGHT REAR TIRE WAS FLAT. THE MECHANIC PUT THE CAR ON THE LIFT, AND DISCOVERED THE RIM WAS BROKEN AND THE TIRE FELL OFF. *JB

Mileage: 69,800

20030514TIRES

THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED, AND ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A TURN AND IT FELT AS THOUGH THE RIGHT REAR TIRE WAS FLAT. THE MECHANIC PUT THE CAR ON THE LIFT, AND DISCOVERED THE RIM WAS BROKEN AND THE TIRE FELL OFF. *JB

Mileage: 69,800

Compare 1998FORDECONOLINE to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1998 FORD ECONOLINE have?
The 1998 FORD ECONOLINE has 61 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 1 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1998 FORD ECONOLINE?
The most-complained component for the 1998 FORD ECONOLINE is SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP with 5 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE and SUSPENSION:FRONT.
Is the 1998 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.