Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1996 Ford Econoline, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Service brakes, hydraulic18
- Tires13
- Vehicle speed control12
- Engine and engine cooling12
- Electrical system7
- Suspension6
- Air bags4
- Seats4
- Steering3
- Structure3
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 8 injuries and 1 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
In New Zealand
1 1996 cars are on the New Zealand register; 100% arrived as used imports, 0% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Recalls in Canada
5 Transport Canada recalls for the 1996 Ford Econoline.
| 2005028 14 Feb 2005 | Electrical On certain vehicles, the speed control deactivation switch may overheat, smoke, or burn, potentially resulting in an underhood fire. The condition may occur ei… |
| 1999162 15 Sept 1999 | Emissions Certain CNG vehicles do not comply with the requirements of CMVSS 1105 - Evaporative Emissions. The natural gas fuel fill valve may leak due to flaking of the … |
| 1998042 19 Mar 1998 | Seats And Restraints NOTE: VAN CONVERSIONS (TRAVEL VANS). THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH C.M.V.S.S. 202 - HEAD RESTRAINTS. VEHICLES ARE MISSING HEAD RESTRAINTS ON THE TWO FRONT… |
| 1997008 20 Jan 1997 | Brakes THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH C.M.V.S.S. 105 - HYDRAULIC BRAKE SYSTEMS. THE PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM MAY NOT HOLD THE VEHICLE ON A 20% GRADE WITH FOOT PEDAL EFF… |
| 1996085 10 Jun 1996 | Lights And Instruments NOTE: CUTAWAY INCOMPLETE VEHICLES. ALL VEHICLES WERE CORRECTED PRIOR TO FINAL DELIVERY. THE ABSENCE OF A CIRCUIT PATH TO GROUND RESULTED IN NON-FUNCTIONING BR… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
FORD IS RECALLING 225,000 MY 1992-2003 ECONOLINE, MY 1993-1995 TAURUS SHO, MY 1992-1998 CROWN VICTORIA, MY 1993 BRONCO, F-SERIES, MY 1995-1997 F-SERIES SUPER DUTY STRIPPED CHASSIS, MY 1992-1998 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS, AND MY 1992-1995 LINCOLN TOWN CAR VEHICLES. THE AFFECTED VEHICLES WERE PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED USING A WIRING HARNESS THAT IS NOT COMPATIBLE WITH THE VEHICLE CIRCUIT POLARITY.
ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH SPEED CONTROL, GASOLINE OR NATURAL GAS ENGINES, THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH MAY OVERHEAT.
THE PARKING BRAKE SYSTEMS MAY NOT HOLD THE VEHICLES ON A 20% GRADE WITH FOOT PEDAL EFFORTS OF 125 POUNDS OR LESS. THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 105, "HYDRAULIC BRAKE SYSTEMS."
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Ford told its dealers about the 1996 Ford Econoline: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 623944 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT HEATER CORE LEAKS. *SLC |
| 619424 | SUBJECT REGARDING ENGINE OIL RECOMMENDATIONS FOR USE IN 2001 VEHICLES - SAE 5W-20 MOTOR OIL. *TT |
| 618603 | SOME VEHICLES WITH DANA 80 REAR AXLES MAY EXHIBIT AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF AXLE WHINE NOISE. *JB |
| 618577 | INFORMATION ON REAR AXLE WHINE-VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DANA 80 AXLES-5.4L/6.8L AND 7.3L. *JB |
| 616522 | SUBJECT REGARDING CONTAMINATION FROM PRIOR TRANSMISSION CONCERNS OR EXCESS WEAR MAY BE TRAPPED IN THE TRANSMISSION FLUID COOLING SYSTEM. *TT |
| 616520 | A CONDITION MAY EXIST WITH POSSIBLE ELECTRONC DAMAGE OCCURING TO THE COMPUVALVE FROM VOLTAGE SPIKES BETWEEN THE COMPUVALVE CONNECTIONS WHEN CONNECTING OR DISCONNECTING THE MAIN COMPUVALVE HARNESS C4025. *TT |
| 615491 | ALL VEHICLES WITH ANTILOCK BRAKE MODULE CONCERNS THAT REQUIRE A MODULE REPLACEMENT, THE TECHNICIAN MUST CALL FOR APPROVAL BEFORE REMOVING AND / OR REPLACING THE MODULE. *TT |
| 613864 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A FALSE HIGH SPARK ADVANCE READINGS WHEN USING A NEW GENERATOR STAR (NGS) TESTER. *TT |
| 613862 | SERVICE TIP INFORMATION ON REVISED FUEL TANK VALVE FOR BI-FUEL 4.9L VEHICLES ONLY. *TT |
| 613861 | BRIEF INFORMATION STATING THAT A REVISED FUEL GAUGE HAS BEEN RELEASED FOR SERVICE FOR BI-FUEL VEHICLES ONLY. *TT |
| 613350 | SERVICE TIP INFORMATION REGARDING THE REVERSE CLUTCH PISTON AND PISTON SEAL USAGE. *TT |
| 613349 | EXPERIENCING A KNOCKING NOISE WHEN THE ENGINE IS COLD AND UNDER ACCELERATION. *TT |
| 613344 | ON SOME VEHICLES, THE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP (MIL) MAY ILLUMINATE AND CODE P1411 MAY BE STORED IN MEMORY. *TT |
| 613342 | CONCERNS WITH THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) LAMP REMAINING ON AFTER THE VEHICLE IS STARTED AND SIX (6) ABS CODES ARE STORED IN MEMORY ON SOME VEHICLES. *TT |
| 613336 | SUBJECT REGARDING A NEW SINGLE KEY LOCKSETS INSTALLED ON CERTAIN TRIAL VEHICLES. *TT |
| 613288 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A STEERING PULL TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT. *TT |
| 613252 | SOME VEHICLES THAT ARE LOADED TO THE UPPER END OF GVW, WITH THE MAJORITY OF THE LOAD BETWEEN THE AXLES, MAY EXHIBIT INNER EDGE TIRE WEAR DUE TO INCORRECT ALIGNMENT. *TT |
| 613145 | VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A STEERING PULL TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT, DUE TO INCORRECT FRONT END ALIGNMENT SETTINGS. *MJS |
| 613041 | VEHICLES THAT ARE LOADED TO THE UPPER END OF FVW, WITH THE MAJORITY OF THE LOAD BETWEEN THE AXLES, MAY EXHIBIT INNER EDGE TIRE WEAR DUE TO INCORRECT ALIGNMENT. *MJS |
| 613022 | ON SOME VEHICLES REPEAT REPAIRS MAY BE MADE TO 4-WHEEL ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEMS (4WABS) DUE TO MISDIAGNOSIS OF 4WABS CONCERNS WHICH MAY RESULT IN REPLACEMENT OF FUNCTIONAL COMPONENTS. *TT |
| 612965 | CUSTOMERS MAY BE CONCERNED THAT VEHICLE LOOKS LIKE IT DOGTRACKS, DUE TO A UNIQUE FEATURE OF THE VEHICLE THAT COMBINE TO CREATE AN OPTICAL ILLUSION OF DOGTRACKING, A CONDITION WHICH THE REAR AXLE IS NOT SQUARE TO THE CHASSIS. *MJS |
| 612924 | SOME BI-FUEL VEHICLES MAY REQUIRE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE (PCM) REPLACEMENT DURING SERVICE AND MAY NOT RUN ON CNG OR LPG., RECALIBRATION OF THE PCM/REPLACEMENT. *MJS |
| 612923 | INFORMATION ON THE 7.3L DIT ENGINES, ROTUNDA TOOL HAS ISSUED AN INJECTOR PERFORMANCE ANALYZER THAT MAY NOW BE PRUCHASED AS AN EFFECTIVE AID IN HELPING TO RESOLVE ROUGH IDLE CONCERNS. *MJS |
| 612343 | VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE SOLID PARTICLE CONTAMINANTS FROM PRIOR TRANSMISSION CONCERNS OR EXCESS WEAR, MAY BE TRAPPED IN THE TRANSMISSION FLUID COOLING SYSTEM IS NOT PROPERLY FLUSHED, FLUID IN-LINE FILTER KIT. *MJS |
| 612203 | INFORMATION REGARDING THE NEW TRANSMISSION COOLER FLUSHER- SERVICE TIP. *MJS |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation