Ford Econoline Problems by Year
NHTSA has 485 owner complaints and 18 safety recalls on file for the Ford Econoline, across 24 model years (1995–2026). The 1999 model year has the most complaints (84). The most reported problem area overall is service brakes, hydraulic.
Ford Econoline years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Econoline year: 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.
Model years with the most complaints
- 1999 Econoline: 84 complaints, 5 recalls
- 1996 Econoline: 81 complaints, 3 recalls
- 1997 Econoline: 79 complaints, 2 recalls
Model years with the fewest complaints
- 2009 Econoline: 1 complaint, 1 recall
- 2010 Econoline: 1 complaint, 1 recall
- 2012 Econoline: 1 complaint, 1 recall
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common Ford Econoline problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 92 | 8 | 11 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 69 | 9 | 5 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 66 | 9 | 1 |
| Tires | 55 | 9 | 1 |
| Electrical System | 37 | 12 | 3 |
| Suspension | 34 | 10 | 3 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 24 | 9 | 1 |
| Steering | 24 | 9 | 1 |
| Structure | 21 | 9 | 0 |
| Visibility | 20 | 6 | 3 |
| Power Train | 19 | 9 | 4 |
| Seat Belts | 14 | 6 | 4 |
| Equipment | 13 | 8 | 0 |
| Air Bags | 12 | 6 | 5 |
| Seats | 10 | 4 | 0 |
| Wheels | 10 | 6 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 9 | 6 | 0 |
| Engine | 6 | 3 | 0 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Air | 4 | 3 | 0 |
| Exterior Lighting | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Parking Brake | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Other | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Electronic Stability Control | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Diesel | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Interior Lighting | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Electric | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Trailer Hitches | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Visibility/wiper | 1 | 1 | 0 |
All Ford Econoline model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Econoline | 0 | 1 | — | — | |
| 2019 Econoline | 1 | 2 | — | Electrical System | |
| 2018 Econoline | 0 | 2 | — | — | |
| 2017 Econoline | 3 | 1 | — | Electrical System | |
| 2016 Econoline | 3 | 1 | — | Electrical System | |
| 2015 Econoline | 0 | 1 | — | — | |
| 2014 Econoline | 0 | 1 | — | — | |
| 2013 Econoline | 0 | 1 | — | — | |
| 2012 Econoline | 1 | 1 | — | Power Train | |
| 2011 Econoline | 0 | 1 | — | — | |
| 2010 Econoline | 1 | 1 | — | Fuel/propulsion System | |
| 2009 Econoline | 1 | 1 | — | Air Bags | |
| 2007 Econoline | 0 | 2 | — | — | |
| 2006 Econoline | 0 | 2 | — | — | |
| 2005 Econoline | 0 | 2 | — | — | |
| 2003 Econoline | 22 | 2 | — | Vehicle Speed Control | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2002 Econoline | 23 | 2 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2001 Econoline | 28 | 3 | — | Vehicle Speed Control | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2000 Econoline | 39 | 3 | — | Vehicle Speed Control | More complaints than other years |
| 1999 Econoline | 84 | 5 | — | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | Far more complaints than other years |
| 1998 Econoline | 46 | 2 | — | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | Far more complaints than other years |
| 1997 Econoline | 79 | 2 | — | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | Far more complaints than other years |
| 1996 Econoline | 81 | 3 | — | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | Far more complaints than other years |
| 1995 Econoline | 73 | 4 | — | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | Far more complaints than other years |
More from Ford: all Ford models · Ford VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Ford Econoline years should you stay away from?
By NHTSA complaints, 1995 (73), 1996 (81), 1997 (79), 1998 (46), 1999 (84) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Econoline year. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the Ford Econoline?
Service Brakes, Hydraulic, with 92 complaints across 8 model years.
How many recalls does the Ford Econoline have?
18 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.