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1989 Ford Econoline

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 0 of 32 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports4 fire reports0 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

5 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Aug 17, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling

CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILED 3 OUT OF 4 TIMES. THREE OF THE FOUR TIMES THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS ACCURRED FORD HAS TAKEN REPLACE THE PART MOSTLY FREE OF CHARGE. THIS TIME IN 2001 FORD WILL NOT FIX THE PROBLEM AND TELLS US TO BAD. WE FILL THAT BEING A REPEATED PROBLEM FORD MOTOR COMPANY SHOULD IN GOOD FAITH TAKE CARE OF THIS PROBLEM…

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CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILED 3 OUT OF 4 TIMES. THREE OF THE FOUR TIMES THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS ACCURRED FORD HAS TAKEN REPLACE THE PART MOSTLY FREE OF CHARGE. THIS TIME IN 2001 FORD WILL NOT FIX THE PROBLEM AND TELLS US TO BAD. WE FILL THAT BEING A REPEATED PROBLEM FORD MOTOR COMPANY SHOULD IN GOOD FAITH TAKE CARE OF THIS PROBLEM COMPLETELY ONCE AND FOR ALL. WE WOULD LIKE TO BE REIMBURSED FOR OUR REPAIR COST. WE DID HAVE THIS PROBLEM FIXED AT OUR EXPENSE. WHEN WE WENT TO PICK UP OUR RV WILSON CORNELIUS FORD OF VALLEJO CA WHEN ASKED IF WE WOULD HAVE CONTINUIUS PROBLEMS TOLD US NOT TO USE THE GAS WHEN GONG UP HILL. THE ALSO CHARGED US FOR A REPAIR AND PERTS THAT WERE NOT COMPLETE AND REFUSED TO REFUND US THAT AMOUNT. WE HAVE HAD MORE THEN ENOUGH PROBLEM WITH FORD OUR RV AND THE SERVICE TECH NOT DOING THE REPAIRS PROPERLY. PLEASE HELP US..... ANY QUESTIONS PLEASE CALL. *AK

NHTSA ODI #750691

Mileage unknown · Oct 16, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling

THE VEHICLE STALLS SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE DRIVING IN HOT WEATHER, THE DEALER HAS REPLACED MANY CONPONENTS (AIR AND FUEL FILTER, TFI MODULE, VAPOR SEPARATOR AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER)BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO STALL. NLM

NHTSA ODI #556115

Mileage unknown · Sep 7, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling

THIS VEHICLE HAS A SERIOUS DRIVEABILITY PROBLEM (THE ENGINE STALLS WITHOUT WARNING REPEATEDLY) AND FORD EITHER DOES NOT KNOW HOW OR DOES NOT CARE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR MANY YEARS NOW AND FINALLY A JUDGE IN CALIFORNIA IS PREPARED TO DEMAND A RECALL. NOW WHY HAVEN'T YOU ALREADY DONE SO? IS IT BECAUSE NO…

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THIS VEHICLE HAS A SERIOUS DRIVEABILITY PROBLEM (THE ENGINE STALLS WITHOUT WARNING REPEATEDLY) AND FORD EITHER DOES NOT KNOW HOW OR DOES NOT CARE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR MANY YEARS NOW AND FINALLY A JUDGE IN CALIFORNIA IS PREPARED TO DEMAND A RECALL. NOW WHY HAVEN'T YOU ALREADY DONE SO? IS IT BECAUSE NOT ENOUGH PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED YET? OR HAVEN'T YOU RECEIVED ENOUGH LETTERS OR COMPLAINTS? THERE HAVE BEEN MANY PROBLEMS THAT I AM AWARE OF FROM MY SUBSCRIPTION TO MOTORHOME MAGAZINE. I AM SENDING YOU A LETTER IN THE MAIL WITH A COPY OF A LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT OF FORD AND COPIES OF SOME OF THE ARTICLES FROM MOTORHOME MAGAZINE FROM PEOPLE WITH THE SAME VEHICLE TYPE AND THE SAME SERIOUS STALLING PROBLEM. I WOULD HOPE YOU LOOK INTO THIS MOST SERIOUS PROBLEM AND REQUIRE FORD TO RECALL THESE VEHICLES AND FIX THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE STALLS WITHOUT WARNING WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED IN HOT WEATHER. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN KNOWN FOR MANY YEARS NOW AND FORD IS DOING NOTHING ABOUT IT. FINALLY A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT MAY FORCE FORD TO RECALL THESE VEHICLES. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS PROBLEM AND I HOPE YOU WILL ISSUE A RECALL. THANK YOU. GREG EVANS

NHTSA ODI #730562

Mileage unknown · Jan 28, 2000
Engine And Engine CoolingFire

POSSIBLE ENGINE FAILURE RESULTED IN ENGINE FIRE (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). *MJS

NHTSA ODI #550596

Mileage unknown · Aug 26, 1997
Engine And Engine Cooling

CATALYTIC CONVERTER BECAME PLUGGED WITHOUT WARNING. ALSO ENGINE STOPPED AND OVERHEATED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #522915

Official recalls

2

91V146000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:auxillary Tank:selector Devices

Sep 4, 1991

THE DUAL FUEL TANK SELECTOR VALVE MAY MALFUNCTION AND CAUSE AN OVERFILL CONDITION IN ONE OF THE FUEL TANKS, RESULTING IN AN OVERFLOW OF FUEL PAST THE FILLER CAP.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE OVERFLOW OF FUEL PAST THE FILLER CAP CAUSES A FUELLEAKAGE, WHICH CAN RESULT IN A FIRE WHEN EXPOSED TO A SOURCE OF IGNITION.

Remedy: REPLACE THE DUAL FUEL TANK SELECTOR VALVE.

90V101000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:gear Position Indication (prndl)

Jun 1, 1990

UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, THE SNAP RING THAT LOCATES THE PARK GEAR ON THE OUTPUT SHAFT OF THE TRANSMISSION MAY FRACTURE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: WHEN THE GEAR IS PLACED IN PARK, THE PARK GEAR WOULD NOTENGAGE, ALLOWING THE TRUCK TO ROLL FREELY IF THE PARKING BRAKE IS NOT PROPERLYSET. THIS COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.

Remedy: INSTALL IMPROVED SNAP RING AND REVISED TRANSMISSION EXTENSION HOUSING.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

1

EA91031 · Fuel Expulsion

Opened Jun 26, 1991 · Closed Nov 1, 1991

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages

There is no summary currently available