IllustrationGEAR SHIFT INDICATOR SHOWS THAT THE VEHICLE IS ENGAGED IN PARK, BUT THE VEHICLE STILL ROLLS AS IF NOT COMPLETELY IN GEAR. DLR HAS SEEN 4 TIMES, AND CANT FIND THE CAUSE. *AK
1989 Ford Econoline
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Econoline years →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
What owners actually said
32 reportsTHE AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR WAS LEAKING FREEON. THIS WOULD CAUSE THE AIR CONDITIONER TO NOT COOL VEHICLE ONCE TURNED ON. HAS HAPPENED BEFORE, 2 YEARS AGO. WILL BE TAKING TO DEALER TO CHECK. *AK
I HAVE HEARD OF MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE AIR CONDITIONER OF SUCH FORD VANS THAT THEY LEAK FREON.EVEN FROM A/C REPAIR SHOP THEY SAID THAT IT WAS VERY COMMON WITH FORD REGARDING THIS LEAK. I THINK FORD SHOULD FIX THIS TO SAVE OUR OZONE LAYER FROM FREON LEAK. I WISH FORD WOULD FIX MY A/C. THANKS. *AK
PROBLEM REPORTED BY NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 91V14600, HOWEVER, FORD INDICATED THAT THIS VEHICLE IS NOT SUBJECT TO THE RESULTANT RECALL.
WHILE DRIVING TANK SWITCH OVER VALVE CAUSES OVERFLOW OF FUEL THROUGH NOZZLE WHERE GAS IS POURED IN. CONSUMER NOTES OF RECALL FOR PROBLEM, BUT VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. *AK
WHEN FIRST STARTING VEHICLE DEFECT WITHIN IGNITION SWITCH WILL CAUSE ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM TO BECOME INOPERATIVE. THIS IS INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. *AK SOMETIMES VEHICLE WILL NOT SHIFT INTO OVERDRIVE OR WILL NOT WANT TO SHIFT OUT OF FIRST GEAR. AIR CONDITONER FAILED. POWER WINDOW MALFUNCTIONS. BRAKE LIGHT INOPERABLE. CRUISE C…
Read full complaint
WHEN FIRST STARTING VEHICLE DEFECT WITHIN IGNITION SWITCH WILL CAUSE ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM TO BECOME INOPERATIVE. THIS IS INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. *AK SOMETIMES VEHICLE WILL NOT SHIFT INTO OVERDRIVE OR WILL NOT WANT TO SHIFT OUT OF FIRST GEAR. AIR CONDITONER FAILED. POWER WINDOW MALFUNCTIONS. BRAKE LIGHT INOPERABLE. CRUISE CONTROL MALFUNCTIONS. *YH
CATALYTIC CONVERTER BECAME PLUGGED WITHOUT WARNING. ALSO ENGINE STOPPED AND OVERHEATED. *AK
THE DUEL FUEL TANK SELECTOR VALVE MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING AN OVEFLOW CONDITION IN THE FRONT FUEL TANK, AND RESULTING IN AN OVERFLOW OF FUEL PAST THE FILLER CAP. THERE IS A RECALL ON THE VEHICLE. OWNER 'S VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. MANUFACTURER CONTACTED. *AK
WHILE DRIVING, EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT SURGING AND UNINTENTIONAL ACCELERATION WITHOUT PRESSING ACCLERATOR PEDAL; ALSO, WHILE IN PARK ENGINE REVS UP. *AK
BRAKE FLUID OVERHEATED, CAUSING THE BRAKES TO FAIL.
Official recalls
291V146000 · 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
1EA91031 · 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