Ford VAN problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
12 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
23,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1976 to 2006 model years. Data updated: . 1 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Unknown Or Other is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 12 complaints (16.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 16.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 8.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 8.3% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 8.3% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Unknown Or Other | 2 |
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Electrical System:Starter Assembly:Relay | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly | 1 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Park/Neutral Start Interlock Switch | 1 |
Unknown Or Other: 2; Electrical System: 1; Electrical System:Starter Assembly:Relay: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 1; Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump: 1; Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly: 1; Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Park/Neutral Start Interlock Switch: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 11 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1997 | 2 |
| 1998 | 3 |
| 1999 | 2 |
| 2000 | 1 |
| 2001 | 2 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2007 | 1 |
1997: 2; 1998: 3; 1999: 2; 2000: 1; 2001: 2; 2005: 1; 2007: 1
Pattern summary
Unknown Or Other leads the component reports. Fuel system concerns appears in 2 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 701196 · 1998-12-08 (December 8, 1998)
WHILE FILLING MY FUEL TANK, GAS WAS SEEN RUNNING ON THE GROUND FROM UNDER THE CAR. AFTER AN INSPECTION, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE FUEL FILLER AND AIR RETURN RUBBER HOSES WERE CRACKED AND CRUMBLING. THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN ON A 4 YEAR OLD VEHICLE. THESE PARTS ARE DEFECTIVE ON MY CAR AND PROBABLY MANY OTHER SIMILAR CARS. THIS IS A SERIOUS FIRE AND POLLUTION HAZARD. IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT, THE HOSES WILL CRACK OPEN COMPLETLY AND FUEL WILL SPILL OUT. THE CRACKED LOSES CAUSE FUEL VAPORS TO BE RELEASED INTO THE AIR. THE DEALER WANTS TO CH…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 701196 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 834402 · 1999-02-02 (February 2, 1999)
THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH AUTOMATIC FUEL PUMP. FUEL PUMP SQUIRTS GAS OUT OF THE FUEL TANK. IN ADDITION, THE CONSUMER SMELLED STRONG FUMES. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 834402 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 745254 · 2001-05-12 (May 12, 2001)
TRANSMISSION REBUILT BECAUSE ELECTRONICS FAILED, REPLACED FRONT BANDS, TORQUE CONVERTER AND FRONT SPRAG. IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT WHEN WE HAD THE ENGINE REPLACED AT 50400 MILES THAT THERE HAD BEEN A LEAK THEN AND IT WAS SEALED WITH SILICONE. ENGINE REPLACE
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 745254 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 546557 · 1999-06-12 (June 12, 1999)
POSSIBLE ELECTRICAL PROBLEM CAUSING COURTESY LIGHTS, READING LIGHTS, RADIO AND TELEVISION FAILURE. NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 546557 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 815095 · 1997-08-06 (August 6, 1997)
WHILE DRIVING LOST STEERING CONTROL. DEALER SAID THAT THE STEERING BOX RIPPED OFF FROM THE FRAME. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 815095 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1994 | 0 |
| 2006 | 2 |
1994: 0; 2006: 2
Year-by-year records
Vehicle analysis explorer
Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.
Data completeness
12 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-09-30.
Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.
Problems by model year
Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.
| Component | 1994 | 2006 |
|---|---|---|
| Unknown Or Other | 218.2%ODI 529744REQUEST INFORMATION CONCERNINT U-HAUL RENTAL VANS AND TRUCKS. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. |
| Electrical System | 19.1%ODI 546557POSSIBLE ELECTRICAL PROBLEM CAUSING COURTESY LIGHTS, READING LIGHTS, RADIO AND TELEVISION FAILURE. NLM | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. |
| Electrical System:Starter Assembly:Relay | 19.1%ODI 741584EARLIER SAME DAY VEHICLE OVERHEATED, IT WAS IMMED. TURNED OFF AND TOWED IN. VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND ENGINE WAS OFF AND KEY REMOVED. IT LATER CAUGHT FIRE. THE PROPER AUTHORITIES WERE CALLED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE AND INVESTIGATE THE SCENE. THE "HOT SPOT" OF THE FIRE WAS DETERMINED TO BE AT THE STARTER RELAY. THE VEHICLE IS A TOTAL LOSS.THE TIME OF DAY OF THE FIRE WAS APPROX. 4:30 PM. NO ONE WAS NEAR THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 19.1%ODI 10182203 · 23,000 miWHEN THE WEATHER IS WARM, THE VAN WILL DIE AND NOT START AGAIN UNTIL THE ENGINE HAS COOLED DOWN. YOU ARE STUCK ALONG SIDE THE ROAD UNTIL THEN. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED I CALLED FOR A TOW AND WAS TOLD THAT THE VAN WAS VAPOR LOCKED. WAS TOWED 35 MILES TO A GARAGE TO HAVE IT FIXED. AFTER LOOKING AT THE VAN THIS IS WHEN WAS TOLD IT WAS VAPOR LOCKED. *JB | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 19.1%ODI 745254TRANSMISSION REBUILT BECAUSE ELECTRONICS FAILED, REPLACED FRONT BANDS, TORQUE CONVERTER AND FRONT SPRAG. IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT WHEN WE HAD THE ENGINE REPLACED AT 50400 MILES THAT THERE HAD BEEN A LEAK THEN AND IT WAS SEALED WITH SILICONE. ENGINE REPLACE | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump | 19.1%ODI 834402THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH AUTOMATIC FUEL PUMP. FUEL PUMP SQUIRTS GAS OUT OF THE FUEL TANK. IN ADDITION, THE CONSUMER SMELLED STRONG FUMES. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly | 19.1%ODI 701196WHILE FILLING MY FUEL TANK, GAS WAS SEEN RUNNING ON THE GROUND FROM UNDER THE CAR. AFTER AN INSPECTION, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE FUEL FILLER AND AIR RETURN RUBBER HOSES WERE CRACKED AND CRUMBLING. THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN ON A 4 YEAR OLD VEHICLE. THESE PARTS ARE DEFECTIVE ON MY CAR AND PROBABLY MANY OTHER SIMILAR CARS. THIS IS A SERIOUS FIRE AND POLLUTION HAZARD. IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT, THE HOSES WILL CRACK OPEN COMPLETLY AND FUEL WILL SPILL OUT. THE CRACKED LOSES CAUSE FUEL VAPORS TO BE RELEASED INTO THE AIR. THE DEALER WANTS TO CH… | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Park/Neutral Start Interlock Switch | 19.1%ODI 745254TRANSMISSION REBUILT BECAUSE ELECTRONICS FAILED, REPLACED FRONT BANDS, TORQUE CONVERTER AND FRONT SPRAG. IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT WHEN WE HAD THE ENGINE REPLACED AT 50400 MILES THAT THERE HAD BEEN A LEAK THEN AND IT WAS SEALED WITH SILICONE. ENGINE REPLACE | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. |
Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.
Failure mileage by component
Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.
| Component | Mileage range (25th–75th percentile) | Median | Usable records | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling | Too few reports for a range | 23,000 mi | 1 (sparse) | ODI 10182203 · 23,000 miWHEN THE WEATHER IS WARM, THE VAN WILL DIE AND NOT START AGAIN UNTIL THE ENGINE HAS COOLED DOWN. YOU ARE STUCK ALONG SIDE THE ROAD UNTIL THEN. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED I CALLED FOR A TOW AND WAS TOLD THAT THE VAN WAS VAPOR LOCKED. WAS TOWED 35 MILES TO A GARAGE TO HAVE IT FIXED. AFTER LOOKING AT THE VAN THIS IS WHEN WAS TOLD IT WAS VAPOR LOCKED. *JB |
Complaint and recall timeline
Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.
Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.
Monthly counts, recall campaigns and complaint examples
| Month | Complaints | Campaigns announced | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-10 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2024-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2024-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-10 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-09 (partial) | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
Emerging complaint spikes
Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.
This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.
No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.
Equal-age model-year comparison
Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.
1994: 0 complaints · 2006: 0 complaints
| Model year | Through age 0 | Through age 1 | Through age 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2006 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Date coverage across each selected cohort
| Year | Incident dates used | Filing date fallbacks | Excluded dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 8 | 3 | 0 |
| 2006 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.
Components reported together
Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.
| Component | Unknown Or Other | Electrical System | Electrical System:Starter Assembly:Relay | Engine And Engine Cooling | Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump | Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly | Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Park/Neutral Start Interlock Switch |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unknown Or Other | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical System | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical System:Starter Assembly:Relay | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 1ODI 745254TRANSMISSION REBUILT BECAUSE ELECTRONICS FAILED, REPLACED FRONT BANDS, TORQUE CONVERTER AND FRONT SPRAG. IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT WHEN WE HAD THE ENGINE REPLACED AT 50400 MILES THAT THERE HAD BEEN A LEAK THEN AND IT WAS SEALED WITH SILICONE. ENGINE REPLACE |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Park/Neutral Start Interlock Switch | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1ODI 745254TRANSMISSION REBUILT BECAUSE ELECTRONICS FAILED, REPLACED FRONT BANDS, TORQUE CONVERTER AND FRONT SPRAG. IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT WHEN WE HAD THE ENGINE REPLACED AT 50400 MILES THAT THERE HAD BEEN A LEAK THEN AND IT WAS SEALED WITH SILICONE. ENGINE REPLACE | 0 | 0 | — |
Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.
Recurring narrative patterns
Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.
0 patterns with matching reports.
No narratives match the published patterns.