1979 Ford ECONOLINE: complaints, problems and recalls

DT: CONSUMER WAS DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY WHEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO OVERHEAT. THE CONSUMER PULLED TO THE SIDE AND SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE ENGINE. AFTER SHUTTING OFF THE ENGINE, A FIRE BEGAN TO COME THROUGH THE DASH. WHEN THE CONSUMER EXITED THE VEHICLE IT BLEW UP. EVERYTHING IN VEHICLE BURNED AND MELTED. CONSUMER SAID THAT THE VEHICLE WAS BURNED BEYOND RECOGNITION. *JB *NM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10126407 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 1978-09-15 (September 15, 1978)

THESE TRANSMISSIONS MAY CONTAIN IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED PARKING PAWL ACTUATING RODS. CONSEQUENTLY, THE UNHARDENED CAM SURFACE OF THESE RODS CAN ALLOW THE ROD TO DEFORM DURING USE WITH RESULTANT INCREASE IN SHIFT EFFORTS AND DIFFICULTY IN RELEASING THE PARKING PAWL AND ENGAGING THE PARKING GEAR.

Remedy: DEALER WILL REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION PARKING PAWL ACTUATING ROD WITHOUT CHARGE TO OWNER.

Reported: 1978-11-27 (November 27, 1978)

THE INVOLVED VEHICLES WERE EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS IN WHICH THE PARKING PAWL WAS NOT HEAT-TREATED. DURING NORMAL VEHICLE OPERATION, A PARKING PAWL THAT HAS NOT BEEN HEAT-TREATED COULD BECOME DEFORMED OR WORN TO THE POINT THAT THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT LOCK IN "PARK". AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE COULD ROLL FREE IF THE DRIVER DOES NOT SET THE PARKING BRAKE WHEN PARKING OR LEAVING VEHICLE UNATTENDED.

Remedy: DEALER WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE PARKING PAWL WITH ONE THAT HAS BEEN HEAT-TREATED.

Reported: 1978-12-21 (December 21, 1978)

THE STEERING GEARS ON THE INVOLVED VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN BUILT WITH IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED SECTOR SHAFTS FROM WHICH THE THREADED PORTIONS OF THE SHAFTS MAY FRACTURE AND SEPARATE. SHOULD THE SECTOR SHAFT FRACTURE, THE PITMAN ARM MAY DISENGAGE FROM THE SPLINED PORTION OF THE SECTOR SHAFT.

Remedy: THE DEALER WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY OR INSTALL A NEW SECTOR SHAFT IN THE STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY.

Reported: 1979-05-15 (May 15, 1979)

THE INVOLVED VEHICLES WERE PRODUCED WITH BRAKE PUSH-ROD TO BRAKE PEDAL RETAINING PINS WHICH WERE NOT HEAT-TREATED AS SPECIFIED. THIS COULD ALLOW THE BRAKE PEDAL TO BECOME DISENGAGED FROM THE PUSH-ROD.

Remedy: DEALER WILL REPLACE THE SUSPECT BRAKE RETAINING PIN.

Reported: 1979-06-19 (June 19, 1979)

THE INCORRECTLY INSTALLED LEFT FRONT BRAKE HOSES MAY ALLOW FOR CONTACT BETWEEN THE FRONT BRAKE HOSES AND THE FRONT TIRES WHEN THE FRONT WHEELS ARE IN FULL RIGHT OR LEFT TURN POSITIONS. IF CONTACT IS MADE, THE HOSE COULD WEAR AND ALLOW BRAKE FLUID TO LEAK OUT.

Remedy: THE DEALER WILL INSPECT FRONT BRAKE HOSES AND REPLACE THOSE LACKING THE PROPER CLEARANCE WITH CURRENT PRODUCTION HOSES, WITHOUT CHARGE TO OWNER.

Reported: 1979-06-19 (June 19, 1979)

CERTAIN VEHICLES MAY NOT CONTAIN THE SPECIFIED BODY MOUNTED HEAT SHIELDS. THIS COULD CAUSE HIGH FLOOR PAN TEMPERATURES WHEN THE ENGINE IS IDLED FOR EXTENDED PERIODS OF TIME. FOULED SPARK PLUGS OR OTHER ENGINE CONDITIONS COULD FURTHER INCREASE EXHAUST TEMPERATURES.

Remedy: THE DEALER WILL INSTALL THE NECESSARY FRAME MOUNTED HEAT SHIELD, IF MISSING.

Reported: 1979-08-07 (August 7, 1979)

THE WHEEL ASSEMBLY MAY CONTAIN SUBSTANDARD WELDS IN THE AREA WHERE THE DISC IS ATTACHED TO THE RIM. AS A RESULT, CRACKS CAN FORM IN THE WHEEL ASSEMBLY, CAUSING AIR LOSS AND AN UNDERINFLATED TIRE.

Remedy: DEALER WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE ANY DEFECTIVE WHEELS WITHOUT CHARGE TO OWNER.