Auto Recall Watch
U.S. public vehicle records

1988 Ford ECONOLINE: complaints, problems and recalls

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

22 owner complaints analyzed

0 distinct recall campaigns

Not available median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1988 model year. Data updated: . 0 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline is the most frequently named component, appearing in 4 of 22 complaints (18.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Electrical and battery issues29.1%
Fuel system concerns29.1%
Engine operation14.5%
Braking behavior14.5%

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.

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
4
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch
2
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components
2
Electrical System
1
Electrical System:Ignition
1
Electrical System:Ignition:Module
1
Electrical System:Starter Assembly
1
Electrical System:Wiring
1
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline4
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch2
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components2
Electrical System1
Electrical System:Ignition1
Electrical System:Ignition:Module1
Electrical System:Starter Assembly1
Electrical System:Wiring1

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 4; Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 2; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components: 2; Electrical System: 1; Electrical System:Ignition: 1; Electrical System:Ignition:Module: 1; Electrical System:Starter Assembly: 1; Electrical System:Wiring: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
0
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
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0000
25,000 to 49,9990
50,000 to 74,9990
75,000 to 99,9990
100,000 to 149,9990
150,000 and above0

Under 25,000: 0; 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

No usable failure mileage is recorded. 22 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.

1995
4
1996
6
1997
2
1998
3
1999
1
2000
2
2001
1
2002
2
2010
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
19954
19966
19972
19983
19991
20002
20011
20022
20101

1995: 4; 1996: 6; 1997: 2; 1998: 3; 1999: 1; 2000: 2; 2001: 1; 2002: 2; 2010: 1

Pattern summary

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 2 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 2 complaint narratives. Engine operation 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.

Examples from the source records

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10316334 · 2010-03-03 (March 3, 2010)

TL*THE CONTACT OWNED A 1988 FORD ECONOLINE VAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HE WAS SITTING IN THE VEHICLE, IT CAUGHT FIRE. HE WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VIN, FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 04/09/10. *LJ UPDATED 05/17/10

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10316334 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 507881 · 1996-08-26 (August 26, 1996)

SPRING LEAF ADDED TO RIGHT REAR SIDE DUE TO DESIGN OF MOTOR HOME OVERLOADING SPRING.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 507881 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 508894 · 1996-09-23 (September 23, 1996)

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE. (OHIO STATE POLICE REPORT)

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 508894 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 513754 · 1996-12-20 (December 20, 1996)

BLOWER SWITCH FOR HEATER AND A/C CAME OFF.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 513754 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 513827 · 1997-01-13 (January 13, 1997)

WHEEL DISCONNECTED DUE TO LOOSE LUG NUTS, CAUSING ACCIDENT. (NEW JERSEY STATE POLICE REPORT)

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 513827 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 527067 · 1997-12-23 (December 23, 1997)

SEAT BELT PROBLEMS.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 527067 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 528558 · 1998-01-21 (January 21, 1998)

ENGINE FIRE.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 528558 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 528665 · 1998-01-21 (January 21, 1998)

IGNITION MODULE OVERHEATS CAUSING ENGINE TO SHUT DOWN.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 528665 at NHTSA ↗

Recall history

0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.

No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.

Explore the data

Vehicle analysis explorer

Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.

Data completeness

22 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.

0.0%Usable mileage0 / 22 records
77.3%Valid incident date17 / 22 records
100.0%Valid filing date22 / 22 records
77.3%Ordered incident and filing dates17 / 22 records

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 complaint heatmap
Component201220132014201520162017201820192026
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

Vehicle Speed Control
00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

Tires
00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components
00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

Tires:Tread/Belt
00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly
00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No 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 failure mileage distribution
ComponentMileage range (25th–75th percentile)MedianUsable recordsExamples
No usable records for this analysis.

Complaint and recall timeline

Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.

1 reports2024-112026-10

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
Monthly complaint and recall timeline
MonthComplaintsCampaigns announcedExamples
2024-110None

No examples available for this selection.

2024-120None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-010None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-020None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-030None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-040None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-050None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-060None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-070None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-080None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-090None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-100None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-110None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-120None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-010None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-020None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-030None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-040None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-050None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-060None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-070None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-080None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-090None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-10 (partial)0None

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.

Age 0Age 1Age 21 reports

2018: 0 complaints · 2019: 1 complaints

Equal observation windows
Model yearThrough age 0Through age 1Through age 2
2018000
2019111
Date coverage across each selected cohort
Date basis for all complaints in selected model years
YearIncident dates usedFiling date fallbacksExcluded dates
2018000
2019100

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 co-occurrence matrix
ComponentEngine And Engine Cooling:Engine:GasolineElectrical System:Ignition:SwitchService Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation ComponentsElectrical SystemElectrical System:IgnitionElectrical System:Ignition:ModuleElectrical System:Starter AssemblyElectrical System:Wiring
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline—0
1
ODI 565853

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT HAS BEEN FIXED TWICE, HOWEVER AFTER THE SECOND REPAIR IT WOULD NOT WORK AT ALL. *SLC

Look up ODI 565853 at NHTSA ↗

00
1
ODI 565853

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT HAS BEEN FIXED TWICE, HOWEVER AFTER THE SECOND REPAIR IT WOULD NOT WORK AT ALL. *SLC

Look up ODI 565853 at NHTSA ↗

1
ODI 565853

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT HAS BEEN FIXED TWICE, HOWEVER AFTER THE SECOND REPAIR IT WOULD NOT WORK AT ALL. *SLC

Look up ODI 565853 at NHTSA ↗

0
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch0—000000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components
1
ODI 565853

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT HAS BEEN FIXED TWICE, HOWEVER AFTER THE SECOND REPAIR IT WOULD NOT WORK AT ALL. *SLC

Look up ODI 565853 at NHTSA ↗

0—00
1
ODI 565853

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT HAS BEEN FIXED TWICE, HOWEVER AFTER THE SECOND REPAIR IT WOULD NOT WORK AT ALL. *SLC

Look up ODI 565853 at NHTSA ↗

1
ODI 565853

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT HAS BEEN FIXED TWICE, HOWEVER AFTER THE SECOND REPAIR IT WOULD NOT WORK AT ALL. *SLC

Look up ODI 565853 at NHTSA ↗

0
Electrical System000—0000
Electrical System:Ignition0000—000
Electrical System:Ignition:Module
1
ODI 565853

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT HAS BEEN FIXED TWICE, HOWEVER AFTER THE SECOND REPAIR IT WOULD NOT WORK AT ALL. *SLC

Look up ODI 565853 at NHTSA ↗

0
1
ODI 565853

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT HAS BEEN FIXED TWICE, HOWEVER AFTER THE SECOND REPAIR IT WOULD NOT WORK AT ALL. *SLC

Look up ODI 565853 at NHTSA ↗

00—
1
ODI 565853

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT HAS BEEN FIXED TWICE, HOWEVER AFTER THE SECOND REPAIR IT WOULD NOT WORK AT ALL. *SLC

Look up ODI 565853 at NHTSA ↗

0
Electrical System:Starter Assembly
1
ODI 565853

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT HAS BEEN FIXED TWICE, HOWEVER AFTER THE SECOND REPAIR IT WOULD NOT WORK AT ALL. *SLC

Look up ODI 565853 at NHTSA ↗

0
1
ODI 565853

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT HAS BEEN FIXED TWICE, HOWEVER AFTER THE SECOND REPAIR IT WOULD NOT WORK AT ALL. *SLC

Look up ODI 565853 at NHTSA ↗

00
1
ODI 565853

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT HAS BEEN FIXED TWICE, HOWEVER AFTER THE SECOND REPAIR IT WOULD NOT WORK AT ALL. *SLC

Look up ODI 565853 at NHTSA ↗

—0
Electrical System:Wiring0000000—

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.

2 patterns with matching reports.

Brake response concerns

1 mentions · 4.5% of complaints

Median mileage: Unavailable (0 usable records).

ODI 970805

BRAKES FAILED COMPLETELY WHILE DRIVING DOWNHILL; BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR; VEHICLE HIT TREE; INJURIES CAUSED BY NO RESTRAINT SYSTEM IN SHUTTLE BUS. TT

Look up ODI 970805 at NHTSA ↗

Matching rule\b(brake fail\w*|brakes fail\w*|brake pedal|braking distance|unintended braking|phantom braking)\b

Stalling or loss of power

1 mentions · 4.5% of complaints

Median mileage: Unavailable (0 usable records).

ODI 838364

ONGOING / INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH ENGINE STALLING. MANUFACTURER/DEALER NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. *AK

Look up ODI 838364 at NHTSA ↗

Matching rule\b(stall\w*|loss of power|lost power|engine shut\w* off)\b