U.S. public vehicle records

1990 Ford ECONOLINE: complaints, problems and recalls

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

30 owner complaints analyzed

4 distinct recall campaigns

44,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1990 model year. Data updated: 2026-09-30 (September 30, 2026). 1 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip is the most frequently named component, appearing in 6 of 30 complaints (20.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Braking behavior	16	53.3%
Fuel system concerns	3	10.0%
Electrical and battery issues	1	3.3%

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.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components

Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Caliper

Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash

Structure:Body:Door

Wheels

Electrical System:Ignition

Component breakdown data
Category	Count
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip	6
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components	5
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly	3
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Caliper	3
Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash	2
Structure:Body:Door	2
Wheels	2
Electrical System:Ignition	1

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 6; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components: 5; Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly: 3; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Caliper: 3; Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash: 2; Structure:Body:Door: 2; Wheels: 2; Electrical System:Ignition: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

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

Under 25,000

25,000 to 49,999

50,000 to 74,999

75,000 to 99,999

100,000 to 149,999

150,000 and above

Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0

25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 29 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

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2002

2003

1995: 3; 1996: 6; 1997: 9; 1998: 3; 1999: 4; 2000: 1; 2002: 1; 2003: 3

Pattern summary

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 16 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 3 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.

Examples from the source records

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

Owner report 10018131 · 2003-05-05 (May 5, 2003)

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING THE FAN BELTS SNAP CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO LOSE BRAKE POWER. DEALER NOTIFIED

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10018131 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10039797 · 2003-09-11 (September 11, 2003)

CONSUMER NOTICED A GAS SMELL INSIDE OF VEHICLE WHILE TRAVELING. SAW GAS POURING OUT OF GAS TANK. VEHICLE WAS SERVICED, TECHNICIAN REPLACED FUEL PUMP SENDING UNIT. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10039797 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10042344 · 2003-12-03 (December 3, 2003)

WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE TREAD SEPARATED AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO A CONCRETE GUARD RAIL. *AK *SCC *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 44,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10042344 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 480475 · 1995-01-12 (January 12, 1995)

ANTI-LOCK BRAKES FAILED 6 TIMES, TWICE RESULTING IN ACCIDENTS. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 480475 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 487360 · 1998-02-20 (February 20, 1998)

BRAKES OVERHEATED AND LOST POWER ON OCCASION. RECALL ON OTHER MODELS HOWEVER THIS VEHICLE DID NOT QUALIFY FOR RECALL.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 487360 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 512511 · 1996-12-11 (December 11, 1996)

FRONT RIGHT BRAKE WAS SMOKING.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 512511 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 513734 · 1997-01-02 (January 2, 1997)

CALIPER SLIDE RAILS RUSTED.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 513734 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 519401 · 1997-07-15 (July 15, 1997)

LEFT FRONT TIRE CAME OFF VEHICLE. (OHIO STATE POLICE REPORT)

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 519401 at NHTSA ↗

Recall history

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

90V101000 · Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Gear Position Indication (Prndl)

Reported: 1990-06-01 (June 1, 1990)

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

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.

NHTSA campaign record ↗

91V146000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Auxillary Tank:Selector Devices

Reported: 1991-09-04 (September 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: 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.

NHTSA campaign record ↗

91V172000 · Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage

Reported: 1992-05-04 (May 4, 1992)

THE SAFETY BELT ANCHORAGE FOR THE REAR BENCH SEAT FAILED TO COMPLY WITH THE STANDARDS OF FMVSS 210.

Consequence: FAILURE TO MEET THE LOAD REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS 210 PLACETHE SEAT OCCUPANTS IN INCREASED RISK OF INJURY IN THE EVENT OF A SUDDEN STOPOR ACCIDENT.

Remedy: THE MANUFACTURE WILL REPLACE THE NON-COMPLYING SAFETY BELT ANCHORAGE WITH A NEW ANCHORAGE THAT MEETS THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS 210.

NHTSA campaign record ↗

93V073000 · Suspension:Rear:Shock Absorber

Reported: 1993-04-27 (April 27, 1993)

THE REAR SHOCK CROSSMEMBER OF THE FRAME CAN CRACK AND SEPARATE FROM THE FRAME.

Consequence: SEPARATION OF THE REAR SHOCK CROSSMEMBER FROM THE FRAMECAN RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT.

Remedy: REPLACE THE REAR CHOCK CROSSMEMBER WITH A SHOCK CROSSMEMBER MADE OF HIGH STRENGTH STEEL.

NHTSA campaign record ↗

Explore the data

Vehicle analysis explorer

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

Data completeness

30 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-09-30.

3.3%Usable mileage1 / 30 records

73.3%Valid incident date22 / 30 records

100.0%Valid filing date30 / 30 records

73.3%Ordered incident and filing dates22 / 30 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.

From model yearThrough model year

Component complaint heatmap
Component	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2026
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
Component	Mileage range (25th–75th percentile)	Median	Usable records	Examples
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.

ComponentPeriod

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
Month	Campaigns announced	Examples
2024-10	None	No examples available for this selection.
2024-11	None	No examples available for this selection.
2024-12	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-01	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-02	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-03	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-04	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-05	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-06	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-07	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-08	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-09	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-10	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-11	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-12	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-01	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-02	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-03	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-04	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-05	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-06	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-07	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-08	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-09 (partial)	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.

Observation windowFirst model yearSecond model year

2018: 0 complaints · 2019: 1 complaints

Equal observation windows
Model year	Through age 0	Through age 1	Through age 2
2018	0	0	0
2019	1	1	1

Date coverage across each selected cohort

Date basis for all complaints in selected model years
Year	Incident dates used	Filing date fallbacks	Excluded dates
2018	0	0	0
2019	1	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 co-occurrence matrix
Component	Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip	Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components	Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly	Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Caliper	Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash	Structure:Body:Door	Wheels	Electrical System:Ignition
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip	—	0	0	0	1 ODI 480475 ANTI-LOCK BRAKES FAILED 6 TIMES, TWICE RESULTING IN ACCIDENTS. *AK Look up ODI 480475 at NHTSA ↗	0	0	0
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components	0	—	0	1 ODI 512511 FRONT RIGHT BRAKE WAS SMOKING. Look up ODI 512511 at NHTSA ↗	0	0	0	0
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly	0	0	—	0	0	0	0	0
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Caliper	0	1 ODI 512511 FRONT RIGHT BRAKE WAS SMOKING. Look up ODI 512511 at NHTSA ↗	0	—	0	0	0	0
Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash	1 ODI 480475 ANTI-LOCK BRAKES FAILED 6 TIMES, TWICE RESULTING IN ACCIDENTS. *AK Look up ODI 480475 at NHTSA ↗	0	0	0	—	1 ODI 707377 FIRST, HEADLIGHTS CEASED TO FUNCTION, THEN ELECTRIC DOOR LOCKS FAILED WIRING HARNESS UNDER HOOD FRIED B/O CURRENT WIRE RIGHT DOWN TO THE PIN PLASTIC ASSEMBLY ON FIRE WALL THAT LEADS TO WIRING UNDER DASH OF VEHICLE. SPARKING NOTICED AT WIRING HARNESS PIN CONNECTOR AT FIREWALL WITH CLICKING SOUND IN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS WIRE B/O HOT WIRE HAS FRIED ITSELF. FIRST TIME AT ABOUT 40000 MILES IT FRIED THE FUSE LINK IN THE BLACK/ORANGE HOT WIRE LEADING DOWN TO THE FIREWALL PIN CONNECTOR. SECOND TIME, AFTER FUSE LINK WAS R… Look up ODI 707377 at NHTSA ↗	0	0
Structure:Body:Door	0	0	0	0	1 ODI 707377 FIRST, HEADLIGHTS CEASED TO FUNCTION, THEN ELECTRIC DOOR LOCKS FAILED WIRING HARNESS UNDER HOOD FRIED B/O CURRENT WIRE RIGHT DOWN TO THE PIN PLASTIC ASSEMBLY ON FIRE WALL THAT LEADS TO WIRING UNDER DASH OF VEHICLE. SPARKING NOTICED AT WIRING HARNESS PIN CONNECTOR AT FIREWALL WITH CLICKING SOUND IN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS WIRE B/O HOT WIRE HAS FRIED ITSELF. FIRST TIME AT ABOUT 40000 MILES IT FRIED THE FUSE LINK IN THE BLACK/ORANGE HOT WIRE LEADING DOWN TO THE FIREWALL PIN CONNECTOR. SECOND TIME, AFTER FUSE LINK WAS R… Look up ODI 707377 at NHTSA ↗	—	0	0
Wheels	0	0	0	0	0	0	—	0
Electrical System:Ignition	0	0	0	0	0	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.

Search patterns

3 patterns with matching reports.

Brake response concerns

4 mentions · 13.3% of complaints

Median mileage: Unavailable (0 usable records).

ODI 480475

ANTI-LOCK BRAKES FAILED 6 TIMES, TWICE RESULTING IN ACCIDENTS. *AK

Look up ODI 480475 at NHTSA ↗

ODI 543125

ANTI-IOCK BRAKES FAILED. YH

Look up ODI 543125 at NHTSA ↗

ODI 829461

SPEED CONTROL IS ON AND APPLIED THE BRAKES, IT MOMENTARILY DISENGAGES THE SPEED CONTROL. AS SOON AND BRAKE PEDAL IS RELEASED, VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY STARTS TO ACCELLERATE. OUT OF WARRANTY, DEALER NOT CONTACTED AND UNAWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK

Look up ODI 829461 at NHTSA ↗

Matching rule

Fuel smell or leak mentions

1 mentions · 3.3% of complaints

Median mileage: Unavailable (0 usable records).

ODI 10039797

CONSUMER NOTICED A GAS SMELL INSIDE OF VEHICLE WHILE TRAVELING. SAW GAS POURING OUT OF GAS TANK. VEHICLE WAS SERVICED, TECHNICIAN REPLACED FUEL PUMP SENDING UNIT. *AK

Look up ODI 10039797 at NHTSA ↗

Matching rule

\b(fuel leak\w*|gas leak\w*|gas(?:oline)? smell|smell\w* (?:of )?(?:fuel|gas))\b

Stalling or loss of power

1 mentions · 3.3% of complaints

Median mileage: Unavailable (0 usable records).

ODI 487360

BRAKES OVERHEATED AND LOST POWER ON OCCASION. RECALL ON OTHER MODELS HOWEVER THIS VEHICLE DID NOT QUALIFY FOR RECALL.

Look up ODI 487360 at NHTSA ↗

Matching rule

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