U.S. public vehicle records

1998 Ford ECONOLINE: complaints, problems and recalls

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

46 owner complaints analyzed

2 distinct recall campaigns

79,500 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1998 model year. Data updated: 2026-09-30 (September 30, 2026). 8 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 5 of 46 complaints (10.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Braking behavior	7	15.2%
Fuel system concerns	4	8.7%
Electrical and battery issues	2	4.3%
Steering behavior	2	4.3%

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

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine

Suspension:Front

Vehicle Speed Control

Vehicle Speed Control:Cruise Control

Tires

Electrical System

Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly

Component breakdown data
Category	Count
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip	5
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine	4
Suspension:Front	4
Vehicle Speed Control	4
Vehicle Speed Control:Cruise Control	4
Tires	3
Electrical System	2
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly	2

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 5; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 4; Suspension:Front: 4; Vehicle Speed Control: 4; Vehicle Speed Control:Cruise Control: 4; Tires: 3; Electrical System: 2; Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly: 2

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: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 2

25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (2). 38 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.

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2006

2007

2008

2011

2015

2020

1998: 3; 1999: 7; 2000: 8; 2001: 6; 2002: 4; 2003: 4; 2004: 2; 2006: 1; 2007: 2; 2008: 5; 2011: 2; 2015: 1; 2020: 1

Pattern summary

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 7 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 4 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 2 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 10013725 · 2003-03-31 (March 31, 2003)

INTAKE VALVE GASKET FAILED, CAUSING COOLANT TO ENTER CYLINDER AND BEND PUSH ROD. MOTOR HAS ONLY 45,000 MILES ON IT. VAN HAD BEEN DRIVEN UNDER 500 MILES IN LAST SIX MONTHS. *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. 45,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10013725 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10019822 · 2003-05-14 (May 14, 2003)

THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED, AND ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A TURN AND IT FELT AS THOUGH THE RIGHT REAR TIRE WAS FLAT. THE MECHANIC PUT THE CAR ON THE LIFT, AND DISCOVERED THE RIM WAS BROKEN AND THE TIRE FELL OFF. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 69,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10019822 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10024670 · 2003-07-18 (July 18, 2003)

THE CONSUMER STATED THE SPARK PLUG "BLEW" OUT IN THE MOTOR WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION, WHICH CAUSED FUEL TO BE DUMPED INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. VEHICLE IS A 1998, FORD, E150, ECONOLINE VAN.*AK *TS *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 135,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10024670 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10030619 · 2003-08-02 (August 2, 2003)

1998 FORD ECONOLINE E-350 VAN. 5.4 L GAS MOTOR. SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF MOTOR. EHICLE HAS 152,000 MILES. REF CASE ODI ID NUMBER 10024670. REASON FOR MAKING COMPLAINT. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 152,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10030619 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10074195 · 2004-06-23 (June 23, 2004)

THE FUEL TANK CRACKED ON THE UPPER PORTION OF THE TANK IN THE AREA WHERE THE MIDDLE STRAP CROSSED THE TANK. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED FORD MOTOR CO., HOWEVER THERE WERE NO RECALLS, THEREFORE THERE WAS NO ASSISTANCE WITH THE PURCHASE OF A NEW FUEL TANK. *JB *NM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10074195 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10096822 · 2004-10-14 (October 14, 2004)

THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED A GAS LEAK COMING FROM THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE LEAK WAS THE RESULT OF A RUSTED HOLE IN THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10096822 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10157911 · 2006-05-20 (May 20, 2006)

DRIVING NORTH ON I 275 JUST SOUTH OF I 94 AND TIRE SEPARATED ON RIGHT REAR CALLED AAA BECAUSE RIM WAS ON THE GROUND. VEHICLE WAS A FORD CONVERSION VAN. REPLACED WITH SPARE, AND STILL HAVE OLD TIRE. TIRE SIZE IS 30X9.50R 15 DISCOVERER AST. 8JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10157911 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10207620 · 2007-11-01 (November 1, 2007)

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD ECONOLINE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED TWO SAFETY RECALL NOTICES FOR THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL ON AUGUST 29, 2007 AND OCTOBER 9, 2007. ON NOVEMBER 1, 2007, HE CALLED THE DEALER FOR THE THIRD TIME AND WAS EITHER HUNG UP ON OR DISCONNECTED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY A SERVICE TECHNICIAN THAT HE COULD CONTINUE DRIVING THE VEHICLE BECAUSE IF IT WERE GOING TO CATCH FIRE, IT WOULD HAVE BY NOW. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 45,495.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10207620 at NHTSA ↗

Recall history

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

00V284000 · Equipment:Other:Labels

Reported: 2000-09-21 (September 21, 2000)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: BI-FUEL CNG PICKUP TRUCKS AND BI-FUEL CNG VANS, MODIFIED BY CFI CONTROL SYSTEMS, INC., FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 303, "FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITY OF COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS VEHICLES." THE LABEL AFFIXED TO THE FUEL FILLER DOOR BY THE VEHICLE MODIFIER CONTAINS THE INSPECTION DATE AND EXPIRATION DATE OF THE CNG TANK. HOWEVER, IT DOES NOT CONTAIN THE STATEMENT "SEE INSTRUCTIONS ON THE FUEL CONTAINER FOR INSPECTION AND SERVICE LIFE."

Consequence: THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS.

Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED A LABEL WITH THE REQUIRED STATEMENT, ALONG WITH INSTRUCTIONS FOR AFFIXING THE LABEL AT THE FUEL FILLER DOOR. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN NOVEMBER 2, 2000. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.

NHTSA campaign record ↗

08V051000 · Vehicle Speed Control:Cruise Control

Reported: 2008-02-04 (February 4, 2008)

FORD IS RECALLING 225,000 MY 1992-2003 ECONOLINE, MY 1993-1995 TAURUS SHO, MY 1992-1998 CROWN VICTORIA, MY 1993 BRONCO, F-SERIES, MY 1995-1997 F-SERIES SUPER DUTY STRIPPED CHASSIS, MY 1992-1998 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS, AND MY 1992-1995 LINCOLN TOWN CAR VEHICLES. THE AFFECTED VEHICLES WERE PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED USING A WIRING HARNESS THAT IS NOT COMPATIBLE WITH THE VEHICLE CIRCUIT POLARITY.

Consequence: AS A RESULT, THE FUSE IS LOCATED IN THE OUTPUT CIRCUIT RATHER THAN IN THE INTENDED INPUT POWER FEED CIRCUIT, AND MAY NOT OFFER THE INTENDED PROTECTION IN THE EVENT OF AN ELECTRICAL SHORT TO GROUND.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW WIRING HARNESS, OR REPLACE THE MATING ELECTRICAL COMPONENT. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 18, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.

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

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

17.4%Usable mileage8 / 46 records

87.0%Valid incident date40 / 46 records

100.0%Valid filing date46 / 46 records

87.0%Ordered incident and filing dates40 / 46 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
Tires	Too few reports for a range	69,800 mi	1 (sparse)	ODI 10019822 · 69,800 mi THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED, AND ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A TURN AND IT FELT AS THOUGH THE RIGHT REAR TIRE WAS FLAT. THE MECHANIC PUT THE CAR ON THE LIFT, AND DISCOVERED THE RIM WAS BROKEN AND THE TIRE FELL OFF. *JB Look up ODI 10019822 at NHTSA ↗
Electrical System	Too few reports for a range	187,500 mi	2 (sparse)	ODI 10024670 · 135,000 mi THE CONSUMER STATED THE SPARK PLUG "BLEW" OUT IN THE MOTOR WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION, WHICH CAUSED FUEL TO BE DUMPED INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. VEHICLE IS A 1998, FORD, E150, ECONOLINE VAN.AK TS JB Look up ODI 10024670 at NHTSA ↗ ODI 10383047 · 240,000 mi TLTHE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD ECONOLINE. THE CONTACT WAS REPLACING THE AIR CONDITIONING BLOWER MOTOR WHEN HE NOTICED THE SPEED SELECTOR SWITCH WAS MELTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 240,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 302,302. Look up ODI 10383047 at NHTSA ↗
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly	Too few reports for a range	80,000 mi	1 (sparse)	ODI 10096822 · 80,000 mi THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED A GAS LEAK COMING FROM THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE LEAK WAS THE RESULT OF A RUSTED HOLE IN THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB Look up ODI 10096822 at NHTSA ↗

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	Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine	Suspension:Front	Vehicle Speed Control	Vehicle Speed Control:Cruise Control	Tires	Electrical System	Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip	—	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine	0	—	0	0	0	0	0	0
Suspension:Front	0	0	—	0	0	0	0	0
Vehicle Speed Control	0	0	0	—	1 ODI 10220605 1998 FORD ECONOLINE RECALL ON SPEED CONTROL. CONSUMER STATED THAT THE DEALER TOLD THEM THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. HE WAS INFORMED THE PARTS WOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL THE SECOND QUARTER OF THE YEAR. *KB Look up ODI 10220605 at NHTSA ↗	0	0	0
Vehicle Speed Control:Cruise Control	0	0	0	1 ODI 10220605 1998 FORD ECONOLINE RECALL ON SPEED CONTROL. CONSUMER STATED THAT THE DEALER TOLD THEM THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. HE WAS INFORMED THE PARTS WOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL THE SECOND QUARTER OF THE YEAR. *KB Look up ODI 10220605 at NHTSA ↗	—	0	0	0
Tires	0	0	0	0	0	—	0	0
Electrical System	0	0	0	0	0	0	—	0
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly	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

1 mentions · 2.2% of complaints

Median mileage: Unavailable (0 usable records).

ODI 842969

WHEN STEPPING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL THE FRONT WHEELS LOCKED UP AND BACK WHEELS KEPT GOING. ALSO, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHORTED, CAUSING THE ENTIRE SYSTEM TO FAIL. DEALER CLAIMED THE PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY THE RADIO, WHICH WAS REMOVED. CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER AND MANUFACTURER. PROBLEMS STILL EXIST. *AK *ML

Look up ODI 842969 at NHTSA ↗

Matching rule

Fuel smell or leak mentions

1 mentions · 2.2% of complaints

Median mileage: 80,000 mi (1 usable records).

ODI 10096822 · 80,000 mi

Look up ODI 10096822 at NHTSA ↗

Matching rule

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

Warning lights and dashboard alerts

1 mentions · 2.2% of complaints

Median mileage: Unavailable (0 usable records).

ODI 8004657

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT IS ILLUMINATING, INDICATING A MALFUNCTION WITHIN CYLINDER HEAD AND TEMPERATURE SENSOR. MECHANIC AT FORD DEALER STATED THAT MANUFACTURER HAS NOT PRODUCED SENSOR FOR ECONOLINE TRUCK, RESULTING IN FALSE WARNING TO CHECK ENGINE ON VEHICLE. *AK

Look up ODI 8004657 at NHTSA ↗

Matching rule

\b(warning light\w*|check engine|dashboard warning\w*|malfunction indicator)\b