1996 FORD ECONOLINE Complaints

STRONGLY FEEL FORD IS RESPONSIBLE FOR FIXING THIS AIR BAG MALFUNCTIONING INDICATOR LIGHT SAFETY ISSUE. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER, THE CAR HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED WITH NO ACCIDENTS. THIS CONCERNS ME GREATLY THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. THE LOCAL FORD DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND SAID THE PROBLEM IS OUT OF WARRANTLY (5 YRS OR 50K MILES). THEY SAID IT WOULD COST $80 TO TROUBLE SHOOT LET ALONE FIX. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND MANUFACTURERS DEFECT PROBLEM THAT FORD SERVICE DEPARTMENT SHOULD COVER. YOUR ADVICE AND INPUT IS GREATLY APPRECIATED.*AK

MY FORD E-150 VAN, AFTER BEING DRIVEN ABOUT 1 HOUR EARLIER, BURST INTO FLAMES WHILE PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY. A FORENSIC INVESTIGATION IDENTIFIED THE SPEED DEACTIVATION CONTROL SWITCH LOCATED ON THE MASTER BRAKE CONTROL CYLINDER. THIS IS THE SAME SWITCH AS IN 93 LINCOLN TOWNCARS AND MANY OTHER FORD CARS AND TRUCKS. IT WAS DESIGNED BY TEXAS INSTURMENTS TO BE WIRE AS SWITCHED BUT FORD INSTALLED IT AS WIRED ALWAYS HOT. PLEASE INVESTIGATE. THIS WILL CAUSE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF PROPERTY DAMAGE AND COULD INJURE MANY PEOPLE. THESE VEHICLES CAN BURST INTO FLAMES AT ANY TIME OR IN ANYBODY'S GARAGE. PLEASE CONTACT ME IF YOU WOULD LIKE A COPY OF THE FORENSIC REPORT I PAID FOR. THANKS, AND PLEASE DON'T PARK YOUR FORD IN YOUR GARAGE.*AK

THE ABS SYSTEM IS PERFORMING POORLY ALTHOUGH THE CONSUMER HOLDS FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL WITH STEADY PRESSURE. NLM

I BOUGHT THE VAN WHEN IT WAS 2 YRS. OLD IN DEC. 1998, BY THAT SUMMER I HAD TO REPLACE BOTH FRONT ROTORS BECAUSE OF CRACKS, AND I HAVE HAD TO DO THIS EVERY YEAR SINCE. THE VAN IS NOT USED ON A DAILY BASIS SO I AM WONDERING ABOUT A POSSIBLE DEFECT FOR THIS TO BE HAPPENING EVERY 2-3,000 MILES. FORD SHOWS NO RECALLS ON THIS MODEL, BUT THE GARAGE THAT HAS CHANGED THE ROTARS EVERY TIME SAYS IT IS NOT NORMAL WITH SO FEW MILES BETWEEN EACH TIME IT HAPPENS.*AK

ALL TIRES SHOWED SIGNS OF COMING APART, BOTH ON SIDES AND TREAD. *AK (TIRESIZE: 225-75R-16)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 225-75R-16 )

CONSUMER STATES HE WAS TOLD BY DELAERSHIP THAT FRONT END BALL JOINTS WERE DESIGNED AND PUT IN WITHOUT A LUBRICATION POINT WHICH CAUSED THE TIE ROD ENDS, STEERING LINKAGE AND TIRES TO WEAR DOWN AND HAVE TO BE REPLACED, DEALERSHIP REPLACED BALL JOINTS WITH A GREESE FITTING. *JB

PE-00-020- REPLACEMENT TIRES, SIZE P23575R15, DOT STARTED WITH W2HL, TIRES HAVE NO MORE THAN TWENTY THOUSAND MILES ON THEM. WHEN DRIVING AT 40-45 MPH CONSUMER NOTICED VEHICLE STARTED SHAKING, PULLED OFF ROAD, AND NOTICED PASSENGER'S SIDE REAR TIRE TREAD HAD SEPARATED. *AK FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES. *SLC

SEAT BRACKETS ON DRIVER'S SEAT SNAPPED, VEHICLE WAS STOPPED, CONSUMER'S FOOT ON BRAKE, SEAT WENT ALL THE WAY BACK. FORD TAKES NO RESPONSIBILITY SINCE OUT OF WARRANTY, AND VEHICLE BEING CONVERSION VAN. FORD DEALER OFFERED TO PAY 2/3 OF COST OF REPAIR. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 75 MPH RIGHT REAR TIRE BLEWOUT EARLY THAT DAY. THEN, ANOTHER BLOWOUT IN THE EVENING, BUT CONSUMER KEPT CONTROL OF VEHICLE. FORDTRUCK, ECONOLINE, 1996 HTLT 245/75 R16, DOT MD11 520 V425 272885-GRF-66.*AK FIRST TIRE FAILURE WAS THE PASSENGER REAR TIRE, SECOND FAILURE WAS THE DRIVER REAR TIRE, TIRES WERE GOODYEAR WRANGLER HT, SECOND FAILURE CAUSED DAMAGE TO VEHICLE INCLUDING THE WATER TANK AND GAS HOSE. *SLC

DASH BOARD "ABS" LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ON INTERMITTENTLY. SINCE VEHICLE HAS LOW MILEAGE BUT IS OUT OF WARRANTY FOR TIME, FORD MOTOR COMPANY ESTIMATES $750.00 TO REPAIR HOWEVER DO NOT THINK THAT A COMPONENT OF THIS NATURE SHOULD FAIL AT THIS LOW MILEAGE SINCE THE VEHICLE IS USED IN VERY LIGHT DUTY AS EVIDENCED BY MILEAGE SHOWN SINCE PURCHASED IN JUNE 1996.*AK