1996 FORD ECONOLINE Complaints

PAINT PEELING OFF VAN ROOF BECAUSE OF INFERIOR PRIMER ACCORDING TO BODY SHOP. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN THE SUMMARY. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING AT 45 MPH, I LOST THE ABILITY TO STEER THE VEHICLE. THIS TRUCK WAS A 4WD CONVERSION WHICH WAS DONE BY A COMPANY CALLED QUIGLEY, IN MANCHESTER, PA. THIS CONVERSION WAS APPROVED BY FORD AND THE TRUCK WAS PURCHASED WITH THE CONVERSION. AFTER THE STEERING FELL APART, I WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL TRUCK AND HAD AN ACCIDENT. APPROXIMATELY SIX MONTHS LATER, THE TRUCK, AGAIN, WENT OUT OF CONTROL AFTER HITTING A SLIGHT DIP IN THE ROAD. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION WITH THE DEALER, WHO CALLED QUIGLEY, QUIGLEY SAID THEY KNEW ABOUT THE PROBLEM AS IT HAD HAPPENED ON THEIR AMBULANCE 4WD CONVERSIONS. THERE WAS A KIT THEY COULD SUPPLY THAT WOULD FIX THIS PROBLEM. I PURCHASED THE KIT , WHICH WAS A STABILIZER KIT, AND HAD THE DEALER INSTALL IT AND HAVE NOT HAD A PROBLEM SINCE. I MET SOME EMT'S FROM RIDDLE MEMORIAL HOSPITAL, OUTSIDE MEDIA, PA. AND THEY WERE DRIVING A 4WD AMBULANCE CONVERSION VAN FROM FORD AND QUIGLEY. I ASKED THEM IF THEY EVER EXPERIENCED WHAT I DID AND THEY SAID THEY DID, THAT THEIR SUPERVISOR HAD TO SEND THE AMBULANCES BACK TO QUIGLEY, AND FINALLY, QUIGLEY WAS ABLE TO FIND OUT THE PROBLEM AND INSTALL A STABILIZER KIT. I HAVE SINCE MET OTHER PEOPLE WITH FORD VANS AND QUIGLEY 4WD CONVERSIONS, WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS. SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE ABOUT THIS AS I WAS LUCKY AND WASN'T KILLED, BUT IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE QUIGLEY CONVERSION. ITS EVEN MORE OF A DANGER WHEN AMBULANCES, FULL OF PEOPLE, GO OUT OF CONTROL BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. THE LOSS OF CONTROL OF MY VAN CAUSED AN ACCIDENT IN WHICH SIX PEOPLE COULD HAVE DIED. THE DISTURBING THING ABOUT THIS IS THAT QUIGLEY KNEW OF THIS PROBLEM BUT DID NOT LET ANYONE KNOW. THE STABILIZER KIT COST ME ABOUT $ 400.00. A SMALL PRICE TO PAY FOR VEHICLE SAFETY..

DEALER CAN'T (WON'T) REPRODUCE OR FIX PROBLEM. TAKES ALL DAY, BUT DOES NOTHING. VERY FRUSTRATING. NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED IN SUMMARY. *AK

WHILE AT A STOP THE VAN ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN AND OVERRODE THE BRAKES. THIS PROBLEM CAUSED A CRASH IN APRIL OF 1997 AND SEVERAL NEAR MISSES. DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE PROBLEM, AND FIND OUT WHAT WAS CAUSING THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

WHILE PARKED ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUGHT FIRE. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. COMSUMER WANTS TO BE COMPENSATED FOR LOSSES. *AK *ML

WHILE PULLING OVER TO CHANGE DRIVERS VEHICLE WAS PLACED IN PARK, AS THE DRIVER EXITED VEHICLE JUMPED INTO GEAR, CAUSING THE DOOR TO KNOCK THE DRIVER UNDER THE VEHICLE. DRIVER BROKE RIGHT ANKLE AND LEG, AND SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES ON LEFT ANKLE. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

TIRE FAILURE/BLOW OUT WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER BRAKED VEHICLE HOWEVER THE CRUISE CONTROL DID NOT DISENGAGE. WHEN REPAIR OF THE TIRE WAS COMPLETED THE CRUISE CONTROL WORKED FINE. MJS

3-YEAR OLD SON WENT INTO VEHICLE WITHOUT KNOWLEDGE OF HIS PARENTS. HE WA SFOLLOWED BY THE 2-YEAR OLD SON. 3-YEAR OLD SON WENT TO REAR OF VAN, AND WAS IN BETWEEN THE FA RSTATIONARY BENCH AND THE AUTOMATIC RECLINING SOFA BENCH. THE AUTOMATIC SOFA BENCH WAS ACTIVATED, INNING THE THREE-YEAR OLD AGAINST THE STATIONATY BENCH. HE SUFFOCATED BEFORE HELP ARRIVED. *AK

ABS LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY COMES ON/GOES OUT. CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE INSPECTED/REPAIRED BY AN INDEPENDENT DEALER, AND THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. DEALER/MFR. NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. *AK

FIRST TIME: PULLING OUT OF PARKING LOT. STEERING WHEEL JUMPED OFF CENTER. AT DEALER WHEN MECHANIC SAID NOTHING WRONG. AT HOME WHEN STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT. STEERING GEAR STARTED TO MOVE. MANAGED TO GET TO DEALER & MECHANIC SAW 2 OF 3 BOLTS SHEARED OFF & REPAIRED IT. SECOND TIME: LEAVING PARKING LOT WHEN A LOUD SNAP WAS HEARD. PULLED OVER. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER. HAD NO STEERING CONTROL. TOWED TO DEALER. MECHANIC SAID NO BOLTS AT ALL ON STEERING WHEEL. *AK