MYRModel Year Report

1996 Ford Econoline

● Typical for this model
1996 Ford Econoline
RENDERED 2026-11-01T12:41:12.580Z

This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.

This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.

How is this computed?

Complaints
81
Recalls
5

Campaigns on file for 1996

Investigations
1

Opened by NHTSA

Top problem
Service brakes

26% of complaints

Complaints per year

1980: 1 complaint 1980 1981: 0 complaints 1982: 1 complaint 1983: 2 complaints 1984: 7 complaints 1985: 10 complaints 1985 1986: 7 complaints 1987: 15 complaints 1988: 22 complaints 1989: 33 complaints 1990: 30 complaints 1990 1991: 24 complaints 1992: 86 complaints 1993: 67 complaints 1994: 132 complaints 1995: 73 complaints 1996: 81 complaints 1996 81 1997: 79 complaints 1998: 46 complaints 1999: 84 complaints 2000: 39 complaints 2001: 28 complaints 2002: 23 complaints 2003: 22 complaints 2005: 0 complaints 2006: 0 complaints 2006 2007: 0 complaints 2009: 1 complaint 2010: 1 complaint 2011: 0 complaints 2012: 1 complaint 2012 2013: 0 complaints 2014: 0 complaints 2015: 0 complaints 2016: 3 complaints 2017: 3 complaints 2017 2018: 0 complaints 2019: 1 complaint 2026: 0 complaints
1980: 1 complaint 1980 1981: 0 complaints 1982: 1 complaint 1983: 2 complaints 1983 1984: 7 complaints 1985: 10 complaints 1986: 7 complaints 1986 1987: 15 complaints 1988: 22 complaints 1989: 33 complaints 1989 1990: 30 complaints 1991: 24 complaints 1992: 86 complaints 1992 1993: 67 complaints 1994: 132 complaints 1995: 73 complaints 1996: 81 complaints 1996 81 1997: 79 complaints 1998: 46 complaints 1999: 84 complaints 2000: 39 complaints 2001: 28 complaints 2001 2002: 23 complaints 2003: 22 complaints 2005: 0 complaints 2005 2006: 0 complaints 2007: 0 complaints 2009: 1 complaint 2009 2010: 1 complaint 2011: 0 complaints 2012: 1 complaint 2012 2013: 0 complaints 2014: 0 complaints 2015: 0 complaints 2015 2016: 3 complaints 2017: 3 complaints 2018: 0 complaints 2018 2019: 1 complaint 2026: 0 complaints
1980: 1 complaint 1980 1981: 0 complaints 1982: 1 complaint 1982 1983: 2 complaints 1984: 7 complaints 1984 1985: 10 complaints 1986: 7 complaints 1986 1987: 15 complaints 1988: 22 complaints 1988 1989: 33 complaints 1990: 30 complaints 1990 1991: 24 complaints 1992: 86 complaints 1992 1993: 67 complaints 1994: 132 complaints 1994 1995: 73 complaints 1996: 81 complaints 1996 81 1997: 79 complaints 1998: 46 complaints 1998 1999: 84 complaints 2000: 39 complaints 2000 2001: 28 complaints 2002: 23 complaints 2002 2003: 22 complaints 2005: 0 complaints 2005 2006: 0 complaints 2007: 0 complaints 2007 2009: 1 complaint 2010: 1 complaint 2010 2011: 0 complaints 2012: 1 complaint 2012 2013: 0 complaints 2014: 0 complaints 2014 2015: 0 complaints 2016: 3 complaints 2016 2017: 3 complaints 2018: 0 complaints 2018 2019: 1 complaint 2026: 0 complaints 2026

1996: 81 complaints

View as data table
YearComplaints
19801
19810
19821
19832
19847
198510
19867
198715
198822
198933
199030
199124
199286
199367
1994132
199573
199681
199779
199846
199984
200039
200128
200223
200322
20050
20060
20070
20091
20101
20110
20121
20130
20140
20150
20163
20173
20180
20191
20260

Known problem areas

Percentages can add to more than 100% — a complaint can name more than one system.

Service brakes

26% · 21 reports

Most commonly citing hydraulic and air.

CRASHINJURY

Tires

16% · 13 reports

Most commonly citing tread/belt and sidewall.

Vehicle speed control

15% · 12 reports

Most commonly citing cruise control and accelerator pedal.

CRASHFIREINJURY

Engine and engine cooling

15% · 12 reports

Most commonly citing gasoline and engine.

FIRE
Show complaint excerpts

On Sunday morning at about 6 am the alarm of our van went off. It woke us up. The engine of the van was on fire. We called the 911 and the fire department came. My husband tried to use the fire extinguisher but he could not open the hood.

NHTSA ODI report, 2005-10-04

Electrical system

9% · 7 reports

Most commonly citing front underhood and ignition.

FIRE
Show complaint excerpts

The consumer stated the vehicle caught on fire under the hood. The fire department made the assumption of it being an electrical fire.

NHTSA ODI report, 2005-05-02

Safety timeline

5 recalls · 1 investigation · oldest first

To check one car, enter its VIN on the NHTSA recall page. Check a VIN →

  1. R
    1996-12-04Parking brake96V214000 The parking brake systems may not hold the vehicles on a 20% grade with foot pedal efforts of 125 pounds or less. This does not meet the requirements of FMVSS No. 105, "Hydraulic brake systems."

    Remedy: Dealers will adjust the parking brake system on the affected vehicles.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  2. I
    2005-03-22Engineering analysisClosed 2006-08-02 Engine compartment fires
  3. R
    2006-08-07Vehicle speed control06V286000 On certain trucks equipped with speed control, gasoline or natural gas engines, the speed control deactivation switch may overheat.

    Remedy: Dealers will install a fused wiring harness into the speed control system free of charge. The recall began on August 7, 2006. Owners may contact Ford at 1-866-436-7332. (Note: also see recalls…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  4. R
    2008-02-18Vehicle speed control08V051000 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…

    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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  5. R
    2009-05-11Exterior lighting09E012000 Sabersport is recalling 16,270 combination corner and bumper lamp assemblies of various part numbers sold for use as aftermarket equipment for various passenger vehicles. These headlamps fail to…

    Remedy: Sabersport will notify owners and offer a full refund for the noncompliant combination lamps. The safety recall began on May 11, 2009. Owners may contact sabersport at 1-909-598-7589.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  6. R
    2009-07-28Exterior lighting09E025000 Dope, inc. Is recalling 42,540 combination corner and bumper lamp assemblies of various part numbers sold for use as aftermarket equipment for various passenger vehicles. These headlamps fail to…

    Remedy: Dope, inc. Will notify owners and offer a full refund for the noncompliant combination lamps. The safety recall began on July 28, 2009. Owners may contact dope, inc. At 1-626-272-1798.

    Check if this car was fixed →

Buy-smart checklist

1996 Ford Econoline — pre-purchase inspection

Inspect

  • Service brakes: 21 reports on file for this year.
  • Tires: 13 reports on file for this year.
  • Vehicle speed control: 12 reports on file for this year.

Verify these recalls were completed

  • Recall 96V214000 · Parking brake
  • Recall 06V286000 · Vehicle speed control
  • Recall 08V051000 · Vehicle speed control
  • Recall 09E012000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 09E025000 · Exterior lighting
Inspected by ______________ Date ______________

Other years of this model

See all years ranked →

Best years3 years

Worst years1 year

FAQ

Is the 1996 Ford Econoline reliable?
Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 1996 Ford Econoline is rated "typical".
What are the most common problems with the 1996 Ford Econoline?
The most-reported component is service brakes, accounting for 26% of complaints on file.
How many recalls does the 1996 Ford Econoline have?
5 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-11-01 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.