The 1985 Ford Econoline has 5 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 282,875 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 15 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the electrical system. Last updated July 5, 2026.
VEHICLES ARE SUBJECT TO EXCESSIVE UNDERHOOD TEMPERATURES AND FUEL SYSTEM PRESSURES IN SEVERE DUTY APPLICATIONS.
THIS CREATES POTENTIAL FOR FUEL EXPULSION FROM THE FUELFILLER PIPE WHICH IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN AFIRE.
INSTALL MODIFICATION KITS TO MINIMIZE POSSIBILITY OF FUEL EXPULSION AND TO SHIELD UNDERBODY COMPONENTS FROM EXHAUST SYSTEM HEAT.
EXPULSION OF FUEL DUE TO OVERPRESSURIZATION.
FUEL OR FUEL VAPORS IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITIONSOURCE CAN CAUSE A FIRE.
MODIFICATION OF THE BASE FUEL VENTING AND EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM TO REDUCE OPERATING TEMPERATURES AND FUEL SYSTEM PRESSURES.
FUEL LEAK AT THE TOP OF THE FRONT FUEL TANK IN THE AREA OF THE VAPOR VALVE GROMMET. GROMMET MAY SPLIT DUE TO COMPRESSIVE LOAD WHEN INSTALLED IN THE FUEL TANK.
FUEL MAY LEAK FROM VAPOR VALVE AND BECOME THE SOURCE OFFUEL FOR A FIRE.
INSTALLATION OF A NEWLY DESIGNED VAPOR VALVE GROMMET.
THE RUBBER THAT ENCASES BALL STUD AND SOCKET JOINT (CONNECTS STEERING DRAG LINK AND PITMAN ARM) MAY DETERIORATE, CAUSING METAL TO METAL CONTACT, AND MAY EVENTUALLY RESULT IN COMPLETE SEPARATION. CONSEQUENCE OF…
INSTALL NEW DRAG LINK ASSEMBLIES WITH STEEL BALL AND SOCKET JOINTS AT THE PITMAN ARM CONNECTIONS.
WHEN FRONTALLY IMPACTED INTO A FIXED BARRIER AT 30 MPH, AS SPECIFIED IN FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD (FMVSS) NO. 301, THE LEFT FRAME RAILS OF SUCH VEHICLES MAY DISPLACE INBOARD, PINCHING THE FUEL/WATER SEPARATOR CANISTER BETWEEN THE FRAME RAIL AND ENGINE SUFFICIENTLY TO DISPLACE THE FUEL/WATER…
INSTALL A CANISTER SHIELD, A REVISED DESIGN DRAIN ROD SHIELD, AND MODIFY FUEL/WATER SEPARATOR MOUNTING BRACKET.
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.
“Rear tire had separation and blow out on july 24, 1999. Purchased (2) new tires from firestone on july 30, 1999 and had them put on back and moved older tires to rear. Noticed severe vibration and took car to firestone and they found tread separation. I did not realize tires had problems until I…”
“(firestone r17) tire failed. *yc”
“Ignition switch failed.”
“Transmission gear shift slipped into reverse, causing vehicle to crash into 2 parked cars. *sd”
“Vehicle parked, fire developed underneath the dash. Owner received burns and vehicle was totaled. *ak”
“Vehicle parked, fire developed underneath the dash. Owner received burns and vehicle was totaled. *ak”
“Vehicle parked, fire developed underneath the dash. Owner received burns and vehicle was totaled. *ak”
“Brake failure, when coming step down grading brakes over heated causing loss of brake pedal went to floor. Tt”
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1985 Ford Econoline as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.