2003 Ford Econoline problems
Owners have filed 27 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 Ford Econoline. Cruise control is the most reported problem area, at 19% of complaints. Next are engine (15%) and brakes (11%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 27 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Cruise control 19% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 0 and 3
- Injuries and deaths
- 2 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 35,000 miles 17 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 4 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 7 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 0 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 1 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 1 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 3 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 0 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 0 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 1 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 0 |
What the data shows
Of the 17 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 35,000 miles.
Safety-related details: 3 complaints mention a fire; 2 injuries reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2003 ranks 10th most-complained-about out of 14 model years of the Ford Econoline with enough data (21 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 2 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
Vehicle was parked outside the owner's home. Owner was awakened, and to discovered that the vehicle was engulfed in flames. The fire department was notified and extinguished the fire. The vehicle was an econoline van modified for persons with disabilities.
2003 econoline made a loud popping sound in the engine compartment, lost power shortly after. Vehicle later caught on fire. ** answer required*** after the noise was heard the driver pulled to vehicle onto the side of the road and that's when the driver noticed that the vehicle was on fire. The driver and firemen were injured while attempting to extinguish the fire. A recall was received in october 2004. The recall referenced safety recall 04s22 and 04s23.
2003 ford econo-line van caught on fire in the engine compartment. The consumer had the ABS recall repaired in dec 2004. The fire seemed to originate in the area of the ABS system/ master brake cylinder.
2003 ford econoline defective part repairs.** answer required***. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for the eighth time to repair the alarm. The alarm still wasn't fixed. The tires and/or rims are defective. The brakes, shocks and A/C failed. The vehicle also lost power.
Dt: the contact stated that a dealer called montgomary ford sold three 15 passenger vans to a public school called harmony community school.