Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 1 of 2 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
Tires. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
2 reports
5,000 miles · Jul 9, 2013
Tires
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1983 FORD ECONOLINE VAN, EQUIPPED WITH COOPER LIFELINER CLASSIC II TIRES, SIZE 255/70/R15. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WERE CRACKS AND BLISTERS IN THE SIDEWALL OF THE FOUR TIRES. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SEE THE METAL INSIDE THE TIRE. THE FAILURE WAS REPORTED TO THE MANUFACTURER, WHO REFUSED TO PROVIDE AS…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1983 FORD ECONOLINE VAN, EQUIPPED WITH COOPER LIFELINER CLASSIC II TIRES, SIZE 255/70/R15. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WERE CRACKS AND BLISTERS IN THE SIDEWALL OF THE FOUR TIRES. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SEE THE METAL INSIDE THE TIRE. THE FAILURE WAS REPORTED TO THE MANUFACTURER, WHO REFUSED TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000. THE CURRENT VEHICLE MILEAGE WAS 110,000. KMJ UPDATED 8/26/13 *CN THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED CRACKS IN THE TIRE EXPOSING THE INSIDE WIRES.
NHTSA ODI #10523905
Mileage unknown · Aug 30, 2000
Tires
VAN WAS BOUGHT USED FROM DEALER BUT I KNEW PREVIOUS OWNER. VAN HAD 4 LIKE NEW TIRES. VAN WAS IN NEAR MINT CONDITION DESPITE AGE AND MILEAGE. WHILE ON VACATION, RIGHT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT. BIG HOLE, STEEL BELT SHREDDED. WAS ABLE TO CHANGE SPARE DESPITE VERY HAZARDOUS LOCATION. MADE IT INTO DOUGLAS GEORGIA, EVERYTHING CLOSED EXCEPT …
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VAN WAS BOUGHT USED FROM DEALER BUT I KNEW PREVIOUS OWNER. VAN HAD 4 LIKE NEW TIRES. VAN WAS IN NEAR MINT CONDITION DESPITE AGE AND MILEAGE. WHILE ON VACATION, RIGHT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT. BIG HOLE, STEEL BELT SHREDDED. WAS ABLE TO CHANGE SPARE DESPITE VERY HAZARDOUS LOCATION. MADE IT INTO DOUGLAS GEORGIA, EVERYTHING CLOSED EXCEPT WAL-MART. REPLACED TIRE WITH GOODYEAR TIRE. ABOUT 1 MONTH LATER WAS NEAR DOTHAN ALABAMA AND ABOUT 45 MILES FROM HOME WHEN I NOTICED SAME SYMPTOMS OTHER TIRE HAD DISPLAYED BEFORE BLOWING OUT. TRIED TO MAKE IT HOME BUT TIRE BLEW OUT EXACTLY LIKE FIRST ONE ON THE CHOCTAWHATCHEE RIVER BRIDGE. TIRE WAS AGAIN REPLACE AT WAL-MART. ABOUT 2 WEEKS LATER I NOTICED TREAD ON RIGHT FRONT WAS SHOWING STEEL BELT THROUGH BREAK IN TREAD. I PHONED FIRESTONE HEADQUARTERS AND ASKED IF THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH TIRES. WAS TOLD NO BUT THEY WOULD GIVE ME AN ADJUSTMETN ON THE 2 WHICH WERE STILL ON VEHICLE. I TOOK VAN TO RON'S FIRESTONE IN GENEVEA, ALA. RONS HAD SOD TIRES ORIGINALLY AND WAS VERY FAMILIAR WITH VAN AS HE HAD DONE ALL MAINTENANCE ON IT. RONS REPLACED BOTH TIRES ALTHOUGH THE ADJUSTMENT WAS SO POOR THAT I COULD HAVE JUST GONE TO WAL-MART AND BOUGHT 2 NEW COMPARABLE OR BETTER TIRES FOR SAME PRICE. WHEN NEWS OF LATEST RECALL CAME OUT I PHONED FIRESTONE TOLL FREE NUMBER. WAS TOLD TO CALL ANOTHER NUMBER. DID SO AND WAS TOLD THEY WOULD CALL ME BACK. THEY NEVER DID. HAVE ATTEMPTED SEVERAL TIMES TO CALL THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE NUMBER AND HAVE BEEN PUT ON HOLD EACH TIME FOR OVER AND HOUR (YES THAT'S RIGHT) AND STILL DIDN'T GET THROUGH. TRIED TO PHONE REGULAR CORPORATE NUMBER BUT THEY REFUSED TO PUT ME THROUGH TO ANYONE. IT APPEARS FIRESTONE HAS ERECTED A TOTAL WALL AROUND COMPANY EXCEPT FOR ONE TOLL FREE NUMBER WHICH CAN ONLY GIVE ADVICE ABOUT CERTAIN THINGS AND ARE NOT ALLOWED TO BE DISCUSSED. FRANKLY AM FED UP WITH THE COMPANY AND THEIR REFUSAL TO DEAL WITH PROBLEM.( DOT NUMBER: UNKNOWN TIRE SIZE: 235 75R15 )
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 SEPARATOR DRAIN ROD, ALLOWING THE CONTENTS OF THE CANISTER TO DRAIN. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: FUEL LEAK DURING OR AFTER A CRASH INCREASES THE POSSIBILITY OF A FIRE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Not supplied
Remedy: INSTALL A CANISTER SHIELD, A REVISED DESIGN DRAIN ROD SHIELD, AND MODIFY FUEL/WATER SEPARATOR MOUNTING BRACKET.
THE PARKING GEAR MAY NOT ENGAGE, EVEN THOUGH THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER IS PLACED IN THE "PARK" POSITION. THIS OCCURS IF THE LINKAGE INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION THAT ACTUATES THE PARK GEAR WAS IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED. A PIN THAT RETAINS COMPONENTS ON A LINKAGE (ACTUATING) ROD COULD BREAK AND THE LINKAGE MAY NOT ENGAGE THE PARKING GEAR.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Not supplied
Remedy: DEALER WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE PARKING PAWL ACTUATING ROD ASSEMBLY.
SOME OF THE INVOLVED VEHICLES MAY HAVE A DIODE IN THE ELECTRICAL FUEL PUMP CIRCUIT THAT MAY SHORT DURING ENGINE STARTING DUE TO INADEQUATE CAPACITY TO WITHSTAND CURRENT DRAW. A SHORT CIRCUIT WOULD RESULT IN NORMAL ENGINE STARTING, BUT THE PUMP WILL NOT CONTINUE TO SUPPLY THE ENGINE WITH FUEL.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Not supplied
Remedy: THE DEALER WILL REPLACE DEFECTIVE ELEMENT IN THE ELECTRICAL FUEL PUMP CIRCUIT WITH A NEW RELAY FEED WIRING ASSEMBLY WHICH CONTAINS A LARGER CAPACITY DIODE, FREE OF CHARGE.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0
No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
1983 Ford Econoline Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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