The 1987 Ford Econoline has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 3,804,250 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 19 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the service brakes, hydraulic. 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.
SPRING LOCK FUEL LINE COUPLING MAY NOT BE PROPERLY ENGAGED.
COUPLING COULD DISENGAGE DUE TO FUEL PRESSURE,VIBRATION, AND ENGINE MOVEMENTS; THIS WOULD CAUSE LOSS OF FUEL WHICH, INPRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, CREATES A FIRE RISK.
INSTALL RETAINER CLIPS OVER THE COUPLINGS TO PREVENT COUPLING SEPARATION AND FUEL LEAKAGE.
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.
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.
“While driving the van about 35 mph the van started shaking and making a very strange noise and it became difficult to steer. When taking to mechanic, mechanic stated that problem was due to the driveshaft being aluminum. The driveshaft was replaced with a iron driveshaft. *ak”
“While driving mountainous country, brakes get hot, fluid boiled, resulting in no brakes, free wheeling, could have caused crash, dealer replaced brake pads/calipers, flushed brake system, replaced with different brake fluid. *ak”
“While driving mountainous country, brakes get hot, fluid boiled, resulting in no brakes, free wheeling, could have caused crash, dealer replaced brake pads/calipers, flushed brake system, replaced with different brake fluid. *ak”
“A malfunction in the fuel selector valve , causing fuel in the front tank to flow to back tank, resulting in fuel spillage. *ak”
“Ignition problem caused an overflow of fuel into the exhaust system, allowing violent gas explosions (backfire) which split the muffler at seam. *ak”
“An electrical short caused the engine to catch on fire while vehicle was parked. Please describe.”
“Front two calipers seized due to overheating, difficulty stopping vehicle. Tt”
“When openning gas cap on one of the fuel tanks gas lines bursted. *ak”
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1987 Ford Econoline as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.